Black Mountain Counseling Center (BMCC) seeks a visionary and transformational Executive Director to take the organization to the next level - growing our high quality, professional mental health services, growing staff, and growing the budget.
The Area
When people think of Black Mountain, the word that comes to mind first is 'beautiful.' Nestled in the heart of the Western North Carolina mountains, Black Mountain is a small town with big charm. From its quaint shops and locally-owned restaurants to its beautiful hiking trails and stunning mountain views, Black Mountain has something for everyone. Black Mountain’s friendly character and graceful setting have long lured botanists, hikers, travelers, and others seeking to commune with the great outdoors.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our region faced unprecedented devastation, including Black Mountain Counseling Center. BMCC’s newly opened and quickly beloved office in Old Fort was tragically lost to the storm. Our Black Mountain office suffered significant damage as well; flooding the basement, impacting critical parts of the building, and ultimately reducing our private counseling spaces. Despite these challenges, BMCC’s commitment to providing mental health support remained unwavering. Within days of the storm, BMCC counselors affirmed their commitment to caring for their neighbors, launched a helpline for immediate support, and staffed in-person clinics. Staff has since found a new normal and is working diligently to see as many clients as possible.
The Organization:
BMCC envisions a place where everyone has access to the mental health support that they need regardless of their ability to pay. Since 2007, the organization has provided professional counseling services to children, adults, elders, couples, families, and groups. BMCC provides many types of counseling including behavioral, career, substance use, childhood development, and more. BMCC accepts all insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and uses BMCC’s donation-funded internal insurance systems for clients who are uninsured or underinsured. The primary service area includes Black Mountain, Swannanoa, and Old Fort.
BMCC is led by a diverse board of directors made up of 11 members who reflect the range of perspectives that shape our area - business, nonprofit, and civic leaders. BMCC has a dedicated staff including three full-time and two part-time positions plus 9 contract therapists.
In 2024, the organization served 270 clients with almost 4,000 client sessions – the most in the organization’s history. The 2025 annual budget is~ $550,000.
Position Summary
BMCC’s Executive Director will be the key player in growing the organization strategically, ensuring the organization’s financial and operational health while overseeing the provision of high-quality services, partnership and community engagement, and board management.
The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and supervises the Clinical Director, Office Administrator, Development Coordinator, Community Outreach Coordinator, and School Partnership Coordinator.
Priorities for the new Executive Director
The new leader will lead the organization in focusing on the following priorities within the first 12-18 months of their tenure:
● Grow the organization as it provides high quality, affordable mental health care that is responsive to community needs
● Focus on engagement and relationships with the community, staff, board, and partner organizations
● Develop and implement a sustainable funding model
Primary Responsibilities
● Maintain alignment between the overall vision, mission, and core values of the
organization and our work of offering counseling to individuals and education to the community about mental health.
● Ensure effective systems are in place to track progress to goals, evaluate program components, and communicate outcomes to the board, funders, and constituents.
● Continue a strong working relationship with the Board of Directors to define and implement governance best practices.
● Refine and enhance BMCC’s fundraising strategy, including short and long-term goals for individual donors, business support, and grants.
● Partner with the Development Coordinator and board to achieve fundraising goals.
● Manage, cultivate, and retain a solid donor base through quality relationships.
● Be the lead spokesperson for BMCC via excellent verbal and written
communication skills and experience.
● Oversee outreach to varied audiences about mental health
● Oversee the development and distribution of excellent communication materials
that articulate the goals, challenges and accomplishments of BMCC.
● Hire, manage, lead, retain, and empower a high-performing team enabled
by a culture rooted in the mission and values of the organization.
● Invest in and support talent to build successors for key roles, contributing to the
sustainability of the team and organization.
● Manage BMCC’s annual operating budget
● Ensure that effective operating processes and procedures are in place for delivering on organizational goals and responsibilities.
● Manage the systems and processes related to human resources, staff benefits, payroll, etc.
The strongest candidates will have these qualifications:
● Commitment to and passion for the BMCC vision, mission, and values
● Strategic nonprofit leader - Experience as a nonprofit senior leader who has managed staff and used global thinking to navigate organizational complexity and evolution.
● Extraordinary relationship-builder and constituent manager - Skill in developing deep and influential relationships with community leaders, board members, staff members, donors, and other key stakeholders.
● Successful fundraiser - Proven track record in diversifying funding streams and donor portfolios to include both institutional and individual donors.
● Effective communicator – Strong leadership presence and expertise as a strategic communicator who can offer compelling messages that increase understanding and organization support.
● Finance and human resource manager – High-level financial knowledge and human resource expertise.
● High level of emotional intelligence – accurately perceive and express yourself, personal humility, empathy, develop and maintain social relationships, adapt to challenges, and use emotions in an effective way. Professional and personal style consistent with the supportive, open, collaborative team-oriented culture of Black Mountain Counseling Center.
Additional desired skills and experiences:
● Advanced degree in a mental health or a related field - or other relevant experience.
● We prefer applicants with local knowledge but we also welcome transplants with nonprofit leadership expertise.
● Results-orientation -Past record of effective planning, tracking and achieving
outstanding results.
Compensation:
● Salary: $85,000
● Benefits:
o Discretionary medical stipend: $7,000
o Retirement – 3% match
o Full-time flexible work schedule
o Paid Holidays: 11 days
o Paid Time Off: 15 days
o Sick leave: 10 days
To apply:
To apply, please send a resume and a detailed cover letter, that demonstrates the fit between your qualifications to the skills and experience above, in one pdf file using the following naming convention: “Your Last Name-Your First Name.pdf”, via email only to:
BMCC Search Committee
Please, no phone calls, faxes, or snail mail.
The hiring process:
The position closes July 11, 2025. Selected candidates may be invited to multiple interviews conducted on Zoom and in-person in August-September. Ideally the new Executive Director will start work on or before November 1, 2025.
Finalists will be required to complete a criminal background check.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Studies have shown that candidates that are female and/or BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications they find in the job description. We are seeking the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be a person who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every minimum qualification described or are unsure if your experience could be considered related experience.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b) matching
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Ability to Commute:
- Black Mountain, NC 28711 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Black Mountain, NC 28711: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
