Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships and Volunteer Programs

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children’s mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLN's community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.

Position Overview

The Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships and Volunteer Programs leads the development, cultivation, and management of strategic partnerships and volunteer engagement efforts that advance Para Los Niños’ mission and organizational goals. This role serves as a key liaison between PLN and external stakeholders, building collaborative relationships that enhance services, resources, visibility, and support for children, youth, and families.

The Associate Director works cross-functionally to identify opportunities for partnership and community engagement, strengthen existing relationships, and implement strategies that increase organizational impact. The role is also responsible for providing leadership and oversight of volunteer engagement initiatives, ensuring meaningful opportunities for community involvement and support. As a member of the External Affairs team, the Associate Director contributes to departmental strategy, fundraising efforts, community engagement, and organizational growth while fostering strong internal and external partnerships.

Duties

• Provides leadership and oversight for PLN's volunteer engagement function, including supervision and development of volunteer program staff; coordination of employee volunteer initiatives; collaboration with internal departments to align volunteer resources with organizational needs; management of partnership documentation and agreements in coordination with Operations and other internal stakeholders; and cultivation of relationships with external partners to support volunteer engagement and organizational impact.
• Leads the development and execution of strategies that strengthen community partnerships, volunteer engagement, and external relations in support of organizational priorities, growth, and mission impact.
• Provides strategic leadership for the identification, cultivation, stewardship, and evaluation of relationships with community organizations, corporations, foundations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to expand organizational capacity, resources, and services.
• Partners with organizational leaders to assess emerging needs, identify opportunities for collaboration, and align partnership and engagement strategies with PLN's strategic objectives.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of partnership initiatives, agreements, and collaborative efforts to ensure alignment, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
• Serves as a representative of PLN with external stakeholders, cultivating relationships that advance organizational visibility, influence, and community impact.
• Provides leadership and oversight for PLN's volunteer engagement strategy, including supervision of staff, development of program goals, and implementation of initiatives that support organizational priorities and community engagement.
• Collaborates with External Affairs leadership to advance fundraising, sponsorship, donor engagement, and community investment strategies that support organizational sustainability and growth.
• Establishes and oversees systems, processes, and performance metrics to evaluate partnerships, volunteer engagement, and external relations activities, utilizing data and insights to drive strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Develops and presents reports, analyses, recommendations, and strategic updates for executive leadership, the Board of Directors, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Contributes to the development and execution of departmental and organizational strategic plans, goals, and initiatives, ensuring alignment across functions and stakeholder groups.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning while providing leadership, coaching, and support to staff and cross-functional teams.
• Leads or participates in special projects, organizational initiatives, and other responsibilities as assigned in support of the evolving needs of the department and organization

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Minimum 5 years work experience in related field such as nonprofit management, partnership building, volunteerism, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to build, cultivate, and sustain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, corporate partners, funders, volunteers, and public agencies.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify opportunities, assess organizational needs, and develop collaborative solutions that advance mission-driven outcomes.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, including the ability to effectively engage, influence, and collaborate with individuals at all levels of an organization and within the community.
• Proven ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously, manage competing priorities, and drive projects from concept through implementation while maintaining attention to detail and achieving desired outcomes.
• Experience utilizing data, metrics, and evaluation methods to measure program effectiveness, inform decision-making, and communicate impact to internal and external stakeholders. Prior experience in The Raiser’s Edge NXT, Rosterfy, or other CRM tracking software is preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English are required, and we celebrate linguistic diversity, valuing the unique perspectives and strengths that multilingual team members bring to our organization.
• Utilizes Microsoft Office Suite and other business systems to perform daily administrative functions, including data entry, document management, and professional correspondence.
• Travel Requirements: Up to 50% travel may be required to support organizational, programmatic, and community engagement activities. Occasional travel within the State of California may be required based on organizational needs; however, such travel is infrequent and not a regular expectation of the role.

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.
• Must be able to speak and hear well.
• Good vision is imperative.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.

Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
• Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
• Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
• Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with families and children informed by the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
• Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
• Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.