Summary
Description
ABOUT LA PLAZA
La Plaza supports the health and wellbeing of migrant and immigrant communities in Mesa County, Colorado. Through empowerment and advocacy, we help members and their families equitably access resources that improve their lives.
Founded in 1954 and rooted in service to migrant farmworker families, our mission is to serve, empower, and cultivate the wellbeing of migrant and immigrant agricultural workers and their families in the Grand Valley.
From our Palisade location, we provide education programs, a seasonal food pantry, and a clothing closet while facilitating access to health clinics, tax preparation, and hunger and economic relief programs. We advocate locally, regionally, and statewide, and build community through resource nights, social gatherings, and volunteer opportunities.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Executive Director partners with the Board of Directors to provide strategic, financial, and operational leadership for a close-knit organization with a dedicated staff. This leader ensures La Plaza remains a trusted, welcoming, and effective resource for migrant and immigrant farmworker families across the Grand Valley.
This is a hands-on role. The Executive Director leads, mentors, and directly supports a small team, builds a collaborative culture, and works alongside staff and volunteers to deliver services when needed. They ensure programs respond to evolving community needs, seasonal agricultural cycles, and policy changes affecting immigrant communities.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director oversees strategy, fundraising, finances, staff and volunteer leadership, programs, advocacy, communications, and organizational compliance. Success requires independent judgment, sound decisions, and a commitment to working closely with staff and community members.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership and Planning
• Partner with the Board to develop, implement, and update a multiyear strategic plan.
• Gather input from members, partners, and staff to assess community needs and guide program and resource decisions.
• Monitor immigration, labor, public benefits, and health policy developments and assess their organizational and community impact.
• Identify risks and opportunities and coordinate contingency, continuity, and succession planning with the Board.
Team Leadership and Staff Support
• Lead a small staff team with trust, accountability, collaboration, and shared purpose.
• Develop job descriptions and lead hiring, prioritizing candidates who reflect and can authentically serve La Plaza’s communities.
• Provide training and professional development, including confidentiality, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed care.
• Coach staff, provide regular feedback, conduct annual evaluations, and address performance concerns.
• Maintain personnel policies and an employee handbook consistent with applicable federal and Colorado employment laws.
• Monitor workload and staff wellbeing, recognizing the emotional demands of community-facing work and taking steps to prevent burnout.
• Model La Plaza’s mission, vision, and values in daily leadership.
Resource Development
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan with revenue targets and diverse funding sources, including foundations, government, individuals, businesses, events, and in-kind gifts.
• Oversee the grant lifecycle: prospect research, applications, outcomes and measurement, reporting, compliance, and funder relationships.
• Grow individual giving through campaigns, donor cultivation, stewardship, accurate records, and timely acknowledgments and tax documentation.
• Build partnerships with funders, businesses, agricultural employers and growers, civic and religious organizations, and nonprofit agencies.
• Engage Board members in fundraising and coordinate staff support for fundraising activities and events.
Financial Management
• Prepare the annual budget for Board approval and manage operations within approved guidelines.
• Provide monthly financial statements and budget reports, explain variances, and recommend adjustments.
• Work with the bookkeeper and Office Administrator on financial operations, audits or reviews, and tax filings, including Form 990.
• Maintain financial integrity, sound accounting practices, and internal controls.
• Monitor cash flow, restricted and unrestricted funds, and grant expense allocations.
• Partner with the Board to build operating reserves and long-term financial sustainability.
Program Oversight
• Oversee the development, delivery, and evaluation of programs supporting food, clothing, education, health navigation, transportation, tax preparation access, and other member needs.
• Use data, member feedback, and outcome measures to improve program quality and ensure compliance across sites and activities.
• Ensure services are dignified, accessible, welcoming, and delivered in members’ preferred language whenever possible.
• Protect member confidentiality, particularly information concerning immigration status, health, and finances.
• Support direct services to farmworkers and their families as needed.
Advocacy and Community Engagement
• Represent La Plaza and migrant and immigrant communities locally, regionally, and statewide.
• Participate in coalitions addressing farmworker and immigrant wellbeing, health access, food security, and economic opportunity.
• Ensure advocacy complies with requirements applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Serve as a visible, credible organizational representative and primary spokesperson, including during sensitive or crisis situations.
• Oversee English- and Spanish-language communications through social media, the website, print materials, newsletters, and an annual impact report.
• Ensure member stories and images are shared with informed consent and respect for safety and privacy.
Board Partnership and Governance
• Prepare reports for monthly Board meetings and maintain transparent communication.
• Support Board recruitment, orientation, committee work, and governance and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, insurance, and contractual requirements, including charitable registration and corporate filings.
• Oversee implementation and periodic review of organizational policies and operations.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in human services, nonprofit management, social work, public health, or a related field, OR an equivalent combination of lived and professional experience.
• At least three years of management experience, including direct personnel leadership, ideally in a small team or organization.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and develop staff and build a cohesive team culture.
• Experience in budget development and financial oversight.
• Demonstrated fundraising success and experience writing and managing grants.
• Experience working with diverse communities, including people from low-income and immigrant backgrounds.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish sufficient to communicate with La Plaza members.
• Valid Colorado driver’s license and an insured personal vehicle suitable for work-related travel.
Preferred
• Deep personal experience with or connection to migrant, immigrant, or agricultural worker communities.
• Familiarity with Mesa County, the Grand Valley, or the Western Slope.
• Experience supporting a nonprofit board of directors.
• Familiarity with Colorado systems related to health access, food security, public benefits, or immigrant services.
• Working knowledge of accounting software, such as QuickBooks, and donor or constituent databases.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance, fundraising, financial management, and program evaluation.
• Ability to build trust with members, staff, volunteers, funders, partners, and public officials.
• Ability to analyze information, set priorities, manage competing deadlines, and make sound decisions under pressure.
COMPENSATION AND LOGISTICS
Location: Palisade, Colorado, with travel throughout Mesa County and the Grand Valley and occasional statewide travel.
Salary: $60,000–$80,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
Benefits: Health benefits and paid time off; details provided during the hiring process.
Preferred start date: On or before February 1, 2027.
Reports to: La Plaza Board of Directors.
Key relationships include a small staff team, the Office Administrator, contract support including a bookkeeper, funders, donors, volunteers, local orchard owners, community members, partners, and coalition organizations.
HOW TO APPLY
Cultura Leadership Consulting is conducting this search on behalf of La Plaza. The search is led by Marisol Solarte-Erlacher and Sonya Ulibarri.
Submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to info@culturaleadership.com.
Applications will be reviewed as received until the position is filled. For priority consideration, submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, 2026.
