Executive Director

Job Description

Job DescriptionBenefits:

• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Profit sharing

Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury


Executive Director Opportunity
Waterbury, Connecticut


Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, the state-designated domestic violence organization serving the Greater Waterbury region, is seeking an experienced, visionary, and collaborative Executive Director to lead the organization in advancing its mission of providing safety, support, advocacy, and healing to victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

For nearly five decades, Safe Haven has been a trusted resource in the Greater Waterbury community. The organization provides a comprehensive continuum of services, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and housing advocacy, lethality and risk assessment, legal advocacy, hospital accompaniment, counseling, advocacy, services for children and families, prevention education, and other supportive services. Safe Haven is a member of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) and the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence (The Alliance).

The Opportunity

The Executive Director serves as Safe Haven's chief executive and administrative officer and is responsible for the organization's overall leadership, administration, financial health, operational integrity, program effectiveness, personnel, fund development, community relationships, and public presence.

Working closely with the Board of Directors and staff, the Executive Director translates the organization's mission and strategic priorities into effective programs, sound operations, responsible fiscal management, and measurable community impact.

This is a hands-on executive leadership role requiring the ability to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day management, respond effectively to complex and time-sensitive situations, and maintain a strong commitment to trauma-informed, survivor-centered, culturally responsive, and confidential services.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Organizational Management

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the organization and ensure operations align with the mission, strategic plan, policies, and Board directives.
• Develop and implement organizational goals, priorities, policies, procedures, and operational plans.
• Identify emerging organizational, community, regulatory, and service-delivery needs and develop appropriate responses.
• Foster an organizational culture that is trauma-informed, survivor-centered, equitable, ethical, professional, and respectful.
• Represent Safe Haven in community, professional, governmental, coalition, and public settings.

Financial Management & Fiscal Oversight

• Maintain overall responsibility for the financial management and fiscal integrity of the organization.
• Develop and monitor the annual organizational budget in partnership with staff and the Board.
• Monitor revenues, expenditures, cash flow, restricted and unrestricted funds, and overall financial performance.
• Review and use financial reports to inform operational decisions, resource allocation, staffing, program development, and organizational sustainability.
• Work closely with the organization's accountant and financial professionals to ensure accurate financial reporting and reconciliation of budgets to actual expenditures.
• Ensure grant expenditures are accurate, allowable, appropriately allocated, adequately documented, and consistent with approved grant budgets and funding requirements.
• Oversee audits, tax filings, financial reporting, and other required fiscal submissions.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and develop strategies to support long-term sustainability.

Grants, Contracts & Fund Development

• Lead the organization's overall grant development and funding strategy.
• Identify, pursue, and secure public and private funding opportunities.
• Develop, write, and submit grant applications, proposals, renewals, and other funding requests.
• Oversee the organization's portfolio of grants, contracts, and funding agreements.
• Ensure grant and contract deliverables, reporting requirements, budgets, and performance measures are appropriately managed.
• Cultivate relationships with government agencies, foundations, corporations, donors, and other funding partners.
• Develop and implement fundraising and resource-development strategies in partnership with staff and the Board.
• Support major fundraising events, donor cultivation, sponsorships, and stewardship.
• Pursue diversified revenue opportunities to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Program Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Provide executive oversight of Safe Haven's programs and services, including emergency shelter, crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, housing, legal advocacy, prevention, and related services.
• Ensure services effectively address the needs of victims and survivors and reflect evidence-informed and trauma-informed practices.
• Monitor program performance, outcomes, utilization, service demand, and emerging community needs.
• Ensure programs meet applicable contractual, regulatory, and funding requirements.
• Promote quality improvement, program coordination, innovation, and responsible growth.
• Protect client confidentiality, safety, dignity, and rights.

