Chief Executive Officer

Career Opportunity 

Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) seeks a strategic and innovative Chief Executive Officer to guide its next chapter. The CEO will strengthen financial sustainability, deepen cross-sector partnerships, and advance UMD’s role as a leader in Durham’s response to homelessness. 

Mission: UMD connects with the community to end homelessness and fight poverty by offering food, shelter and a future to neighbors in need. UMD’s core values include respect, accountability, and collaboration. 

Scope: UMD programs and services include a 24/7 emergency shelter, community café that provides three meals a day, and a food pantry and clothing closet as well as essential services, and pathways toward stability with dignity, respect, and a compassionate, low-barrier approach. Case management and workforce development services are available for sheltered neighbors. Currently, UMD is piloting Hope Day Center, a new day center providing wellness and hygiene for people who are unable to access these resources.  

Reporting Structure: The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Board of Directors and leads an organization of over 40 staff, a café, emergency shelter and campus, and programs that coordinate a range of services for UMD clients. The CEO will have six direct reports who manage the major areas of UMD.  

Scope: UMD strives to be the primary point of connection for those who are homeless, hungry, or in need in Durham. UMD serves 6,000 individuals annually through providing shelter, clothing, and supportive services and engaging nearly 2,000 volunteers annually. 

Compensation: The anticipated salary range for this position begins at $150,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. UMD also offers a competitive benefits package with additional details to be shared with candidates during the search process. 

Working Environment/Location: This is an on-site leadership position in Durham, North Carolina, requiring a visible presence at UMD’s with staff, sheltered neighbors, donors, public partners, and the community. 

Key Responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer 

Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness 

• Work with the Board and staff to clarify UMD’s vision, update strategic priorities that align with the changing landscape of homelessness in Durham and the opportunities for innovation. 

• Ensure the shelter, Day Center, community café, and other supportive services continue to have strong leadership and high-quality service delivery measures.   

• Strengthen operational systems and consistent communication across the organization. 

• Balance urgent daily service needs with disciplined planning and adaptability, and long-term organizational effectiveness. 

 Fundraising and Financial Leadership 

• Lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that deepens relationships across all philanthropic paths to supporting UMD, expands individual donor giving, corporate and institutional partnerships, civic and federal investment, and access to diverse revenue opportunities. 

• Strengthen financial sustainability through sound budgeting, forecasting, reporting, controls, and a plan to address operating deficits. 

• Partner with the Board to drive fundraising growth and resource development and prioritize financial oversight to ensure long-term stability is maintained for the organization. 

 Organizational Leadership and Culture 

• Lead through exemplary practice of UMD’s values, ensuring that the leadership transition strengthens organizational stability, provides strategic focus, and plans for sustainable impact. 

• Preserve UMD’s compassionate, collaborative culture through transparent communication, staff engagement, and shared accountability. 

• Develop and operationalize effective communication that showcases UMD’s role as a leader, clarifies expectations and fosters accountability across staff and community collaborations.   

Community, Government, and Strategic Relationships 

• Serve as a visible, trusted ambassador for UMD and a leading voice in Durham’s homelessness response. 

• Build strong working relationships with Durham City and County leaders and align efforts with community homelessness strategies. 

• Convene nonprofit, healthcare, faith, business, philanthropic, volunteer, and housing partners to coordinate services and reduce duplication of services. 

Homelessness and Program Impact 

• Understand the complexity of the homelessness issue and changing research, approaches to service delivery and models that are working across the state and nationally.  

• Use outcomes and community needs to assess service gaps, improve program delivery, and advance pathways toward stable housing. 

• Foster partnerships with the private, nonprofit, public, and higher education sectors to maximize impact and programs that make homelessness brief and infrequent.  

• Drive UMD to become a national model for addressing homelessness with public-private partnerships. 

The Ideal Candidate Profile 

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and attributes: 

• Executive leadership experience in a complex nonprofit or human services organization, with demonstrated strategic planning and change-management skills. 

• Strong fundraising acumen and financial management, with experience aligning strategy, budgets, systems, and measurable results. 

• Experience leading program growth, facilities planning, collaborative initiatives, or significant organizational transitions is valued. 

• A compassionate leader who builds trust, develops teams, communicates clearly, and fosters an accountable, supportive culture. 

• A visible, persuasive communicator and bridge builder who can convene public agencies, community partners, donors, and staff. 

• Demonstrated ability to navigate cross-sector partnerships and work effectively with a governing board and community stakeholders. 

• Knowledge of homelessness, poverty, housing instability, or related human services is preferred; candidates must demonstrate respect for individuals experiencing homelessness and commitment to low-barrier, client-centered services. 

• A calm, courageous, adaptable, and decisive leader who listens well, remains accessible to staff and neighbors, while maintaining executive presence with major donors and partners, and balances strategic vision with operational realities. 

About Urban Ministries of Durham 

UMD has been a cornerstone of Durham's response to homelessness, providing food, shelter, and pathways to a more stable future for over 40 years. Serving more than 6,000 individuals annually, UMD provides emergency shelter, daily meals, food and clothing assistance, housing-focused case management, and workforce development services. UMD provided more than 263,000 meals and nearly 30,000 nights of emergency shelter and supported 179 positive transitions from shelter in 2025. In April 2026, UMD launched the Hope Day Center, a pilot initiative expanding daytime shelter and supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. strengthening Durham's coordinated response to housing instability. UMD addresses immediate needs and creates opportunities for lasting stability with the deep support of dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners. 

Want to know more? Visit www.umdurham.org.