Executive Director Non-Profit

Job Summary
Culture Shock San Diego (CSSD) seeks a dynamic, mission-driven Executive Director with a deep passion for Hip-Hop dance culture and the expertise to lead a thriving nonprofit. This role requires a visionary leader with skills in strategic execution, fundraising, budgeting, staff development, and program expansion—someone who can balance artistic vision with business strategy to strengthen CSSD’s impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will oversee staff, programs, operations, and growth, ensuring CSSD remains a hub for love, mentorship, and cultural celebration.

More than just an administrator, the ED will serve as a custodian of culture and ambassador for Hip-Hop’s legacy, upholding the five pillars—MCing, DJing, breakdancing (B-boying), graffiti, and knowledge/history. They will actively collaborate with and uplift the communities and artists who shaped Hip-Hop, ensuring their voices remain central to CSSD’s work. This leader will honor, teach, and perpetuate Hip-Hop’s history while fostering leadership that authentically reflects the diverse communities CSSD represents.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Hip Hop’s roots and evolution and its power as a vehicle for education and social change. They will build partnerships across industries to expand CSSD’s reach, secure diverse funding, and strengthen programming. A skilled mentor and manager, they will cultivate an environment where staff, dancers, and community members feel inspired and valued, driving the organization’s mission forward with creativity, integrity, and purpose.

Responsibilities

Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization and ensure overall long-term success.
• Ensure consistent progress in achieving mission and program goals, track progress, and regularly evaluate program components, tracking and analyzing metrics to measure program impact.
• Report and effectively communicate program metrics to the board, funders, and other constituents.
• Plan, actively manage, and oversee operations, programs, fundraising, policies, financial records, and staff records.
• Ensure key records are updated, accessible to key staff and board members, and securely stored.
• Oversee and manage all financial obligations related to Culture Shock facilities, including rent, utilities, and insurance payments. Review, evaluate, and approve lease agreements and contracts, ensuring timely renewals and compliance with organizational needs and budget.

Staff Management & Organizational Culture

• Manage and motivate staff, overseeing processes such as hiring, separation, ongoing staff development, performance management, and compensation and benefits.
• Provide inclusive, transparent, and empowering executive leadership that supports and guides the organization’s mission.
• Foster a collaborative working environment, encourage professional development, and champion accountability amongst staff.
• Actively engage and energize CSSD’s Alumni, volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, sponsors, and funders.

Board Governance & Engagement

• Attend all Board meetings; assist Board President with preparing meeting agendas and materials; provide reports and updates on staff as well as all current work, project timelines and organizational progress.
• Serve as ex-officio of each committee, attending all committee meetings.
• Partner with the Board Chair and other board members to establish strategic goals, objectives, taking the lead to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Communicate effectively with the Board by providing necessary information for informed decision-making.
• Develop, maintain, and support a strong board of directors, working with the Board Chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members.

Community & External Relations

• Represent the organization and promote a positive organizational image to ensure community engagement.
• Take on special assignments and attend events to support the growth of CSSD in the community.
• Use external presence and relationships to create opportunities for donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communications, including web presence, sponsor packets, and external relations.

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• Expand revenue generating and fundraising activities to support existing program operations – this includes both online fundraising and events in the community.
• Actively plan to increase the attendance and fundraising efforts.
• Manage the Grant Schedule and Fundraising Goals, working directly with the Grant Writer.
• Handle the donor acknowledgement efforts, including sending Thank You Letters to current donors on a monthly basis.

Financial & Strategic Planning

• Prepare an annual budget and actively engage in fiscal management through budgetary development and oversight.
• Prepare CSSD’s tax documents in collaboration with the bookkeeper and accountant.
• Prepare quarterly financial reports for the Board to review, providing the documents electronically in advance of each board meeting.
• Ensure daily financial operations maximize resources and optimize financial positioning
• Implement and refine the existing strategic plan, ensuring all staff, board, and volunteers understand and contribute to its goals.

Expectations/Participation

Culture Shock San Diego’s Board of Directors expects that the Executive Director will make the organization a priority and commit to the processes and planning that are in the best interest of CSSD. Time commitment and hours will vary each week; however, the ED should be accessible during business hours, able to communicate with donors, sponsors, Board, staff, and volunteers in a timely manner, and available for meetings and events that occur on evenings and weekends. Ongoing education in nonprofit management is important, as well as the ED participating in professional development.

Requirements

The ideal candidate for this role embraces a thoughtful approach to operational management, strategic planning/vision and goal-setting, and organizational leadership.

• Leadership & Management Experience: 5 years of experience as an Executive Director, Program Director, or Artistic Director working in a nonprofit, with a proven ability to transition into an Executive Director role.
• Strategic Planning & Financial Oversight: Ability to set, implement and achieve strategic objectives, and manage budgets.
• Organizational Growth & Team Development: Experience leading organizational growth, managing staff, and fostering high-performance teams.
• Marketing, Public Relations & Fundraising: Proficiency in marketing, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising strategies.
• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Intrapreneurial & Adaptable: A proactive, intrapreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning.
• Time Management: Capacity to oversee programs, staff, volunteers, fundraising, and donor development.

Join us in making a difference! We look forward to welcoming a motivated Non-profit Representative who is ready to contribute their skills and passion for social change.

Review of Applications begins on March 10, 2025 and will continue until filled. Please no solicitation or email/phone inquiries.

Submit your cover letter and resume to jobs@cultureshockdance.org

Culture Shock San Diego is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $68,640.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Please describe your experience in senior leadership roles within nonprofit organizations, specifically as an Executive Director, Program Director, or Artistic Director.
• Why do you feel you are a good fit for the Executive Director position at Culture Shock San Diego?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $68,640