Organization
True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness by
focusing on the unique experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and
questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. Through an array of training & education, advocacy, and
youth collaboration programs, True Colors United ensures that every LGBTQ+ young
person, wherever they live, is celebrated for being their authentic selves.
Job Description
True Colors United is looking for a program director in the Greater Los Angeles area
to support the work of the Los Angeles Emissary, a body of young people in Los
Angeles County with lived experience of homelessness working to advance housing
justice for youth and young adults. Reporting directly to the Chief Programs Officer,
the Program Director will provide coordination, oversight, and coaching to a team of
eight LA-based staff while working alongside the team to:
● build and strengthen multi-system coordination;
● grow youth power in homelessness/housing systems leadership and
decision-making; and
● attain long-term sustainability as a youth-led entity in Los Angeles County
advancing housing justice for youth and young adults.
This is not an entry level position.
Responsibilities
This role is dynamic in scope, with responsibilities including but not limited to:
Personnel Management
The Program Director will be responsible for the coaching and supervision of a team
of eight staff members, providing support and professional development and
engaging in ongoing performance management using a collaborative,
strengths-based approach that encourages growth in leadership and
decision-making across the team.
● Works individually with each team member to set realistic goals for
professional growth and development and provide coaching and support to
team members in their pursuit of those goals.
● Builds and models a culture of accountability in which feedback is given
proactively and regularly, there are clearly defined shared expectations
between the director and supervisees, and individual team members are
supported in growing their own comfort with giving and receiving feedback
to/from peers across the team.
● Serves as a mediator between team members when conflict arises, using
leading practices in conflict transformation to support team members in
navigating challenging conversations and using those conflicts as an
opportunity to strengthen relationships and build trust.
Program Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation
The Program Director will be responsible for identifying impact metrics, capturing
relevant data, and facilitating strategic decision-making alongside the Emissary
team in order to grow the impact and sustainability of the program. They will track
progress and report outcomes to the appropriate internal and external partners —
including staff leadership, funders, supervisors, and others.
● Oversees program budget and expenditures, timeline, project roles and grant
deliverables for projects within the Los Angeles Emissary portfolio.
● Provides coaching and professional development to the Emissary team on
project management methods, tools, processes, and ideologies.
● Provides consistent, ongoing review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the
Los Angeles Emissary portfolio, troubleshooting gaps between goals and
outcomes.
● Works with the rest of the Los Angeles Emissary team to co-design impact
metrics and ways to capture and analyze relevant data to improve outcomes.
Relationship Management
The Program Director will be overseeing a body of work that is happening beyond
the Los Angeles Emissary staff team, across an expansive network of partners in Los
Angeles County. They will be responsible for maintaining strong relationships with
current funding partners, building relationships with new and emerging funders,
and representing the Los Angeles Emissary work to leaders in the field — including
national and local nonprofit organizations, service-providing organizations/agencies,
system partners in child welfare and the continuum of care, and regional tables
within Los Angeles County.
● Maintains strong relationships with current funding partners and builds
relationships with new and emerging partners to secure future funding and
advance sustainability goals for the program.
● Communicates (and supports Los Angeles Emissary team members in
communicating) proactive updates across the network of partners, ensuring
that information is shared transparently and key people and
organizations/agencies are kept informed of upcoming events, meetings, and
other opportunities for engagement.
● Works alongside the full Los Angeles Emissary team to build community
among the partners, building consensus toward shared goals, securing and
strengthening buy-in, and aligning partners around the values of authentic
youth collaboration, leadership of young people with lived experience of
homelessness, system accountability, and LGBTQIA+ and racial justice.
Key Skills and Qualifications
The successful candidate will have at least eight years of professional experience,
with at least five years of experience as a supervisor and program manager.
Additional requirements include:
● Dedication to and fluency in racial justice and LGBTQ+ justice, consistent use
of LGBTQ+ and racial justice lens in program and personnel management
● High level expertise in using project management tools like Airtable and
Google Suite, and project management methods like SWOT analysis and
SMARTIE goals (Strategic, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, Time-bound,
Inclusive, and Equitable)
● Direct experience partnering with young people through an anti-adultist lens
and using leading practices in authentic youth collaboration
● Very strong relationship management skills and the ability to build
relationships with partners, including staff, external partners, and funders
● Familiarity and experience with the homelessness system and other
youth-impacting systems in Los Angeles County
● Ability to use radical imagination and practical knowledge to develop
long-term vision and strategy
● Willingness to be bold and take strategic risks
● Ability to rally their team around shared vision
● High level subject-matter expertise in homelessness and housing justice
More Information
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal
role in a fast-growing, highly-respected organization. We are seeking an individual of
outstanding quality with a respected track record. True Colors United is prepared to
offer an attractive compensation package, including a competitive base salary as
well as health, retirement, life insurance, and vacation benefits. This position will be
based in Los Angeles with some mandatory travel. We are accepting applications
from residents of Greater Los Angeles with a preference for residents of Los Angeles
County.
Organization
True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness by
focusing on the unique experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and
questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. Through an array of training &…