Director of Ecosystem and Resilience

Position Title: Director of Ecosystem & ResilienceLocation: 11821 East Freeway, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77029Employment Type: Full-Time, ExemptWork Mode: In- PersonReports to: Chief Impact OfficerSalary Range: $75,000 – $90,000 annually + up to 10% Performance Bonus About East Harris County Empowerment Council (EHCEC) EHCEC is a high-growth, tech-enabled, AI-powered community and economic development organization serving six communities across East Harris County. We strengthen families, build resilient communities, and expand opportunity through essential services, disaster preparedness, economic mobility, and regional partnership-building. We operate with the speed of a start-up, the discipline of a high-performance team, and the collaborative energy of a regional anchor institution driving long-term community change. Position Summary The Director of Ecosystem & Resilience serves as the strategic and operational leader for a rapidly growing division that the Director will be responsible for building, expanding, and shaping into one of EHCEC’s largest program centers over time. The role oversees and scales a suite of basic needs programs, social assistance services, and disaster preparedness initiatives, while strengthening the regional resilience ecosystem through cross-sector coordination, expanded service capacity, and scalable systems. As EHCEC continues to grow, this role will expand to oversee the full suite of programs within the Community Resilience & Basic Needs division. This evolution will occur gradually over 3–4 years and will be supported with added staffing, structure, and organizational capacity. This is a builder role—ideal for a high-capacity leader who thrives at the intersection of community services, resilience planning, systems design, regional partnership development, and organizational scaling. Why This Job Matters Families in East Harris County face recurring challenges—daily basic needs, chronic hardship, and frequent natural disasters. The region needs a responsive, coordinated, and scalable support system that serves people every day, not just during emergencies. This program center is in an intentional growth phase, and the Director will play a foundational role in designing its structure, systems, staffing, and long-term strategy as EHCEC scales. The Director strengthens: The safety net (food, housing, utilities, navigation, financial assistance) Community resilience (preparedness training, recovery support, emergency response) Regional coordination (partner alignment, resource flow, shared protocols) Long-term capacity (systems, staffing, infrastructure, sustainable growth) You ensure families have stability before, during, and after a crisis—and that the region grows more connected and resilient year over year. What You’ll Be Responsible For The Director will initially focus on building the division’s operational infrastructure and ecosystem relationships, laying the groundwork for a fully developed, high-capacity program center over the next several years. 1. Build & Scale the Basic Needs and Social Assistance Portfolio (35%) Oversee programs including food distributions, housing/utility assistance, financial aid, resource navigation, benefits enrollment, and case management. Expand program reach through improved processes, staffing, technology, and partnerships. Supervise and develop program staff, AmeriCorps, interns, contractors, and volunteers. Manage budgets, performance indicators, compliance requirements, and program reporting. 2. Build & Strengthen the Regional Resilience Ecosystem (25%) Develop and maintain a living Ecosystem Map of services, providers, and capacities across the region. Create collaboration infrastructure (MOUs, referral pathways, coordination protocols). Lead quarterly resilience convenings and cross-sector working groups. Serve as the point person for partner relationships across nonprofits, schools, government, and county agencies. 3. Oversee Disaster Preparedness, Response & Recovery (20%) Lead preparedness workshops, multilingual community trainings, and public campaigns. Serve as EHCEC’s coordination lead during disasters, activating partners and mobilizing resources. Manage post-disaster recovery support and service coordination. Maintain emergency operations dashboards, workflows, and communication protocols. 4. Build Scalable Systems, Workflows & Data Tools (20%) Create modern, tech-enabled SOPs, dashboards, and process maps that support scale. Integrate AI tools to streamline operations and improve service access. Establish performance management systems for quality, impact, and accountability. Work closely with Systems, Strategy & Innovation to modernize and document all workflows. Who This Job is For ✅ A Builder & Systems Architect: You create programs, structures, and processes that scale. ✅ A Skilled Convener: You unite cross-sector partners and drive collaborative solutions. ✅ A Leader of People & Programs: You coach, motivate, and set clear expectations. ✅ A High-Capacity Operator: You excel in fast-paced environments where clarity and speed matter. ✅ Mission-Driven & Community-Centered: You care deeply about family stability and long-term resilience. Who This Job is NOT For 🚫 Prefers predictable, slow-moving environments.🚫 Wants to manage programs instead of engineering ecosystems.🚫 Avoids data, accountability, and outcome tracking.🚫 Seeks nonprofit pace and nonprofit pay in a high-performance culture. What You Bring Demonstrated and proven experience in community services, basic needs, social assistance, disaster preparedness, or related fields Proven track record overseeing multiple programs or service portfolios Demonstrated experience scaling programs, teams, or systems in a growing organizationProven ability to build and maintain cross-sector partnerships and lead collaborative initiatives Strong operational experience with data systems, workflows, technology, and performance measurement Ability to lead during emergency activations and high-pressure situations What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months) The program center operates as a structured, documented, tech-enabled unit with growing capacity. Program reach increases through at least strategic partnerships, workflows, and staffing. A regional Ecosystem Map is launched and actively used. At least 5 MOUs and 3 collaborative funding proposals are executed. 12+ preparedness or community training delivered with 85%+ satisfaction. Hold 6 cross-sector convenings with at least 20 partners annually. EHCEC successfully leads at least one coordinated emergency activation. Families experience faster, clearer, more seamless access to resources and support. What We Offer We know that great work comes from happy, supported employees. That’s why we offer: Competitive Salary – We recognize and reward talent. Comprehensive Benefits – 100% employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage. Generous PTO – 30 days plus 6 health and wellness days of paid time off annually. 401(k) Match – We match dollar-for-dollar up to 5%. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Confidential support for mental health, financial counseling, and personal wellness. Employee Snack Bar – Complimentary snacks and refreshments to keep you energized throughout the day. Career Advancement Opportunities – Ongoing professional development, mentorship, and leadership training to support your growth. True Team Atmosphere – A culture built on collaboration, inclusivity, and shared success. Team Culture – Annual retreats, quarterly team-building events, and a commitment to work-life balance. Physical Conditions: The staff person must be able to attend meetings on nights and weekends as needed. EHCEC is a collaborative work setting. Employees pitch in to help each other with responsibilities as needed. Team members will be expected to contribute to teamwork and a sense of collaboration. Disclaimer: This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the employer. EHCEC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.