Executive Director

Executive Director 

The Root Cellar 

Online Job Posting

Lewiston & Portland, Maine

About The Root Cellar 

For more than forty years, The Root Cellar has been engaging neighbors and volunteers to cultivate social, economic, and spiritual wholeness in the way of Jesus.

Founded in Portland in 1984 and expanded to Lewiston in 2009, The Root Cellar has grown into one of Maine’s most respected faith-based community organizations. Through youth mentoring, workforce development, English language learning, food access programs, trauma healing groups, community engagement initiatives, and holistic neighborhood ministry, thousands of individuals are served each year.

The Root Cellar believes that meaningful transformation happens through relationships. We seek to be good neighbors, creating spaces where people are known, valued, and equipped to flourish. Rooted in Christian faith and committed to serving people from all backgrounds, we work alongside churches, volunteers, community partners, and neighbors to strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Today, The Root Cellar serves communities in Lewiston and Portland through a growing team of staff, hundreds of volunteers, and a shared commitment to seeing lives transformed and neighborhoods renewed.

The Opportunity 

The Root Cellar is seeking a Kingdom minded leader to steward a thriving ministry that has faithfully served the neighborhoods of Lewiston and Portland for more than forty years.

This is not simply an opportunity to lead a nonprofit organization. It is an opportunity to join a story that God has been writing through churches, volunteers, neighbors, staff members, and community partners for generations.

The Root Cellar exists to engage neighbors and volunteers to cultivate social, economic, and spiritual wholeness as part of God’s Kingdom. Through youth mentoring, workforce development, English language learning, food access initiatives, trauma healing, and community engagement, thousands of individuals are impacted each year.

While deeply rooted in neighborhood ministry, The Root Cellar’s influence extends far beyond the blocks surrounding its buildings. The organization has become a trusted presence in Lewiston and Portland, serving as a bridge between churches, schools, businesses, government agencies, and families from around the world. The work begins in neighborhoods, but increasingly contributes to the flourishing of entire cities.

The next Executive Director will provide spiritual, strategic, and organizational stewardship while helping guide a healthy and growing ministry. This leader will build upon a strong foundation, support an exceptional staff team, strengthen partnerships throughout Maine, and help discern how God is calling The Root Cellar to serve its communities in the years ahead.

In addition to its ministry and programmatic work, The Root Cellar is actively investing in the long-term flourishing of its neighborhood through strategic community development initiatives.  The organization currently owns two residential apartment buildings and adjacent property in downtown Lewiston, creating opportunities for affordable housing, community investment, and future expansion. The next Executive Director will play an important role in stewarding these assets and helping shape a long-term vision for neighborhood transformation.

Most importantly, we are not looking for someone to bring their own vision for Lewiston and Portland. We are seeking a leader who can prayerfully discern, faithfully steward, and courageously pursue God’s vision for these communities alongside our staff, volunteers, supporters, and neighbors.

Key Areas of Stewardship 

Mission & Spiritual Leadership

• Champion The Root Cellar’s Christian mission, values, and culture in each location.
• Foster an environment of prayer, discipleship, hospitality, and service alongside neighbors and volunteers.
• Ensure that ministry remains rooted in the Gospel while welcoming people from all backgrounds.
• Serve as a visible ambassador of The Root Cellar throughout the cities of Portland and Lewiston.
• Organizational Leadership
• Steward the overall health and effectiveness of the organization.
• Lead, support, and develop a multi-site staff team.
• Strengthen organizational culture and leadership development.
• Ensure operational excellence, accountability, and strategic alignment.
• Collaborate closely with program and operational leaders to advance organizational goals.
• Fundraising & Resource Development
• Cultivate relationships with donors, churches, foundations, businesses, and community partners.
• Serve as the primary storyteller and representative of the organization.
• Help secure the financial resources necessary to sustain and expand the mission.
• Partner with the Board of Directors to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Community Development & Neighborhood Investment

• Provide strategic leadership for The Root Cellar’s growing community development initiatives.
• Steward residential housing assets and future development opportunities.
• Collaborate with staff, community partners, contractors, and funders on neighborhood improvement efforts.
• Help ensure that future facilities, housing initiatives, and expansion projects align with organizational mission and values.
• Guide long-range planning related to campus development and neighborhood impact. Strategic Growth & Partnerships
• Lead strategic planning and organizational visioning efforts.
• Add something about Portland and Lewiston growth/vision
• Identify opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and expanded impact.
• Strengthen partnerships with churches, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies.
• Help position The Root Cellar for future growth and sustainability.
• Board Partnership
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to advance mission and strategy.
• Provide regular reporting, strategic recommendations, and organizational leadership.
• Support healthy governance and long-term organizational sustainability.

Qualifications 

Required

• A mature and growing Christian faith.
• Demonstrated commitment to servant leadership.
• Experience leading teams and developing leaders.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• At least 5 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, ministry leadership, business leadership, or a related field.
• Strategic thinking and organizational management abilities.
• Experience cultivating partnerships, donors, or other key stakeholders. Preferred
• Experience leading a multi-site organization.
• Experience in community development, neighborhood revitalization, housing initiatives, or urban ministry.
• Experience working across diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent leadership experience.

Who We’re Looking For 

The ideal candidate is:

• Deeply committed to following Jesus.
• A servant leader who leads with humility, conviction, and wisdom.
• A developer of people and teams.
• Comfortable in both board rooms and neighborhood settings.
• A relationship builder who connects easily with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Equally passionate about ministry impact and organizational excellence.
• Able to inspire confidence among staff, volunteers, donors, churches, and community leaders.
• Excited about helping steward the next chapter of The Root Cellar’s mission.

Why Now? 

The Root Cellar enters this transition from a position of strength, stability, and opportunity.

After more than thirteen years of leadership, the current Executive Director is transitioning to a new season of ministry. This transition has been planned intentionally and thoughtfully, with a commitment to organizational health and long-term sustainability. The departing Executive Director remains supportive of the organization and committed to assisting with a healthy leadership transition.

The organization benefits from a talented and experienced leadership team that is deeply invested in the mission and well-positioned to continue advancing the work. Strong systems, trusted community partnerships, healthy governance, and a dedicated Board of Directors provide additional stability and support.

The Root Cellar also finds itself in a season of significant opportunity. Recent investments in housing and community development, continued program growth, expanding partnerships, and a growing reputation throughout Maine create exciting possibilities for the future.

The next Executive Director will not be asked to rescue a struggling organization. Rather, they will have the opportunity to steward a healthy ministry, build upon decades of faithful work, and help guide The Root Cellar into its next chapter of impact and service.

For the right leader, this represents a rare opportunity to steward an established ministry, develop emerging leaders, strengthen neighborhoods, contribute to the flourishing of entire cities, and participate in God’s ongoing work in Lewiston, Portland, and beyond.

Position Details 

• Full-Time, Exempt
• Based in both Portland and Lewiston locations
• Competitive salary and health, dental, 3% match IRA benefits package to commensurate with experience

The Root Cellar is committed to building a team of talented, mission-driven individuals who share a passion for loving neighbors, strengthening communities, and cultivating social, economic, and spiritual wholeness as part of God’s Kingdom.