Executive Director

About Newtrax

Newtrax is dedicated to creating transportation access and bridging gaps to meaningful vocation and community life for individuals whose opportunities might otherwise be limited. Through safe, compassionate, reliable, and cost-effective transportation services, Newtrax enables adults with disabilities and seniors to access employment, programs, services, and opportunities to participate fully in their communities.


Founded in 2011 through a collaborative venture between two disability and human services organizations, Merrick, Inc. and PAI, Newtrax was established to address a critical transportation need for the individuals served by its founding partners. Today, Newtrax provides more than 1,200 one-way rides each day for adults with disabilities, seniors, and others with other unmet transportation needs, approximately one-third of which require lift-equipped vehicles. Through partnerships with organizations across its communities, Newtrax continues to expand access to essential transportation services and help ensure individuals can stay connected to their communities.

Newtrax is proud to have been named a Best Place to Work in 2025, marking the third consecutive year the organization has received this recognition. The award reflects Newtrax's commitment to fostering a positive, engaging, and supportive work environment for its team members. As Newtrax continues to grow and evolve, it remains committed to creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and connected to the organization's mission and the people it serves.


Driving the work at Newtrax is a commitment to the core values of:

• Safety - Ensure the safety of riders, employees, and the community at large.
• Customer Service - Bring value to everyone we encounter.
• Community Asset - Collaboratively bridging transportation gaps.
• Efficiency - Creatively maximizing safety and productivity while reducing expenses, work, and energy.
• Innovation - Consider the here and now but also the what's next.

Learn more about Newtrax at .

The Opportunity


Newtrax is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to build upon a strong foundation while helping shape the organization's future. Operationally stable, financially sound, and supported by a highly committed and experienced team, Newtrax is a respected organization with a clear purpose: helping people access transportation and remain connected to their communities.


The next ED will succeed a long-time leader and have the opportunity to guide the organization through this transition with thoughtfulness, empathy, and a deep respect for the culture and people that have contributed to Newtrax's success. This is an exciting opportunity for a leader who can honor the organization's history while bringing fresh perspective and helping Newtrax identify new ways to strengthen its impact and respond to the evolving transportation needs of the individuals, partners, and communities it serves.


At its core, Newtrax operates at the intersection of transportation, independence, and community connection. The next ED will have an opportunity to think broadly about how the organization can continue to meet community needs in a changing environment while ensuring that its services remain accessible, responsive, and sustainable.


The ED will also serve as a key ambassador for Newtrax throughout White Bear Lake and the surrounding communities, building relationships with community leaders, partner organizations, funders, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), other government agencies, and a broad range of stakeholders. An advisory committee of local, county, and state representatives further helps Newtrax stay connected to evolving community transportation needs and opportunities.


Working closely with the board, staff, founding organizations, and community partners, the ED will provide strategic and organizational leadership while bringing people together around a shared vision for the future. A key opportunity will be leading a thoughtful strategic planning process that identifies priorities for growth, strengthens organizational alignment, and how Newtrax can deepen its impact in the years ahead.


From leveraging technology and improving processes to finding efficiencies that enhance service delivery and better support staff, the ED will help position the organization for continued success. The next ED will balance a strategic perspective with a strong understanding of the day-to-day realities of the organization, bringing people along through change and building shared ownership for Newtrax's next chapter.


Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Mission-Driven & Collaborative Leadership


The ED will be motivated by the opportunity to lead an organization that plays an indispensable role in helping people access essential services, maintain independence, and stay connected to their communities. The ED will bring a collaborative leadership style and a genuine appreciation for the relationships that have contributed to Newtrax's success. Working closely with the board, member organizations, staff, community partners, and other stakeholders, the ED will balance respect for Newtrax's history and culture with the curiosity and confidence to consider new opportunities.

Strategic Leadership


The next ED will be forward-thinking and able to build on what is working well while helping define a clear and compelling vision for the future. Comfortable assessing the landscape and identifying opportunities for innovation and partnerships, the ED will work with the Board and staff to make thoughtful decisions about strategy and organizational priorities. While transportation experience is not required, the ED will bring curiosity and an interest in understanding the evolving needs of the community. Newtrax is interested in exploring new partnerships, technologies, and funding opportunities, and the ED will play an important role in identifying and evaluating opportunities that can strengthen the organization's impact.

Financial & Operational Stewardship


The ED will be responsible for an operating budget of approximately $6.7 million and will oversee Newtrax's financial and operational resources while maintaining the organization's strong financial position. Sharp financial and operational acumen, along with experience in budgeting, forecasting, contracts, compliance, and long-term sustainability will be important. A commitment to continuous improvement will also be valuable. The ED will bring a strategic approach to identifying and cultivating grant opportunities, paired with strong oversight of grant implementation, reporting, and funder stewardship. The ED will identify opportunities to strengthen systems and processes, leverage technology, improve efficiency, and ensure that policies and practices effectively support staff and service delivery.

People Leadership & Culture


As an empathetic, accessible, and trusted people leader, the ED will value Newtrax's strong culture and the commitment of its team. Succeeding a long-time leader will require sensitivity, strong listening skills, and a willingness to take the time to understand the people and culture that have contributed to the organization's success. The ED will lead a team of approximately 49 full-time and 40 part-time employees, with five direct reports. Experience leading organizations with multiple levels of staff and responsibility, building leadership capacity, developing staff, and supporting succession planning will be valuable. The ED will provide clarity, accountability, and direction while fostering a culture in which staff feel supported and equipped to do their best work.

Community & Relationship Building


The ED will serve as a visible and credible ambassador for Newtrax and bring a highly relational approach to the role. Building trust with a broad range of stakeholders - founding organizations, funders, government agencies, community leaders, and other partners - will be essential. The ED will bring strong listening and communication skills and the ability to build productive partnerships that support Newtrax's mission and future opportunities. Comfort representing the organization externally and communicating its value and impact to a variety of audiences will also be important. A genuine interest in becoming an active and engaged member of the White Bear Lake community and surrounding region is important.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

• A high level of emotional intelligence and the ability to lead with empathy, self-awareness, and sound judgment.
• A thoughtful, long-term approach to organizational leadership, with the ability to honor Newtrax's strong foundation while identifying opportunities for its continued growth and evolution.
• Demonstrated experience developing strategy and translating strategic priorities into clear, actionable plans.
• Inclusive leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience, with a track record of bringing people together around shared goals.
• The ability to attract, develop, retain, motivate, and lead staff while creating a culture that balances clarity, accountability, trust, and empathy.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash management, investments, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Fund development experience, particularly with grants and public funding, and the ability to identify and secure resources that support organizational priorities and future growth.
• Strong communication and listening skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with staff, Board members, partners, funders, and external stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills, including the ability to navigate contracts, vendor relationships, partnerships, and other agreements thoughtfully and effectively.
• Willingness to become an active and engaged member of the surrounding community.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $160,000.


Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Alicia Salerno. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile . All inquiries are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected] . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Newtrax is an equal opportunity employer.


About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website .