Youth in Focus Hiring Co-Directors
Posted by: Taj
Submitted: March 28, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Co-Director Job Description (2 Positions)
Title: Bay Area Co-Director
Central Valley Co-Director
Mission:
The guiding vision of Youth In
Focus is of a world in which youth and adults share knowledge and power to create a more just, sustainable, and democratic society. Since 1990 YIF has pursued this vision by providing training, consulting and coaching support in youth-led action research (Youth-REP) to underrepresented youth and adult allies working for positive change. Youth-led action research brings young people's energy and information to bear upon social and organizational challenges. Young people play lead roles in designing, doing, and following up on research or evaluation projects that serve to change or initiate a program, organization, community initiative, organizing campaign, or policy that affects them and their peers.
Organization:
Youth in Focus has an office in Sacramento and an office in Oakland with an operating budget of approximately a $550K budget and a total staff of 7. Our projects in the Central Valley organize around education and prison
justice, including fiscal sponsorship of the ESPINO coalition [Escuelas Si, Pintas No]. We work across the valley, primarily in Sacramento, Yolo and San Joaquin counties. In the Bay Area, we work on issues of queer health, education and community justice.
For more information, see our website at www.youthinfocus.net
The Future
Youth in Focus is looking to shift its organizational model towards collective leadership and ultimately integrated youth leadership. Our initial phase is to hire two co-directors take on the responsibilities of the former executive director as well as certain program responsibilities. One co-director will work primarily in the Central Valley and one will work primarily in the Bay Area. The co-directors will work together with the staff to create a collaborative and sustainable delegation of responsibilities.
We seek vision and leadership to collectively implement and finalize a future plan for Youth In Focus. Included in our goals are national and state-wide field building, working with local grassroots social justice organizations, convening youth for social justice summits, national training of trainers, and strengthening our regional work. Fund development will continue to be a top priority in the next few years to fulfill the vision.
Responsibilities:
The Co-Director will be a creative and visionary thinker with exceptional skills in organizational development, fundraising and programmatic strategy to guide and support YIF in the field of youth led action research.
We envision that together the Co-Directors will take on the following responsibilities, with the expectation that one co-director will take primary responsibility for overseeing internal operations and organizational
development, while the other will be the lead on external relations, fund development and communications; each will have primary responsibility for strategy and program development in one region, and they will work together to facilitate overall organizational strategic planning.
As an intermediary social justice organization, we partner with organizations that work with marginalized youth voices, specifically youth of color and queer youth. We seek a Co-Director who has a pulse on local, regional and national movement building in rural and urban organizing.
Specific Responsibilities include the following:
ÿ Capacity to build collective leadership and ability to work with a co-director
ÿ Ability to foster youth leadership
ÿ Fund development in the Central Valley and Bay Area
ÿ Maintain connections to funders locally, regionally and nationally
ÿ Networking and negotiating with funders and partner
organizations.
ÿ Financial and Operations oversight
ÿ Staff supervision, management and coordination in the context of a collective model
ÿ Create and facilitate processes for important organizational decisions
ÿ Board development, management and relations
ÿ Encourage a culture of self-care, sustainability and hold space for staff to bring their full selves to the work
ÿ Develop and manage systems for internal and external communications
ÿ Local, regional and national field-building
Qualifications
Key Experience:
ß At least 3-5 years organizational leadership experience
ß Strong background and commitment to youth leadership and youth voice
ß Extensive and successful fund development experience, including work with regional and national foundations, individual donors, and fee-for-service contracts
ß Demonstrated ability to navigate grassroots social justice organizing, institutional and
policy arenas in the areas of youth health, education, and/or community development
ß Knowledge of Central Valley and/or Bay Area political and organizational landscapes and networks
ß Spanish language fluency [especially for the Central Valley position]
ß Experience working collaboratively through collective leadership and participatory decision-making
ß Excellent communicator and spokesperson
ß Familiarity with research, research methods, and the use of research
ß Board development experience
Key Commitments
ß Strong belief in youth leadership
ß Deeply rooted in racial justice work with an understanding of intersecting oppressions
ß Knowledge and connection to grassroots organizing
ß Values working in an organization that is 75% queer and trans
ß Commitment to the importance of decolonizing research and the production of knowledge
ß Experience working collaboratively and in close partnership
through collective leadership
Education:
We value equally a graduate degree, knowledge of and life experience in Education, Public Health, Community Development, and Community Organizing. A background in research methods, participatory action research, and popular education is preferable.
Compensation:
Salary $50K-60K commensurate with qualifications and experience plus excellent medical, dental, vision (option for full family coverage) life insurance, generous vacation, holiday and leave package.
Application Process:
People of color strongly encouraged to apply.
Priority will be given to those with life experience in the Bay Area or Central Valley.
Electronic applications are preferred and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by April 15th.
Please email your application materials as attachments to ari@youthinfocus.net.
Applications must include:
1. Cover letter
2. Resumé
3. Brief answers to the following questions (maximum one page total):
a. According to your experience, beliefs, and vision, what is the role of action research in realizing social justice?
b. What philosophy do you bring to working with youth in youth-adult partnerships?
c. What is your experience with collective leadership? Please describe its strengths, challenges, and why it is important to you.
For a complete and detailed job description please refer to www.youthinfocus.net.