Program Director

Reports to: Co-Executive Director

Salary and Benefits: $100,000 annually, and a comprehensive benefits package

Location: Seattle, WA, with some work-from-home flexibility

Application Deadline: June 21st, 2024

Position Start Date: September 3rd, 2024

ABOUT YOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERED (Y-WE): Y-WE cultivates the power of diverse young women* to be courageous leaders and creative changemakers. We serve youth ages 13-26 from all backgrounds from throughout the greater Seattle area, centering BIPOC girls and gender expansive youth most impacted by systemic inequity. The container for our transformative programs is our intergenerational community of belonging, and we envision a society where all young women live their truth, achieve their dreams, and change our world. Y-WE is Women-of-Color led with a majority BIPOC staff, board, and mentor community. We’ve grown from a youth-led pilot program in 2010 to a nonprofit now serving 1,000+ participants annually through ongoing programs, public events, and other community activities. Y-WE also provides mentorship, wellness support services, opportunities for direct family aid, and more. Please visit our website for more information about our work and impact. 

*those who identify as girls, women, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive 

POSITION SUMMARY: Y-WE’s Program Director plays a key role in the organization. Responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the programs team, they ensure the delivery of high-quality programs that align with the organization’s mission and goals. They oversee all aspects of programming and provide ongoing supervision and professional development support to staff and contracted facilitators. The Program Director drives long-term visioning and strategic partnerships, and serves as an advocate for Y-WE in the community. They foster a team culture of mutual support and accountability, clear communication, and active collaboration. Balancing creative innovation with stability, they ensure programs are responsive to evolving community needs while remaining sustainable. They have a deep understanding of and commitment to Y-WE’s mission, consistently apply an equity and justice lens to their work, and are a champion for BIPOC girls and gender expansive youth. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Development, Management, and Oversight

• Oversee all Y-WE programs and public events
• Create and vision program content to uphold Y-WE’s core program values and goals
• In collaboration with the Co-Executive Directors and Finance Director, with input from the programs team, create and monitor the programs budget
• Ensure the smooth fiscal operation of programs, such as timely payments and invoicing, expense tracking, and budget status reports
• Drive program evaluation processes to measure program impact and effectiveness; utilize data to make informed management decisions
• Coordinate consistent, accurate, timely, and relevant program data collection for grants and development, communications, and reporting
• In collaboration with the Operations Manager, develop and update programmatic risk management policies and procedures as needed and oversee implementation
• In collaboration with other relevant staff, develop internal tools, systems, and operating procedures to systematize and simplify workflows

Staff and Volunteer Supervision

• Directly supervise a team of 2-3 full-time managers, providing ongoing professional development and support
• Support the ongoing professional development of programs team staff as a whole
• Provide constructive coaching and feedback, maintain positive and effective relationships, and delegate responsibilities
• Recruit, train, and supervise 10+ part-time contracted facilitators throughout the year for ongoing programs and summer camps
• Support the Program Manager in the recruitment, training, and ongoing support of ~50 adult volunteer program mentors throughout the year

Leadership and Strategy

• Drive long-term program visioning and strategic planning processes, ensuring that programs are in alignment with Y-WE’s mission and programmatic goals
• Lead strategic partnership initiatives to expand program reach and impact
• Represent and advocate for Y-WE by clearly communicating Y-WE’s mission and impact and increasing overall visibility in the community
• Collaborate with Grants and Communications staff to tell the story of Y-WE programs in grant applications, marketing materials, and other external-facing communications.
• Prepare and present quarterly reports to the Y-WE Board and Co-Executive Directors
• Facilitate internal and external presentations, workshops, and community activities
• Cultivate a team culture of collaboration, mutual support, and reciprocal accountability. 
• Balance responsiveness to community need with program stability and sustainability 

Disclaimer - Other Duties as Assigned: This job description is not to be considered an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. All Y-WE employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. An employee and/or supervisor may initiate a desk audit should additional duties result in a 10% differential from agreed upon job responsibilities for a sustained period of time and not temporary in nature. 

QUALIFICATIONS: We recognize that many types of skills and experiences contribute to success in a role. If you are passionate about Y-WE’s mission and vision and believe you can be successful in this position, we welcome your application even if you do not meet every qualification listed below. Candidates who are BIPOC, gender expansive, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Skills and Experience of Qualified Candidates

• Commitment to and understanding of the mission and vision of Y-WE
• Knowledge of culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate practices, pedagogies, and facilitation tools when working with youth, particularly BIPOC girls
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in strategic program design, implementation, and iterative evaluation processes
• Familiar and proficient in the logistical operations of youth-serving programs
• Experience developing and overseeing budgets
• 6+ years combined experience in youth-serving program coordination, management, or leadership; or equivalent experience
• 6+ years professional experience working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth in youth-centered spaces
• 3+ years experience training and supervising staff; able to provide constructive feedback and delegate responsibilities
• Able to balance competing priorities across concurrent long-term projects and delegate effectively
• Skilled at creating a culture of effective communication and collaboration
• Comfortable navigating conflict and accountability processes
• Proficient in Google Workspace and comfortable learning and using CRM systems, Project Management systems, and other technologies as needed

Skills and Experience of Strong Candidates (all of the above, plus one or more of the following):

• 3+ years experience leading and overseeing a team/department
• 3+ years experience supervising a team of staff across multiple programs or work areas, including managers with their own supervisees
• Experience developing and overseeing large budgets at the team/department level
• Significant professional experience and expertise in one or more of the following: Project Management, Outreach, Advocacy, or Finance
• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as Education, Social Work, or Nonprofit Management
• Proficient in a language other than English relevant to the communities we serve, particularly Spanish, Amharic, Somali, or Vietnamese

Required

• Pass standard background checks, including a Washington State criminal background check
• Current valid Driver's License and a driving record with no more than one minor violation and speeding violation of more than 20mph over the limit; able or willing to learn to operate 15-person passenger vans
• First Aid/CPR/AED certification, or willingness to obtain within one month of hiring 

WORKING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: This position operates primarily in an office environment, with visits to external environments and locations that require traveling to and from various locations within the greater Seattle area. Post-COVID, Y-WE has adopted a hybrid work approach, encouraging in-person meetings with team members and community partners. This position requires the ability to: remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time; move/traverse within a multi-level office space, to/from community partner and program locations, and various meeting spaces; move/transport equipment and supplies that may exceed 30 lbs; effectively operate a computer and other office hardware, and use various internet-based applications and software; and communicate frequently, effectively, and accurately with internal and external partners. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Compensation $100,000 annually
• 40 hours/week, 1.0 FTE, FLSA exempt position
• Fully employer-paid medical insurance through Kaiser Permanente Health (includes vision) and Delta Dental
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to 3% match
• Life insurance and short term disability coverage
• Mileage or transportation reimbursement available for required off-site travel
• Work computer and cell phone provided
• Hybrid in-person/remote work structure and flexible scheduling, dependent on programmatic and organizational needs
• Up to 3 weeks of accrued PTO per year, paid holidays, and a paid 3-week winter office closure