Executive Director

REPORTS TO: Board Chair

LOCATION: Long Island, NY

POSITION TYPE: Full Time

ANNUAL SALARY: $140,000 - $175,000

S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. is a grassroots, community-focused nonprofit dedicated to youth, family, and community development, specializing in youth, gang, and gun violence prevention and intervention. Our mission is to increase safety and foster a sense of community belonging among youth and families across Long Island. We achieve this by providing alternatives to high-risk behaviors for our youth and empowering families, residents, and stakeholders to advocate for socially responsible initiatives in their communities.

Founded in 2000, S.T.R.O.N.G. was the first youth-driven, multi-ethnic organization on Long Island tackling youth violence. While we have made significant strides in the past 25 years in expanding our programs and reach, our commitment to a grassroots approach remains at the core of our work. Today, S.T.R.O.N.G. is a small but dynamic nonprofit with 8 full-time and 12 part-time staff members, and an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million.

We are offering a unique opportunity for the right candidate to bring their experience and expertise to lead the organization into its next phase of growth. This is an exciting prospect for leaders who thrive in a small, close-knit team environment and are passionate about our mission and elevating our organization to the next level.

Reporting to the board of directors, the Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for S.T.R.O.N.G. including fundraising, donor relations, program management, communications, staff and volunteer engagement, budget management, and execution of its mission. The Executive Director will hold a deep knowledge of core programs, operations, and business plans and build lasting internal and external relationships that lead to the advancement of the mission. Areas of responsibility include but are not limited to:

LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION

• Provide leadership and vision that inspires the team and creates a working environment that encourages inclusion, professionalism, and mission-driven outcomes rooted in our multi-ethnic, youth-driven collaborative philosophy.
• Champion a transformational justice framework to S.T.R.O.N.G.’s programs and approach that centers reducing harm at its roots by tackling systemic inequities.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategies, work plans, and budgets necessary to achieve goals and objectives.
• Ensure and hold ultimate responsibility over the quality of all programs and translate the organization's mission into measurable goals and activities.

DEVELOPMENT, PARTNERSHIPS, AND PROGRAM EXPANSION

• Oversee all development and fundraising activities, including the creation and execution of a comprehensive, diversified fundraising plan that supports organizational sustainability and growth.
• Lead the solicitation of funding from foundations, corporations, businesses, government agencies, and individual donors, and ensure effective stewardship of all gifts and grants in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with staff, board members, and external partners to identify new funding opportunities, enhance donor cultivation, and strengthen revenue pipelines through events, campaigns, and strategic appeals.
• Proactively identify, cultivate, and sustain strategic partnerships with schools, community-based organizations, public agencies, businesses, and philanthropic entities that can help expand S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth’s reach and deepen its impact.
• Develop collaborative funding proposals and initiatives with partners to scale and replicate school/community prevention and intervention programs into new communities and schools.
• Build high-value relationships with institutional and systems-level stakeholders to secure sustainable resources, shared investments, and multi-year commitments that fuel program growth and innovation.

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY

• Serve as S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth’s primary spokesperson and advocate, effectively communicating the mission, vision, and impact to diverse audiences including funders, partners, policymakers, and the public.
• Engage in advocacy efforts, working with policymakers to promote alternatives to punitive approaches, advancing evidence-based violence prevention strategies.
• Oversee all marketing and communications efforts, including digital platforms, media outreach, and publications, ensuring consistent, compelling, and mission-aligned messaging that strengthens the organization’s brand and visibility.
• Align communications strategies with fundraising, partnership cultivation, and program expansion priorities to maximize visibility and attract sustained support.

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

• Work with the Treasurer to develop an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors.
• Prepare monthly financial reports with the Board Treasurer before each board meeting.
• Monitor financial performance against the budget, including monitoring of expenditures and cash flow; oversee monthly reporting of financial performance.
• Work with accounting services including bookkeepers to create and maintain internal controls, as well as efficient processes to manage incoming finances and reporting.

STAFF AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• Provide leadership to staff and maintain a culture and climate that aligns with S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth's values, and also attracts, keeps and motivates quality personnel.
• Oversee functions of staff, including hiring, performance reviews, implementation of professional development, and performance oversight of all paid staff and contractors.
• Develop, implement, and monitor personnel policies to ensure a positive and productive environment, and one that encourages continuous improvement.
• Oversee facilities management, including landlord relationships.

BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT

• Work with the Board Chair to ensure board member activity and involvement.
• Attend Board meetings, prepare financial and any other applicable materials.
• Assist the Board as directed in long-range planning and special projects.
• Assist in the board recruiting and nomination process.
• Support board through development of strategic plans, policies, and priorities.
• Bring appropriate issues and policy decisions to the board in a timely manner.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Five years of management experience in a nonprofit setting and working with a board of directors.
• Deep knowledge of and a track record of success in implementing community violence prevention & intervention programs with understanding of the approaches, strategies, and networks required to achieve results.
• Excellence in organizational management, including leading and coaching staff, with the ability to develop and lead high-performing teams to accomplish strategic objectives.
• Strong fundraising, marketing and public relations experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders including law enforcement, school systems, community leaders, and families impacted by violence.
• Proficiency in developing and managing budgets and experience in monitoring financial performance.
• Commitment to a transformational justice approach that centers reducing harm at its roots by tackling systemic inequities.

BENEFITS

• Flexible work schedule, hybrid work location, health insurance (medical and vision), 401(K), four weeks of PTO, 10 paid holidays, paid birthday.

To apply, please email your resume and a cover letter to edsearch@strongyouth.com. In your cover letter, we’d love to hear how your skills and experience meet the qualifications, as well as what draws you to our mission. We recognize that strong candidates come from many different backgrounds and encourage all interested applicants to apply. Please note that this position is based in Long Island, NY with a hybrid, flexible schedule. Candidates must either live locally or be willing to relocate.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth is committed to equal opportunity employment. The organization makes hiring and employment decisions without regard to an individual's race, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy (or related medical condition), age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, gender expression, military status, prior record of arrest of conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, caregiver status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.