Kent Youth and Family Services seeks an Executive Director with passion, experience, and capacity to ensure the continued access for low-income and under-resourced children and families to high-quality Behavioral Health, Early Learning, and Afterschool programs. The preferred candidate will have a successful track record of creatively leading organizational growth and can demonstrate mastery of navigating complex finances in a rapidly changing environment. They must be highly collaborative yet decisive, resourceful, have unwavering high standards, and be confident with accountability for self and others.
For the full job description, timeline, and application requirements, please visit kyfs.org/EDJobAnnouncement.
To Apply
Complete applications for the Executive Director position will include a single pdf attachment with a current resume and cover letter specifically addressing these topics:
- Past executive leadership experience, size and complexity of the agency
- Personal philosophy for highly productive work environment
- Your interest in KYFS
- Personal equity statement
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Ideal Candidate Qualifications*
The preferred candidate will have a successful track record of creatively leading organizational growth and demonstrates mastery of navigating complex finances in a rapidly changing environment. They must be highly collaborative yet decisive, resourceful, have unwavering high standards, and be confident with accountability for self and others. Additionally, KYFS seeks the following skills and attributes:
- Leads with an equity lens while focusing on the delivery of mission. Has compassion, respect, and familiarity with traditionally marginalized populations.
- Has a strong business acumen. Experience with multifaceted budgets greater than $3 million with governmental funding and regular course corrections. Is an expert with Excel and financial models. Can digest complex financial information and make it accessible to non-finance people. Incorporates data in decision making.
- Can demonstrate success leading diverse staff and volunteers to strong results. Collaborative and communicative by nature, but able to make tough decisions in a timely manner. Is transparent, honest, and caring.
- Ability to navigate uncharted & complex waters. A resourceful problem solver who makes it a habit to reach out to others for help and guidance. Forward thinker; creative and open to new ways.
- Proven success personally cultivating donors and asking for major gifts. Success inspiring others to participate in fundraising.
- Commitment to developing staff and volunteers to realize their professional potential and maximize contributions. Doesn’t waver in setting high expectations and holding self and others accountable.
- Willing and able to do any job that needs doing. Equivalent skills in daily operations and future planning. Works as part of a team, doesn’t try to do it all themself, effectively engages others.
- Ability to engage people in genuine conversation, make friends, and positively represent KYFS. Willing to be out front but shares the spotlight and lifts-up others. Earns trust with all whom they work.
- Experience managing Behavioral Health, Early Learning (Headstart and ECEAP), and Afterschool support programs.
Key Responsibilities
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for all facets of the day-to-day operations and affairs of KYFS.
Board Relations: Establish and maintain a productive relationship with the Board through open and honest communication on matters affecting the welfare of KYFS, and by supplying the information, tools, and resources necessary for effective governance. Engage in strategic planning and visioning. Actively participate in committees and board development, including the ongoing training, recruitment, and orientation of board members.
Program and Organizational Management: Develop, communicate, and implement an annual operating plan that anticipates and addresses community needs in alignment with the strategic and organization business plan. Make course corrections as necessary ensuring day to day operations are of high quality, relevant, and efficient.
Fiscal Management: Ensure long–term financial viability of the organization. Ensure sound fiscal practices, budgets, record keeping, and reporting are established and executed. Steward resources entrusted with KYFS to serve our youth.
People Leadership: Build a competent, diverse, and empowered workforce and Board. Direct the hiring, supervision, evaluation, and development of staff. Create a positive work environment that inspires innovation, accountability, and inclusion.
Financial Development: In partnership with the Board, provide top leadership to the organization’s philanthropic efforts. Implement a strategic financial development plan that helps to expand mission reach by maximizing community partnerships, engaging volunteers, and cultivating and soliciting top donors and community leaders. Ensures KYFS has the resources needed to effectively meet the mission.
Communication: Uphold the values and represent the organization in the highest regard in all community interactions internally and externally. Genuinely collaborate with staff, Board, and the different communities of KYFS. Remain transparent and appropriate. Interpret the work of the KYFS to all stakeholders and ensure its cause, vision, values, and goals are understood.
Required Criteria
KYFS believes that required experience can be gained through on the job performance. While a college degree in social sciences, behavioral health management, or business administration can be useful, it is not required. It is required that candidates demonstrate:
- A minimum of 5-7 years of progressively increasing management experience that will transfer into a community-based agency servicing a very diverse community of under-resourced children, youth, and families.
- High level of competence with fiscal management, fundraising, staff and volunteer development, Board support, and program advancement.
Compensation and Benefits
Range: $165k - $180k plus benefits Medical, dental, EAP, long-term disability, and life insurance, 5% Employer contribution to the 403B retirement plan after one year of employment
Generous paid time off with 3 weeks vacation, 12 sick days and 11 holidays
Timeline
Applications submitted by July 26, 2024 will be given full consideration.
Preliminary consideration and screening will be given as applications are received.
Formal panel interviews are targeted for Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $165,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year