Executive Director

About East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse Founded in 1979 by a group of Oakland public school teachers, the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has spent more than four decades diverting usable materials from landfills and putting them back into the hands of teachers, artists, and community members. Through its retail store on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, the Depot collects donated art, craft, and educational supplies and redistributes them at low cost, supporting classrooms across the East Bay while advancing a broader mission of environmental sustainability and resource conservation. The organization sits at the intersection of arts, education, and environmentalism — a "creative reuse" model that has become a national movement, with the Depot as one of its longest-standing California examples. Today, the Depot is entering a new chapter: building on its legacy while reimagining its programming, revenue model, and community presence for the next generation. Position Summary The Executive Director (ED) is the organization's chief executive, responsible for the overall health, direction, and sustainability of the Depot. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who is equally comfortable setting long-term strategy and rolling up their sleeves in a lean staffing environment. The ED will balance mission impact with revenue generation, rebuild and pilot programming, strengthen the organization's financial footing, and position the Depot for long-term sustainability — as a physical anchor in the community, a trusted reputation, and a partner to the broader arts, education, and environmental ecosystem in the East Bay. This is an ideal opportunity for an entrepreneurial, community-minded leader who wants to shape the next chapter of a beloved, decades-old institution. Key Responsibilities ⇨ Strategic Leadership & Organizational Sustainability Develop and lead execution of a long-term strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Directors. Secure the organization's long-term sustainability across multiple dimensions: physical space/location, financial health, community reputation, programmatic impact, and community engagement. Build and steward partnerships with schools, artists, environmental organizations, and community groups. ⇨ Revenue Generation & Financial Management Identify, secure and grow relationships with key earned and contributed revenue funders. Grow both contributed revenue (grants, individual donors, corporate/foundation support, fundraising events) and earned revenue (retail sales, program fees, partnerships). Own budgeting, financial forecasting, and financial modeling; ensure the organization operates within a $500K–$1M annual budget with sound fiscal discipline. Explore and pilot new earned-revenue models appropriate to a creative reuse organization. ⇨ Programming Rebuild and reimagine educational and community programming after a period of contraction, in service of the Depot's arts, education, and sustainability mission. Design, pilot, and evaluate new program models; iterate based on community need and organizational capacity. ⇨ External Presence & Community Engagement Serve as the primary public face of the organization to funders, partners, media, and the local business community. Lead the organization's digital presence (website, social media, email) in coordination with staff and contractors. Represent the Depot in coalitions, business associations, and civic conversations relevant to arts, education, and sustainability in the East Bay. ⇨ People & Operations Manage a lean staff and directly supervise key roles including the full-time Store Manager, part-time Administrative Manager, and part-time newly created Green Educator Program Manager. Foster a workplace culture grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion, with attention to staff development and growth. Provide strategic oversight of retail store operations, donation intake, and volunteer program in partnership with Store Manager and staff. ⇨ Board Relations Partner with the Board of Directors to carry out the Depot’s mission and to develop and carry out the strategic plan. Support the Board of Directors by providing strategic guidance for current operations as well as planned growth. Support board operations and functions such as board meetings, compliance, and committee work. Regularly communicate to the board regarding operations and any legal, financial, and operational risks or compliance gaps. ⇨ Financial And Nonprofit Compliance Ensure that the Depot complies with all laws, regulations, and internal policies. Prepare data for annual tax filings. Oversee the tracking of grant funds to ensure spending complies with the funder’s requirements. Oversee the maintenance of accurate financial records. Qualifications A track record of nonprofit, retail, small business, or organizational leadership; formal education is valued but a traditional four-year degree is not required — equivalent experience will be given full consideration. Demonstrated experience with nonprofit financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling. Experience growing revenue — ideally a mix of both earned and contributed income. Comfort operating in a lean organization, with the flexibility to move between strategic and hands-on operational work. Experience developing or executing strategic plans and building external partnerships. Genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to developing staff. Passion for the intersection of arts, education, and environmental sustainability. Prior supervisory experience, including managing full-time and part-time staff. Familiarity with the East Bay/Oakland community and its arts, education, or environmental nonprofit landscape is a plus. East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. Candidates of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply, including those without traditional four-year degrees but with relevant lived and professional experience. The organization will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.