Overview
We have a strong commitment to equity
The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Hiring range: $153,000-$200,000/annually
Tell me about this job!
YGS seeks a dynamic, mission-driven operational leader as its Vice President Youth Development. The VP will be responsible for establishing and overseeing the Youth Development department and serve as our Child Protection Officer, which develops, innovates, maintains, defines, and operates programs and services offered at the branch and non-branch facilities for the following areas: Child Care (e.g., licensed child care, early education, school-age programs, education initiatives), Day and Residential Camps, BOLD/GOLD, hunger response, Elevate Curriculum solutions, Washington State youth & government and other youth development programs. Leads out on research, design, and development for youth sports, branch-based family programs (Kids Zone, Birthday Parties, Healthy Kids Day, etc.), and teen initiatives. The VP will provide a clear and actionable strategy to execute the vision for the organization, both internally and externally, as set by the CEO. The VP will support the CEO in positioning YGS as a thought leader on social justice, youth development, and education. In close partnership with the highly collaborative YGS senior leadership team, the VP is expected to build upon the organization’s success, constructing and fulfilling all assigned financial and operational objectives. The VP should be an inspirational voice and ambitious in their desire to help grow and scale the organization regionally.
YGS seeks a proven leader, strategic thinker, and strong operator who will work with HR to attract, retain, and train YD staff. The VP will be comfortable motivating, communicating, and influencing at all levels and in many environments. This executive will operate with the highest levels of integrity, honesty, and personal standards and ethics.
The VP will demonstrate the following attributes:
- Strengthens the Y’s culture by demonstrating the values of the Y – honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility – in every aspect of work.
- Deep commitment to the mission of the YMCA and the communities served.
- Proven champion of social responsibilities, diversity, and inclusion; models cultural competence and supports diversity, effectively working with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
- Develop self and others; demonstrate executive team leadership and management, teamwork, and personal accountability, seeking and providing feedback, coaching, and resources for development.
- Strategic, results-oriented, growth focus and strong work ethic; takes the initiative and holds self and others accountable to meet or exceed quantitative and qualitative goals relating to operations, people (employees and members), philanthropy, finance, and volunteerism.
- Facilitates change, seeks opportunities in the change systems process, models adaptability, and leads transition and transformation to support the Y’s mission.
- Inspire others; promotes creativity, generates excitement, and rewards risk-taking, while consistently demonstrating high emotional maturity, maintaining a positive attitude, and building solid relationships.
- Culture influencer, trust builder, pacesetter, change maker at the systems level, and community connector.
- Passionate community organizer and advocate.
- Big thinker at the systems level to drive sustainable social change.
- Strong leader who can effectively execute and communicate a vision for the organization’s branches’ short- and long-term direction.
- Established reputation as a diplomatic leader who can transcend personal politics, engage various ideologies and build consensus and community.
- Ability to work through political barriers, build consensus, and enact change.
- Proven people management and development skills and ability to play a day-to-day role in directing staff.
- Eloquent, articulate, and persuasive communication style (oral and written).
- Proven track record of working successfully and collaboratively with other SLT members as partners and influencers in the organization and community.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions
- Partner with the senior leadership team to lead the organization into the future through organizational design, culture, innovation, process improvement, and strong financial oversight.
- Directly supervise a diverse and accomplished group of senior leaders with significant subject matter experts in Youth Development programs and services.
- Responsible for developing an operations strategy that aligns with and supports the strategic direction of YGS.
- Drive overall operational growth across Youth Development programs as One Y by fostering a community, belonging, and achievement climate for all.
- Foster a culture of innovation, which includes piloting new programs and services, partnering with state and federal agencies, community-based programs, school districts, etc., to address the needs of YGS constituents.
- Provide leadership and guidance to senior staff in developing sound operating plans while maintaining compliance with policies, laws, and regulatory requirements.
- Develop annual performance goals and operating budgets and cascade them throughout the organization to ensure goal alignment and monitor financial reports to ensure financial targets are met, and expenses are controlled.
- Ensure all programs and services are safe, vibrant, well-maintained, and meet all requisite standards, including those set by YGS, Y-USA, and the Department of Health.
- Present to various Committees, Elected Officials, Funders, Stakeholders, Board of Directors, and the President & CEO, as requested.
- In collaboration with YGS SLT, fundraise and meet YGS financial targets and other goals and objectives annually.
Critical Leadership Capablities:
Leadership and Collaboration
- Seattle is a vibrant and diverse community in private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Working effectively across constituency groups, including large and small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, civic leaders, and the YGS staff, this individual will:
- Use complex, coordinated influencing/negotiation strategies adapted to people, organizations, and/or the situation, e.g., networks
- Delegate and leverage direct reports to facilitate increased collaboration across the organization, tapping their motivations and values to energize them
- Build partnerships based on a common agreement that acknowledges individual differences but creates a new commonality beyond root beliefs or culture
- Systematically build support at multiple levels and across groups
- Build ongoing partnerships with key stakeholders
- Be a hands-on, team-oriented leader with highly developed interpersonal skills and adept as an influencer and negotiator.
Strategic Thinking and Partnership Mindset
- YGS seeks to identify and develop strategic opportunities that widen the organization’s outreach and deepen its impact. The successful VP will lead these efforts as related to YGS programs and services by:
- Supporting efforts to diversify revenue streams and create the infrastructure to enable and appropriately support.
- Revising strategy for their organization and defining the evolving future of the local non-profit landscape.
- Challenging assumptions and conventional wisdom with specific, supported reasoned proposals.
- Contributing to developing an organizational strategy and justifying it with market insight.
- Thinking 3-5 years ahead into the organization’s long-term strategy.
Driving Results
- With a track record of generating growth and consistently setting and delivering against targets, the VP will:
- Identify opportunities to leverage and/or redesign processes, tools, and technology to improve youth development programs.
- Enable higher performance by incrementally improving approaches based on internal and external feedback.
- Benchmark own performance against industry best practices. Create and maintain systems to check and monitor the effectiveness of YGS youth programs.
- Proactively seek to improve community experience through our programs and services and align with the organization’s mission.
- Identify new ways to broaden the impact and reach of the branches in the community.
- Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires lifting office products and occasionally supplies up to 20 pounds.
Travel
The position will be based at headquarters in Seattle, WA. Approximately 20 – 30% of travel is expected
Qualifications
• BA/BS degree in education, child psychology, social services, public administration, or another related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years as a child care and youth development and youth programming expert and as a successful senior leadership team member of a medium or large, urban, financially stable YMCA or comparable leadership experience.
• Proven track record of executive leadership in urban multi-site management with diversity membership populations.
• Knowledge and experience in all aspects of operations, including staff supervision and development, successful membership practices and development, quality program execution, volunteerism, facility and property management, and sound financial practices.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; track record of building authentic, constructive relationships with others.
• Strong strategic planning skills, including execution expertise.
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning, budgeting, and analysis.
• Demonstrated experience attracting and developing high-performance teams and a positive culture.
• Ability to partner and provide strategic level input to senior leadership and the ability to influence others at all levels of the organization
Our Mission
Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.
YMCA of Greater Seattle’s Core Values
Respect
Responsibility
Honesty
Caring
Passion for Excellence
YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal law.
All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system.