Executive Director - On-Ramps : Job Details

Our mission is to elevate teen voices to create real change. Teens in our intensive writing program create true stories about their lives. Those stories are the foundation of curricula and training that are used to create more supportive schools and afterschool programs.

About the Organization

Since 1980, Youth Communication has worked with New York City public high school students to write and publish true stories about their lives. Most of the writers are youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth who are recent immigrants, living in foster care, unhoused, or economically struggling. These stories engage and inspire teen readers and help educators and other adults better understand and respond to the young people they work with.

Youth Communication provides social-emotional learning curricula and professional development to help educators and youth workers connect with the teens they serve and build their social and emotional competencies and literacy skills. Our professional development and our curricula for grades 6-12 are based entirely on true stories written by teens in YC's intensive writing workshops. That makes YC's programs and services exceptionally engaging and uniquely culturally responsive to students furthest from opportunity.

Youth Communication is at a pivotal point. Under the leadership of the current executive director, it has built a set of social and emotional learning curricula for grades 6-12 and a robust professional development program to support implementation of the curricula. It has added a sales and marketing team to promote its programs, which have been used by more than 3,000 educators who give the programs very high marks. The challenge now is to find new customers, to create new programs to meet evolving market needs, and to generate support—from earned income, foundations, and individuals—that will ensure long-term viability of the work.

Organization Website

You can learn more about Youth Communication at our website.

About the Role

What You'll Do

The Executive Director (ED) will serve as a strategic, visionary leader who will drive the growth and success of Youth Communication. The ED will guide the organization's growth and development, and ensure adherence to the organization's mission and vision while driving forward its strategic objectives. The ED will serve as the organization's primary spokesperson and lead fundraiser, strengthening relationships with existing funding partners and customers and cultivating new sources of revenue to expand YC's impact and build an engine for future philanthropy.

This is an ideal opportunity for a passionate and entrepreneurial leader who believes in the power of elevating teen voices to create change and who is ready to build on Youth Communication's strong foundation of success and partnerships.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Organizational Leadership and Team Management

• Provide visionary leadership to YC team, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and core values
• Ensure effective and responsible fiscal and operational management of the organization's budget and resources
• Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing and diverse team, including 5-6 direct reports
• Act as the liaison between staff and Board, fostering strong communication and ensuring informed decision-making
• Promote and model an inclusive and equitable culture that embodies YC's values

External Leadership and Fundraising

• Serve as Youth Communication's primary spokesperson, enhancing the organization's visibility, brand recognition, and credibility
• Maintain, enhance, and develop new relationships with key strategic partners, such as schools and funders
• Drive fundraising efforts, with a focus on increasing revenue to support growth in reach and impact
• Work closely with the Board of Directors, leveraging the Board to increase the visibility of the organization and enhance fundraising

Strategic Planning and Execution

• In partnership with the Board of Directors and staff, refine YC's strategic vision and plan and oversee its implementation
• In collaboration with the Managing Director of Education Programs, continue to refine and evolve YC's professional services model with a focus on growth, impact, and sustainability
• In collaboration with the Managing Director of Editorial, continue to refine and evolve YC's writing program and efforts to find new audiences for the teens' stories
• In partnership with the Board and staff, identify and evaluate future programmatic opportunities
• Support YC in achieving its goal of serving more students throughout NYC

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to the Youth Communication Board of Directors.
• You will directly supervise 5-6 senior leaders.

Required Skills and Experience

• Commitment to Youth Communication's mission of amplifying youth voice and supporting educators and youth workers
• 15 or more years of work experience, with at least 5 years of nonprofit management experience
• Demonstrated success leading an organization/department and managing a team through a period of growth
• Strong people management skills with experience building and managing diverse, high-performing, cohesive teams
• Track record of successfully driving nonprofit or for profit fundraising across a variety of revenue streams, ideally including experience generating new revenue streams
• Strong strategic and visionary thinking and planning skills
• Exceptional communication and relationship building skills; track record of managing partnerships with key funders and community partners; experience working with the NYC Department of Education a plus
• Solid financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, and decision-making
• Ability to effectively work with a Board of Directors
• Transparent and high integrity leadership style
• Positive attitude, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to find innovative ways to grow an organization
• Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience integrating these values into all aspects of their work

Additional Details

Hybrid Work Environment

Youth Communication operates on a hybrid model – currently Tuesday and Thursday are in-office days for the entire staff, at the Midtown Manhattan office.

Compensation

Salary for this role will be $150,000 – $200,000.

Equity at Youth Communication

Youth Communication's mission is to elevate the voices and center the experiences of NYC teens. We are committed to a culture of inclusivity on every level of the organization. We welcome a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints; encourage initiative; and recognize the contributions of all our employees.

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