Latino Connection Foundation - Executive Director

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Organization Overview: Latino Connection Foundation

The Latino Connection Foundation (LCF) is a nonprofit organization created to advance opportunity, stability, and representation for Latino communities across Pennsylvania and beyond. Founded by George Fernández, philanthropist, entrepreneur and owner of Latino Connection, a leading public health and community engagement firm, LCF was formed to expand impact beyond the limits of a for-profit structure and to advance long-term, community-driven change through philanthropy, advocacy, and equitable development.

Grounded in a mission to strengthen marginalized communities and fuel economic mobility, LCF works to connect Latino families with the resources, pathways, and opportunities they need to thrive. The Foundation’s vision is bold: to achieve robust representation of Latino leaders in the fields most critical to community well-being - housing, public health, health literacy, education, financial stability, and economic mobility. LCF seeks to build the next generation of Latino leaders while directly confronting the systemic gaps that continue to limit access, opportunity, and upward mobility.

LCF’s work is organized around three foundational pillars:

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing sits at the heart of LCF’s mission. LCF believes that housing is not only essential to a healthy community, it is a fundamental human right. Inspired by Fernández’s longstanding commitment to equitable housing, this pillar focuses on acquiring land, developing high-quality, culturally inclusive affordable housing, and supporting community-led development efforts that stabilize families and prevent displacement. LCF aims to build projects that are aligned with resident needs, community identity, and long-term sustainability. Current development projects include:

• Sycamore Homes: A 23-unit, $4.8M affordable housing development that opened formally in April of 2025.
• Woodward Lofts: A 48-unit senior living community made possible through awarded LIHTC funding; this $18M redevelopment of the former Woodward Elementary School began construction in late 2025.

Public Health

LCF believes that access to comprehensive, culturally competent healthcare is essential for Latino communities to thrive. Through innovative community-based programming, education, and partnerships with healthcare systems, the Public Health pillar works to break down barriers to healthcare and improve health outcomes. This includes preventive health services, health literacy initiatives, wellness programs, mobile outreach, and public policy education. LCF also plays an important role in educating communities about the impact of preemption and other policy barriers that restrict local authority to address public health inequities. Through training, webinars, and community engagement, LCF helps residents understand how law and policy shape health outcomes and the conditions in which people live.

Workforce Development

LCF is focused on creating pathways to good jobs and advancing economic mobility for Latino workers. This work will include building employer partnerships, connecting jobseekers with training programs, and fostering career pipelines across healthcare, construction, public health, and other high-demand fields. LCF aims to support individuals not only in securing work, but in building long-term careers that provide stability, dignity, and opportunity.

Position Summary: Executive Director

LCF is at a pivotal moment in its development. While early programs and part-time staff are in place, the organization is now poised for its first major chapter of growth - requiring strong, decisive leadership. In the next 12–24 months, LCF will formalize its infrastructure, expand its partnerships, deepen its programmatic impact, and begin executing multi-year plans across all three pillars. This moment calls for a leader who is entrepreneurial, bold, and unafraid to build something from the ground up.

With the above in mind, the Latino Connection Foundation Board of Directors is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial, and fearless Executive Director (ED) to lead this next phase of the organization’s growth. As the inaugural Executive Director, this individual will shape LCF’s identity, set its strategic direction, build and manage its systems, and serve as the primary external ambassador of its mission.

This role requires a leader who is hands-on, self-directed, and capable of executing both high-level vision and operational detail. The Executive Director must bring deep experience in affordable housing and HUD regulations as well as strong familiar with public health systems, fundraising, and government grants.

This role requires a hands-on, self-directed leader who can drive an ambitious housing agenda while laying the groundwork for LCF’s long-term growth. In the early years, the Executive Director will focus heavily on advancing LCF’s active affordable housing projects, navigating HUD requirements, and stewarding relationships with development partners and public agencies. As these projects stabilize and the organization continues to build momentum, the Executive Director will expand their focus to include broader public health initiatives, fundraising strategy, and the development of new community programs and partnerships that strengthen LCF’s impact.

Reporting to the Board of Directors—and working in partnership with Latino Connection, other community partners, local government agencies, philanthropy, and cross-sector stakeholders—the ED will lead all aspects of organizational development, program execution, fundraising strategy, land acquisition for housing projects, and public health program expansion. The ED must be equally at ease in community spaces, government meetings, and corporate boardrooms.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive 3-, 5-, and 7-year strategic plan aligned with LCF’s mission and three pillars.
• Build organizational systems, processes, and culture appropriate for a start-up nonprofit poised for growth.
• Serve as the primary strategist behind LCF’s expansion, ensuring clear priorities, timelines, and accountability.

Affordable Housing Development:

• Oversee the ongoing development of the Woodward Lofts.
• Identify potential parcels of land for future affordable housing developments, conduct due diligence, and lead acquisition efforts.
• Apply for, manage, and oversee HUD-related funding sources, compliance requirements, and reporting.
• Manage vendors, architects, contractors, and development partners to ensure high-quality, on-time project execution.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local housing regulations by monitoring requirements, preparing documentation, and coordinating with legal and regulatory agencies.

Fundraising & Resource Development:

• Build and execute a fundraising strategy to raise $1–2 million annually through philanthropy, government grants, corporate partnerships, and earned revenue.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, public agencies, foundations, and investors.
• Lead grant writing, proposal development, and stewardship efforts.

Public Health & Workforce Development Strategy

• Establish and advance the Public Health & Workforce Development pillars by defining initial strategy, goals, and implementation milestones.
• Identify required resources and cultivate partnerships with healthcare providers, employers, training organizations, and public agencies.
• Develop integrated approaches that align health, housing, and workforce efforts to support long-term community stability.

Organizational Management:

• Build and manage a small but growing team, existing part-time staff, and external consultants.
• Oversee financial management, budgeting, and fiscal stewardship.
• Establish a strong internal culture centered on accountability, transparency, and community impact.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as a visible and credible representative of LCF across community events, public forums, and partner convenings.
• Build trust with community members, grassroots organizations, and mission-aligned partners.
• Embed cultural competency and humility into all aspects of external engagement.

Board Relations:

• Provide strategic guidance, transparent reporting, and partnership to the Board of Directors.
• Engage the Board in governance, fundraising, and strategic planning.

Location, Compensation and Benefits

The Executive Director will be based in the Central PA region with regular regional travel required to meet partners, visit development sites, and engage community stakeholders. This is a hands-on, community-centered role where visibility and presence are essential. A hybrid work structure is available, with on-site engagement expected as part of the position’s core responsibilities.

Compensation for this role is commensurate with experience, with an anticipated salary range of $110,000–$140,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

About Maneva Group

Maneva Group is a leading woman and minority-owned executive search firm dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with organizations committed to making a meaningful impact. Through a consultative and client-focused approach, Maneva Group partners with mission-driven organizations to build transformative leadership teams.

Our name, Maneva, comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words: “Mānav” meaning mankind & “Sevā” meaning service. We are driven by the ideal of our name - service to humanity.