Co-Executive Director

ABOUT PA’LANTE: Rooted in Holyoke, MA, Pa’lante Transformative Justice builds youth power to heal and transform interpersonal harm and systemic injustices. Youth leaders use indigenous circle practice to support our schools and community to address conflict and harm, grieve, solve problems, heal from trauma and oppression, as well as to celebrate victories. In addition to hosting circles, Pa’lante youth use Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and community organizing to get to the root of the systemic issues they face. More info: www.palanteholyoke.org

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION:  Pa’lante’s current Executive Director is planning to slowly transition out of the organization over the next year. The incoming Co-ED will onboard alongside the current, outgoing Co-ED from their hire date through June 2024, incrementally taking over all aspects of the role. During the transition period, the Pa’lante Co-Executive Directors will work together to guide all aspects of Pa’lante’s work. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Organizational Leadership

1. Lead and support youth and staff to lead, problem solve, create opportunities and plan strategically at all levels of the agency. 
2. Facilitate and participate in transparent collective decision-making processes with Youth Advisory Board, Staff Team, and Board of Directors/Community Advisory Board
3. Provide ongoing supervision, coaching, and capacity building to staff
4. Co-plan and co-lead weekly staff meetings 
5. Facilitate strategic planning that continuously aligns the work with Pa’lante’s mission and vision as the program grows and develops
6. Coordinate and supervise interns from existing community partnerships and develop new partnerships that will benefit the organization
7. Lead collaborative processes developing high level strategy and problem solving
8. Represent Pa’lante at conferences, professional associations, and other public venues
9. Share in knowledge dissemination, reporting, and communications.
10. Develop and maintain relationships with local youth organizations and schools

Human Resources

1. Lead on HR related procedures and policies 
2. Lead and co-create internal processes such as conflict resolution, performance evaluation, standard operating procedures, training opportunities/professional development and staff retreats.
3. Lead and provide support with recruitment, interviewing and onboarding agency staff, including administering and managing employee benefits
4. Co- Executive Director to inform staffing decisions related to growth, performance and accountability.

Operations 

1. Supervise Operations Manager and oversee all aspects of maintaining our physical space.
2. Co-create department specific policies and procedures to enhance efficiency while sustaining organizational values including power shifting, humility, focused adaptability, and equity-centering.
3. Supervise and oversight of all admin staff, which include Office Manager, interns and Fellows
4. Lead point of contact for all agency contracting, services, vendors and insurance
5. Fiscal/financial management, which includes managing credit cards and spending, bank accounts and check writing/signing, and working with the co-Executive Director to co-develop and monitor agency budget and spending through financial reviews at monthly,mid year and end of year intervals.

Fundraising & Financial Management

1. Provide sound fiscal management and fiscal oversight of the organization.
2. Lead fundraising and resource development efforts to meet the financial needs of our growing organization. This includes growing our donor base, securing grants, and guiding the Development team’s efforts to design annual appeals and fundraising events and maintain development records and documentation.
3. Develop and manage the organization’s annual budget as a responsible fiscal steward  
4. Manage all operational aspects of the organization, including legal, finance/budget, and compliance with support from the board, donors, foundations, and state and federal grants 
5. Raise funds in support of Pa’lante’s annual budget 
6. Cultivate and continue relationships with new and existing donors in partnership with the Board and our partners 
7. Lead point of contact for all agency contracting, services, vendors and insurance

Board Development

1. Serve as staff liaison to Board of Directors
2. Keep the Board apprised of all issues pertaining to the well-being of the organization.
3. Support board training, development, recruitment, and support youth involvement on the board.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years experience working with BIPOC youth
• 5+ years in nonprofit management, executive leadership, and/or administration.
• Experience coordinating programs, projects or relevant work
• Experience with all or most of the following: community organizing, youth development, counseling, restorative/transformative justice, program design/development, strategic planning, grantwriting, grassroots fundraising, operations management.
• Demonstrated commitment to challenging racism and youth oppression
• Demonstrated commitment to shared leadership and decision making
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills
• Excellent curriculum development and facilitation skills
• Excellent supervisory skills, including enthusiasm and skill in working with young staff
• Team player and capable of working independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and solving complex problems 
• Comfort using Google Suite and Zoom 
• Connection to Holyoke, preferred
• Bilingual in Spanish, strongly preferred
• Master’s Degree, preferred 

COMMITMENT/EXPECTATIONS: This is an in-person position with some limited virtual working opportunities. Pa’lante has a 35-hour work week with option to work 4-day week. Because this position oversees youth work happening outside of the school day, it requires regular evening and weekend hours.