Job Announcement

Title: Director of SOAR

Reports to: School’s Out Washington Chief Executive Officerand the SOAR Partnership Council

Location: 801 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, Washington

Introduction:

Doing work that no single agency can accomplish alone, SOAR builds and strengthens effective partnerships to support children and youth throughout King County. SOAR is seeking a dynamic, energetic, and visionary director to lead this vibrant, growing community-based coalition. If you are committed to the healthy development of children and youth, possess excellent community relation building skills and enjoy working with and guiding diverse constituent groups, we encourage you to apply for this unique, exciting position - Director of SOAR.

Position Description:

Provides leadership to SOAR, a countywidecoalition that is focused on creating systemic changes benefiting children, youth, and families. Staffs the Partnership Council, the advisory boardof SOAR, to develop and implement SOAR’s strategic agenda. Displays a strong commitment to inclusion and community driven solution to pressing issues facing children, youth, and families in King County. Leads all aspects of operations including project management and implementation, staff management, community relations, fundraising, planning and allocation of resources, and using the support of host agency and external community resources. Coordinates and guides the participation and contribution of community partners. Facilitates planning, builds mutually beneficial relationships with constituent groups, including funders, to strengthen the community’s capacity to effectively support children and youth in KingCounty.SOAR is housed with School’s Out Washington (SOWA), which serves as its host agency and fiscal sponsor.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

Partnership Council and Strategic Efforts:

  • Develops, plans, manages and implements strategies for community-wide initiatives focusing on creating systemic change benefiting children and youth.
  • Works closely with and supports the work of a large, diverse volunteer Partnership Council to develop SOAR’s strategic direction.
  • Supervises planning, coordination and implementation of complex partnerships, programs and projects that support SOAR’s goals.
  • Provides/enhances visibility and effectiveness of SOAR through participation in regional leadership activities.
  • Develops ongoing relationships in the community that advance SOAR’s agenda, and strives to influence agendas/actions of organizations involved with children and youth.
  • Develops and promotes SOAR’s advocacy agenda, working in partnership with other regional and statewide advocacy organizations.
  • Coaches and motivates Action Teams and work groups comprised of SOAR partners.

Operations and Management:

  • Provides leadership for all aspects of SOAR’s operations including community relations, fundraising, grant writing, planning and allocation of resources; uses the support of external community resources and partnerships.
  • Develops and monitors SOAR’s annual operating budget and contracted services.
  • Ensures that activities are evaluated according to adopted performance measures.
  • Provides regular updates about SOAR’s progress, both internally and externally.
  • Supervises 2.5 FTE staff positions, plus interns and volunteers, and is responsible for staff development.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of and conducts research to keep abreast of trends in the field of child and youth development.
  • Leads SOAR and ensures that financial, administrative and human resources policies conform to the policies set forth by SOWA under the direction of the SOWA Board of Directors.

Job Scope:

The position is accountable for SOAR’s strategic planning efforts, with a broad scope of functional responsibilities including community relations, fundraising, grant-writing, planning and project management. It involves a high degree of complexity or difficulty required to balance the interests of various constituencies, with an ability to integrate new practices, manage broad responsibilities and multiple partnerships, as well as to provide leadership in cross-system integration. The Director is responsible for developing operational policies and objectives, and works independently with minimal supervision. Decisions are sometimes made by group process and sometimes independentlyusing broad interpretation of applicable laws and governmental guidelines. To succeed, the Director of SOAR will be creative, flexible, comfortable with the changing nature of the initiative as it matures, and respectful of its roots in the community.

Qualifications and Competencies

Job Skills:

  • Strong knowledge of project management and strategic planning, coordination skills, volunteer recruitment/management abilities, time management, supervision, fundraising, grant writing and marketing techniques.
  • Use of creativity.
  • Ability to positively resolve conflicts.
  • Ability to lead complex community teams and to facilitate community problem solving.
  • Demonstrated relationship-building skills to build and maintain advocacy for the organization.
  • Ability to analyze and solve problems and to exercise independent judgment.
  • Ability to make decisions, applying interpersonal and customer service skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, and strong English language reading, writing and speaking skills.
  • Ability to use a variety of computer software.
  • Ability to independently travel between work appointments.
  • Commitment to addressing racism, sexism, heterosexism and other discriminatory practices.
  • Commitment to working toward racial equity through undoing institutional and structural racism.

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience specializing in human services, non-profit management, public administration or business administration.
  • Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressively responsible experience working in systems development, community organizing, community affairs, government relations or senior- level program management.
  • Expertise in early childhood development and youth development is critical.
  • Knowledge of and experience with WashingtonState and KingCounty early childhood and youth development systems and organizations is highly desirable.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and developing staff teams is required.
  • Competencies: analytical thinking, decision making ability, collaboration/partnership skills, results-driven, and racial equity and social justice advocacy.

Other Desirable Qualities:

  • Seasoned visionary leader, with demonstrated leadership skills.
  • Proven record of leading others toward a common vision.
  • Creative thinker who can develop non-traditional solutions.
  • Strong facilitation and collaboration experience.
  • Experience in working effectively with bilingual and bicultural communities.

Hiring Salary: $68,000-$73,000 DOE

Generous Benefit Package: including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and Paid Time Offpolicy.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification: Exempt

Closing Date:Friday, March 21, 2014 by 5 pm.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to: with

“SOAR Director” in the subject line or send to:

SOAR Director Search

SOAR

801 - 23rd Avenue S., Suite A

Seattle, WA 98144

For more information, go to . or

SOAR (School’s Out Washington, host agency) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SOAR/SOWA has a commitment to addressing racism, sexism, heterosexism and other discriminatory practices and a commitment to working toward racial equity through undoing institutional and structural racism. Women, People of Color, and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to apply.