Emergency Shelter, Safety & Risk Management

• Provide executive oversight of Safe Haven's confidential-location emergency shelter and crisis-response operations.
• Ensure shelter operations are safe, secure, appropriately staffed, trauma-informed, and responsive to residents and their families.
• Oversee emergency preparedness, continuity-of-operations, security, incident response, workplace safety, cybersecurity, insurance, and other organizational risk-management practices.
• Respond appropriately to significant or emergency situations involving clients, staff, facilities, security, or organizational operations.

Board Relations & Strategic Planning

• Serve as the primary administrative liaison to the Board of Directors.
• Provide the Board with timely and accurate financial, operational, programmatic, personnel, and strategic information.
• Implement Board-approved policies, directives, and strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with the Board and its committees on organizational priorities, financial planning, governance, and strategic planning.
• Develop and monitor annual operational plans and measurable organizational goals.
• Identify opportunities for organizational growth, collaboration, innovation, and increased community impact.

Personnel & Organizational Culture

• Oversee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, supervision, performance management, professional development, and personnel actions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable employment laws, regulations, funding requirements, and organizational policies.
• Maintain effective personnel policies, procedures, job descriptions, and documentation.
• Ensure appropriate staffing and coverage for programs and 24/7/365 crisis and emergency shelter operations.
• Promote employee engagement, retention, professional development, accountability, teamwork, and a healthy workplace culture.
• Address complex personnel matters and workplace concerns with sound judgment and discretion.

Community Relations, Advocacy & Public Representation

• Serve as a primary spokesperson and public representative for Safe Haven.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with municipal, state, and federal officials; law enforcement; courts; healthcare providers; schools; businesses; nonprofit organizations; funders; media; and community leaders.
• Represent Safe Haven with CCADV, The Alliance, governmental agencies, professional organizations, and community partners.
• Support public awareness and prevention efforts addressing domestic and sexual violence.
• Maintain awareness of legislation, regulations, public policy, funding initiatives, and systemic issues affecting the organization and the communities it serves.
• Communicate Safe Haven's impact, needs, accomplishments, and priorities while protecting client confidentiality and organizational security.

Facilities, Technology & Infrastructure

• Oversee Safe Haven's facilities, equipment, vehicles, technology, records, and other organizational assets.
• Ensure facilities are safe, secure, functional, and compliant with applicable requirements.
• Oversee capital improvements, repairs, renovations, and other facility-related projects.
• Ensure appropriate information security, cybersecurity, records management, and data-protection practices.
• Maintain organizational continuity plans addressing critical facilities, technology, staffing, communications, and service delivery.

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated senior-level leadership and management experience, preferably in a nonprofit, human services, public-sector, healthcare, behavioral health, victim services, or related organization.
• Experience leading a complex organization with multiple programs, funding sources, stakeholders, and competing priorities.
• Strong fiscal management experience, including budgeting, financial oversight, forecasting, and accountability for organizational resources.
• Demonstrated experience with grants, contracts, fund development, and/or diversified revenue development.
• Experience supervising, developing, and evaluating employees and organizational leaders.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational development, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, public speaking, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including funders, public officials, community partners, and service providers.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, survivor-centered, culturally responsive, and equitable services.
• Ability to work collaboratively while exercising appropriate executive authority and independent judgment.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in human services, nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience in domestic violence, sexual violence, victim services, behavioral health, human services, or another trauma-focused field.
• Experience managing residential, shelter, crisis-response, or other 24/7 operations.
• Experience with government contracts and state or federal funding.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors and nonprofit governance.
• Experience leading organizational change, growth, program expansion, or restructuring.
• Knowledge of Connecticut's domestic and sexual violence service systems and related laws, regulations, and funding structures.

Equivalent education and professional experience may be considered.

Employment Information

This is a full-time, exempt executive position. The Executive Director's schedule is flexible and must accommodate the operational and leadership demands of the organization, including evening and weekend commitments and response to significant organizational or emergency matters when necessary.

Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The position requires travel for community, professional, governmental, coalition, fundraising, and organizational activities.

Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter by October 20, 2026 to:

Executive Director Search
Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury
P.O. Box 1503
Waterbury, CT 06721
or
search@safehavenofgw.org