Executive Director

The Clothesline is seeking a full-time Executive Director (ED) to take over from its founders and guide the organization to the next stage in its development. The Executive Director will be leading a 7‑year old non‑profit that has become a key element in the social safety net in Arlington, serving over 1,600 children each year. The Clothesline provides a fun but engaged and rewarding workplace for its staff and volunteers.

Our focus is to ensure that each child visiting our store comes away with clothes that help them feel comfortable and confident at school – while treated with respect and dignity.

This position will be responsible for leading the organization’s 5-6 part-time employees and 100+ volunteers. The new ED will work to expand The Clothesline’s reach with donors, community partners and other stakeholders, as well as continue to improve the service provided to families. On an interim basis, the founders will remain in volunteer positions to support the ED for finance/administrative tasks and store merchandising/purchasing.

The ED will report to an expanded Board of Directors of 7-9 members.

The position will be in‑person at The Clothesline’s location in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington.

• Work closely with Development Manager to expand and enhance donor base, particularly with larger institutional, corporate and government donors
• Build and enhance relationships with other components of the Arlington social safety net, County government, and business community
• Represent and advocate for The Clothesline at community stakeholder events and with other community groups

• Work with Board to elaborate 5‑year plan
• Develop and elaborate annual budget with staff for delivery to the Board (Nov/Dec)
• Evaluate similar business models in other parts of the US as well as local non‑profits for best practices
• Develop ways to solicit feedback from clients and other community stakeholders

• Lead store managers in smooth operation of the store
• Set schedules with staff and volunteers to ensure adequate coverage on sorting and shopping days
• Coordinate with Merchandising/Purchasing manager to stock store
• Lead team in coordinating seasonal switch‑overs (Feb and Aug)
• Periodically work on sorting/shopping days to ensure familiarity with day‑to‑day operations
• Identify and implement opportunities where store operations can be improved

A successful candidate will have demonstrated leadership and organizational capabilities, particularly with smaller organizations. Prior experience leading teams will be important. In order to conduct outreach with donors and the community effectively, candidates will need to show prior experience with communicating to a diverse group of stakeholders.

• Experience in fundraising and building donor relationships
• Experience in provision of social services, particularly with families and children
• Experience in retail clothing
• Spanish language proficiency and experience working with the Hispanic community

To be determined based on qualifications and situation.