Job Opportunities

YOUTH ALIVE!
Position Announcement: Oakland, CA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

POSITION SUMMARY

The Executive Director of Youth ALIVE! oversees the fund development, program planning, policy and research development, strategic planning, and capacity building for the agency.  Youth ALIVE! seeks a leader with success, passion and experience in preventing youth violence, plus extensive non-profit management-level experience and demonstrated ease and leadership in working at the highest levels of local and state government and with leaders of community and public agencies and elected officials, who will continue to expand the success of this innovative organization.  Youth ALIVE! for twenty years has provided leadership in  preventing violence in California across a spectrum of strategies, from policy and program research to intervention programs for youth. 

ABOUT YOUTH ALIVE!

While countless medical and law enforcement dollars are spent after violence occurs, there are few agencies that work to stop youth violence before it begins. Youth ALIVE! was created to fill that critical gap. Our mission is to prevent youth violence and generate youth leadership in California communities, in particular in communities strongly impacted by violence. Youth ALIVE! is a non-profit public health organization that  addresses the epidemic of violence through prevention, intervention and advocacy by working closely with local, state and national partners.

PREVENTION: 

TEENS ON TARGET is a school-based peer leadership and violence prevention program which started in 1989 when the epidemic of crack cocaine and handguns first devastated communities.  The program has trained over 900 students from schools in Oakland and Los Angeles to be violence prevention peer educators and advocates.  100% of the peer educators graduate from high school, (from schools that have graduation rates of only 40%). They, in turn, have presented violence prevention workshops and assemblies to over 40,000 middle and high school age students.  92% of middle school audience members thought that TNT members were positive role models (lack of positive peer role models is a risk factor for violence).  Former President Bill Clinton selected Teens on Target as one of the Top Ten Violence Prevention programs nationwide.

ADVOCACY PROGRAM: Teens on Target trainsyouth to work with community leaders, policy makers and then the media to develop solutions to reduce violence. Youth ALIVE’s advocacy accomplishments include participating in banning assault guns in California, banning residential gun dealers in Oakland and securing approval for a school district-wide dating violence prevention protocol.  Youth ALIVE! has published research in peer review journals on gun tracing and the outcomes of our programs.  (www.youthalive.org/advocacyresearch)

INTERVENTION:

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE is a hospital-based peer intervention program whose staff has overcome violence in their own lives.  They work with youth who are recovering from violent injuries. Staff members offer long-term case management, linkages to community services, mentoring, home visits, and follow-up assistance. The program promotes positive alternatives to violence in order to reduce re-injury and arrest.  The program also works with high school youth who are at risk for violence and/or for joining a gang.  Over 1,400 Oakland and LA youth and several thousand of their family members have been helped by Caught in the Crossfire since 1994. Former US Attorney General Janet Reno selected Caught in the Crossfire as a national model.

RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND DISSEMINATION:

A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in March 2004 demonstrated that youth who participated in Caught in the Crossfire were 70% less likely to get arrested and 60% less likely to have any criminal involvement than injured youth who were not participants.   

Youth ALIVE! is the founder and lead agency for the NATIONAL NETWORK OF HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROVIDERS, which brings together representatives of 10 hospital and trauma centers to develop key program components and best practices for hospital-based intervention programs.

The Youth ALIVE! Board of Directors consists of 10-15 professionals who are dedicated to preventing youth violence.  The staff of 15, plus 30 youth leaders, share this same commitment and place a high value on their collegial work relationship and their partnerships with other non-profit and public agencies. 

Youth ALIVE!’s budget is approximately $1.5 million.  The revenue comes most consistently from foundations and also includes national state and local government contracts, collaborations, and individual contributions.  Youth ALIVE! maintains the highest standards of financial and human resources management, is audited yearly, and maintains a healthy financial base.  For more information, please visit our website at www.youthalive.org.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Youth ALIVE! completed a strategic planning process in 2007 which it will revisit this year.  Key strategic priorities are:  

