Senior Director United for Youth

If you believe that ALL children and youth should learn, grow and thrive in a vibrant, healthy and connected community then United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) is where you need to be. The Senior Director United for Youth will lead our efforts to mobilize and support a robust network of people, partners, and resources in service to our community’s bold community goal that by 2035, ALL Asheville City and Buncombe County students graduate from high school ready and fully prepared to pursue their goals and dreams.

United for Youth is a cradle-to-career, collective impact initiative built on the principle that "Equity and Educational Excellence are Inseparable." This position will guide UWABC's backbone role to ensure community-wide alignment and to accelerate Asheville and Buncombe County’s progress towards the Bold Community Goal. They will help ensure that United for Youth is an inclusive and connected network that effectively engages a broad spectrum of institutional and grassroots community partners and that United for Youth strategies are aligned, clear, compelling, community-centered, results-based, and transparent. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Backbone Leadership

• Establish the essential backbone functions of the United for Youth collective impact strategy, including:
  • Guiding vision and strategy
  • Supporting aligned activities
  • Supporting shared measurement
  • Cultivating community engagement and ownership
  • Advancing policy
  • Mobilizing resources

Strategic Direction

• Guide the implementation of the United for Youth collective impact strategy for achieving community-level results. 
• Establish and coordinate United for Youth collective impact partnerships at the community and systems levels.

Cross-Sector Leadership 

• Support the development and execution of strategy, communications, and meeting design for the United for Youth leadership team.

Relationship Building 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships to advance United for Youth and our collective work towards accomplishing the Bold Community Goal. 
• Act as an effective spokesperson for UWABC and the backbone role we hold for United for Youth.
• Be visible within the community and diligent in expanding a network of stakeholders, especially external.
• Work in conjunction with our Community Engagement team to engage with, listen to and understand community aspirations. 
• Serve as a leader on critical issues and solutions affecting the Bold Community goal. 
• Collaborate effectively within UWABC.

Supervision and Leadership Roles

• Serve as lead backbone staff for the United for Youth Leadership Team.
• Hire, manage, coach and hold accountable United for Youth staff and support their development.
• Effectively manage the United for Youth annual budget.
• Ensure effective and timely communication within the United for Youth team and with all UWABC departments.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications department to identify and develop content creation priorities and opportunities.
• Participate in relevant UWABC committees/activities and community groups/collaboratives.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are associated with the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Social Service field with 5 years of experience working in education, afterschool, social services, government or nonprofit settings , OR equivalent related experience and training 
• Three years or more of supervisory experience
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex and collaborative environment with cross-sector teams and partners
• Demonstrated understanding and implementation of adaptive leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new systems and skills as needed
• Commitment to the mission and guiding principles of UWABC and ability to model those principles

Technical Skills, Abilities and other Requirements

• Ability to take a vision and break it down to tangible projects, processes, and tasks that produce desired outcomes
• Strong communication skills across diverse settings and constituents
• Politically savvy
• Deep project management skills
• Analytical, innovative and creative thinker
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Consensus building mindset
• Robust understanding of collective impact models of systemic change
• Ability to facilitate groups
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish fact and draw valid conclusions 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maneuver complex work environments, engage in planning and problem-solving, and execute details with minimal supervision
• Holds self and other team members accountable for achieving results
• Demonstrated ability to coach employees and address performance issues
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends as needed
• Proficient with computers and software, including prior working knowledge of Google Suite, Zoom
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and use a variety of software platforms and new skills 
• Ability to communicate (oral and written) in English
• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with a driving record that meets insurance requirements

Nice to Have

• Ability to communicate (oral and written) in Spanish
• Understanding of Asheville and Buncombe County school systems and youth service organizations

Work Environment

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals who are differently abled to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to: 

• Sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear.
• Use finger and hand motion.
• Must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 15 pounds.  
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Moderate level of stress caused from tight deadlines or work focused on equity in education.
• Moderate level of mental and/or visual fatigue and/or eyestrain may result from looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Occasional work outside of normal business hours.
• Occasional travel is required.
• Moderate office noise level.

This position is exempt from overtime regulations. Hybrid work environment: a mix of office, remote, and community settings  As part of our hybrid work policy, new employees are required to work from the UWABC office a minimum of 3 days per week for the first 90 days and then, the schedule can be modified based upon conversation with the supervisor. 

Reports To:  Senior Vice President, Community Impact

Supervises: 1

Hours: 40/week 

Hiring Range and Benefits: $70,000 to $77,800 annually plus full benefits, including paid vacation, sick and personal leave; employer contributions to 401(k), contributions to health, dental and vision insurance benefits and self-care fund, life and disability insurance, and coaching and support.

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law