Sadie Nash Leadership Project provides award-winning experiential social justice education to more than 700 young women and gender-expansive youth of color in New York City and Newark each year. Operating with love and rigor, we use the tools o f popular education to build critical consciousness, community, and college readiness. Our programs include a nationally recognized six-week summer institute, in-school and after-school classes, college access and persistence support, and an advanced-level fellowship to design and implement an original social justice project. We strengthen, empower and equip our participants to lead lives in committed pursuit of joy and liberation for self and community.

Over the past five years, we have experienced significant growth. We have doubled the number of participants, broadened our scope beyond high school to include middle school and college students, and expanded our geographical footprint by launching two new Summer Institute sites in Queens and Brooklyn (in addition to existing sites in Manhattan and Newark). Our full-time staff has grown from five to twelve people, and our part-time and seasonal educators now number more than 100. As a result of this growth, our annual budget has more than doubled, from $1 million in 2014 to nearing $2 million in fiscal year 2020.

As we look toward the future, we are operating with a more expansive, bolder definition of impact. We will continue to be a site for transformational leadership programming for youth. In addition, we recognize that we also serve as a testing and training ground for innovative and effective practices in curriculum development, research and evaluation, facilitator training and workplace and governance policies. Over the next five years, we are committed to sharing our approach and influencing national conversations about youth work, feminism, leadership, and equitable workplaces toward an orientation of joy and liberation.

THE OPPORTUNITY

SNLP has a tested model of leadership development, a creative and energetic staff, a committed Board of Directors, and a broad base of supporters that ensure its strong financial position.

SNLP’s Board now seeks a dynamic and creative Executive Director to lead the organization’s next phase of development, identifying new ways to increase the organization’s impact and ensuring the continued success of proven programs.

Building on nearly two decades of accomplishment, this is a rare opportunity for the right person to chart an exciting course for the next decade of youth development rooted in the values of social justice and feminist activism. Working closely with the Board of Directors and dedicated staff, and interacting regularly with Nashers (program participants), the new Executive Director will plan the organization’s strategic trajectory and ensure effective implementation of all SNLP programs and activities.

The successful Executive Director of SNLP will seek out strategic opportunities for the organization, stay current on developments in the fields of youth development, feminist leadership, and network effectively with leading programs across the country. They will also orchestrate effective fundraising efforts with institutional and individual donors, and pursue other appropriate revenue options. In the years ahead, the Board expects SNLP to continue its strong trajectory of innovation, impact, growth, and financial stability, and to further fortify its leadership position.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Leadership and Management

• Building and advancing overall organizational strategy

• Fostering SNLP’s participatory, collaborative, and feminist organizational culture

• Leading and managing the senior leadership team responsible for program, fundraising and operational execution, ensuring day to day execution is aligned with overall strategy

• Developing short- and long-range financial plans and strategies to ensure the solid capitalization of SNLP, in keeping with best practices in the field

• Engaging and liaising with the Board of Directors to meet SNLP’s current and future goals

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Strengthening SNLP’s robust fundraising program, deepening engagement with current institutional and individual donors and broadening the base of supporters

• Cultivating SNLP’s external relationships across constituencies and developing strategic partnerships and alliances with funders, peer organizations, educational institutions, local government and other relevant groups

• Identifying opportunities to build earned revenue stream in alignment with overall strategic goals

Growing Impact and Reach

• Developing and sharing thought leadership in the field of youth development via public speaking and other mechanisms

• Creating and maintaining a robust communications strategy

• Developing and executing new strategies for articulating and sharing SNLP’s methodology and impact

• Cultivating a dynamic community across varied SNLP constituencies (alumnae, deans, faculty, supporters, board members)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 

The Executive Director will be a passionate, effective leader with demonstrated experience in articulating an organizational vision, mobilizing allies, and achieving goals.  Familiarity with the youth development field is strongly desired, and proven experience in fundraising and resource development is essential.

Important competencies and characteristics include:

• 10+ years of relevant management and leadership experience, and familiarity with the nonprofit sector.

• Passion for the Mission:  Alignment with SNLP’s core values and philosophy centered around leadership, feminism and social justice, teaching and learning, and community

• Commitment to a feminist workplace: Demonstrated commitment to cultivating and promoting a culture within the workplace and Board that advances equitable and feminist principles in alignment with the content of Sadie Nash programming.  Enthusiasm for cultivating joy and accountability in the work environment.

• Leadership skills:  Strong strategic thinking skills and proven ability to inspire others and lead organizational advancement. Experience working with a board of directors and building high-performing teams of people with diverse backgrounds and interests. Proven ability to succeed in an informal but highly energetic, outcomes-driven workplace that thrives on entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative practice.

• Management experience: Demonstrated success coaching and empowering a team to execute on vision.

• Organizational execution: Experience overseeing program, financial, fundraising and human resources systems and processes. Strong organizational skills and experience in building and managing budgets, and ability to juggle multiple competing priorities.

• Fundraising talent: Appetite for seeking and securing contributions from diverse sources, and proven track record of successful fundraising of at least $1 million from foundations, corporations and individuals.

• Communication skills: Experience serving as an external ambassador across a variety of communities.  Strong speaking, writing and presentation skills.

• Familiarity with youth programming in the greater New York City metropolitan area: Relationships and experience with peer organizations and funders in this market.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Sadie Nash Leadership Project is committed to operating an equitable workplace grounded in feminist principles.

Salary range is between $120,000-$135,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

We provide generous benefits including three weeks of paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, highly subsidized health, vision, and dental insurance, along with a wellness stipend, a retirement savings plan with a guaranteed 2% match, and opportunities for professional development.

Sadie Nash Leadership Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer which means we are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants for employment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, age, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, partnership status, arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sex offenses, military status, credit history, unemployment status or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Sadie Nash supports inclusivity in our staffing and values. We strongly encourage applications from women and gender-expansive people of color, particularly those reflecting immigrant, working-class, first-generation college-going/graduate and queer identities.

TO APPLY

Please email your cover letter and resume to  SadieNash@crenyc.org by October 25, 2019. In your cover letter, in addition to sharing why you are excited for this position, please include answers to the following questions:

1. What about Sadie Nash’s philosophy and model resonates with you most, and why?

2. In your personal and professional life, how have you navigated and worked to transform systems of power and privilege?

No phone calls please.

We will notify leading candidates about next steps in the selection process.