1. Strengthen and raise funding for the advocacy component of the agency (initial funding raised, staff hired, now seeking sustainable funding for possible state-wide young adult gun violence prevention advocacy project).
2. Develop and raise funding for a formal system for disseminating successful YA! program models (accomplished); and
3. Expand research and publishing arm, explore formal relationship with UC Berkeley.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND OVERVIEW

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with the Board President.  The ED supervises the senior management staff including Program and Administrative Directors and consultants.  Roughly half of the Executive Director’s time is dedicated to public advocacy and fundraising (including marketing).  The ED is an essential external leader and messenger in the public health field of youth violence prevention and key internal leader who galvanizes both staff and the Board of Directors to achieve Youth ALIVE!’s mission.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Youth Violence Prevention Advocacy: Acts as spokesperson, educating and advocating on behalf of youth violence prevention policies in public arenas. Develops and maintains collaborative working relations with key strategic partners.

• Institutional Advocacy:  Acts as agency spokesperson, educating and advocating on behalf of Youth ALIVE!’s participants and policies in public arenas.  Develops collaborative relationships with key strategic partners.

• Fund Development:  Takes overall responsibility for fund development; actively cultivates relationships and opportunities with a broad spectrum of funders; identifies and executes development strategies and promotes the visibility of Youth ALIVE!.

• Program:  Ensures high quality program planning, development and performance to maintain high standards that support agency mission.

• Leadership:  Provides leadership to keep Youth ALIVE! focused on its values and mission in how operations and programs are carried out in a changing socio-political-economic environment.  Leads the execution and updating of the agency’s strategic plan.  Assumes an active role in organizational development and maintains a positive organizational environment.

• Board of Directors:  Provides leadership and support for the Board’s fulfillment of its governance responsibilities, capacity building and major donor cultivation.

• Financial Management:  Oversees financial management and fiscal sustainability and accountability.

• Administration and Personnel: Works with the Administrative Director who implements contracts and ensures compliance with legal obligations, together creates a positive staff environment and facilitates opportunities for professional development for all staff; and maintains strict accountability for hiring, evaluation, and personnel action.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Minimum of 10 years of experience as a successful leader and manager in the nonprofit sector focused on public health (ideally) or in related medical field, or public or private sector work in health or education with demonstrated strategic and planning capability.  Work experience and knowledge of public health, hospitals, schools, youth, and other fields relevant to Youth ALIVE!’s mission.

2. Masters level degree in public health, social work, public policy or related field, including medical care.

3. Entrepreneurial self-starter and visionary who produces results.

4. Proven strong advocacy and policy skills, as demonstrated by leadership in successful policy (systems, legal, legislative) passage and implementation relevant to Youth ALIVE!’s mission.  Ability to communicate in a compelling manner to multiple types of audiences. 

5. Successful record of 10 years of raising funds from foundation and government sources with increasing amounts from $500,000 minimum annually ; high level close foundation contacts; outstanding grant and report writing ability.

6. Successful management experience with a highly capable team of senior staff using outcomes measurement and goal-setting, including fiscal, program, personnel and advocacy.

7. Demonstrated ability to make strategic decisions in complex situations.

8. Extensive experience staffing boards of directors, and ideally serving on them as a volunteer.

9. Positive high-level community relations experience with multiple institutions/organizations/individuals in the health, education, criminal justice, non-profit and philanthropic fields, and demonstrated director and board-level relationships of leaders within these fields and with local, state and nationally elected representatives.

COMPENSATION:

Youth ALIVE! is offering a competitive salary and benefits package, including:
Medical/Dental/Vision/Vacation/Holidays/Sick leave/Retirement/Education Reimbursement. 
Compensation will be based on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications and be consistent with organizations of Youth ALIVE!’s size and budget. The position is Full Time (40 hours per week) plus some evenings and weekends. This is an exempt position.

Position Available:  February 15, 2010

TO APPLY:

• Send cover letter, resume, published articles and unpublished manuscripts to edappl@youthalive.org or mail to ED APPL Youth ALIVE! 3300 Elm Street Oakland CA 94609

• PLACE NAME ON SUBJECT LINE AND ON ALL ATTACHMENTS

• No phone calls please or visits

• Position will remain open until filled

• Youth ALIVE! is an Equal Opportunity Employer.   10/15/2009