Executive Director - Mississippi

Company Overview:

Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) was founded in 2013 with the mission to increase the number of young men of color (YMOC) to attend and graduate from colleges and universities. We envision a world where men of color are overrepresented in higher education, underrepresented in the criminal justice system, and leaders in their communities. Embodying our core values of Character, Service, Teamwork, and Liberation we work to combat academic inequities and build a college-to-community pipeline.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the CEO, the Executive Director is responsible for the leadership and management of IYT Mississippi. This individual will set the vision and direction for the program in Mississippi and will effectively lead their team to disrupt the college opportunity gap for young men of color. This individual will be responsible for fundraising and relationship management with key stakeholders.  

Responsibilities include:

Leadership & Management

• Ensure ongoing local programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of finance and administration, fundraising, program implementation, member recruitment, and compliance systems; articulate timelines and resources needed to achieve the strategic goals.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, talented team to deliver the programs in a way that is highly efficient and effective; ensure you have the human capital necessary to execute against goals to deliver on the mission and vision.
• Monitor activity in state legislatures and state agencies regarding educational issues. Communicate to external stakeholders, government agencies, advocates, and legislative bodies.
• Review and respond to program evaluation reports, engaging in a continuous improvement cycle to maximize impact for individuals served by the program.
• Manage and engage a strong local advisory board to advise how the programs can best be adopted within the local community, political, and educational landscape.
• Nurture external relationships to support the program.
• Be a part of the organization's Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership for the organization's good.

Fundraising

• Secure school partnerships contracts by working with local school districts to establish and grow IYT across the state.
• Work with the Senior Director of Development to develop a fundraising plan and corresponding fundraising targets; this position is responsible for achieving fundraising targets annually.
• Work with the local advisory board to motivate key influencers to raise the funds necessary to meet the annual and long-term revenue goals by leveraging stewardship strategies.
• Develop a plan to increase private sector revenue through the identification, cultivation, and management of relationships with corporations, foundations, family foundations to build a sustainable private revenue mix.
• Responsible for managing all aspects of philanthropic and/or state funds necessary to operate the program(s) each year successfully, including identifying and cultivating potential funders, submitting LOIs, writing grant applications, timely grant reporting, and fulfillment of grant requirements.
• Use external presence and nurture relationships and/or partnerships to garner new opportunities. Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer regarding external relations and partnerships. Direct and oversee stakeholder visits to partner sites.
• Work in collaboration with the marketing department to deepen and refine all aspects of communications - from web presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand.

Program Management

• Provide leadership and direction to ensure team members provide exemplary customer service to partner sites and Mentor Fellows while effectively managing the program with a high degree of program fidelity.
• Ensure fidelity to the program model, as defined by the national office.
• Provide strategic leadership and accountability to member recruitment and retention to achieve 100% enrollment and 85% retention. Collaborate with the marketing department to outline and execute a member recruitment marketing plan (e.g. digital ads, earned media, collateral).
• Provide strategic leadership to expand into new communities in the area. Oversee the process for identifying and onboarding new sites, ensuring they are adequately prepared to implement the program in the next year.
• Lead internal monthly data review meetings to review implementation data and create action plans as needed.

Budget and Grant Management

• Prepare and manage program operating budget(s); identify annual fundraising targets based on this budget.
• Monitor and plan for expenditures to ensure program expenses are within the approved budget.
• Understand and ensure compliance to federal rules and regulations and other grant requirements associated with funding secured to support the program(s).
• Fulfill duties, as required, for submitting federal AmeriCorps grant applications and reporting.

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Believe in the mission, vision, and values of IYT
• Knows and can successfully articulate the organization and program mission, vision, and values to other stakeholders and collaborators;
• Excellent communication and management skills that can both inspire and push others to accomplish their goals.  
• Ability to operate with an appropriate, responsible level of transparency and vulnerability, engendering confidence and trust. 
• Ability to self-motivate to achieve results.  
• A multi-tasker with a solid ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, and produce quality results. 
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional late nights.

Education: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. 
• Masters's Degree in Public Administration, Education, Business administration, or a related field is preferred.

 Experience: 

• Minimum five years in a leadership role within a non-profit, school district, government entity, or related industry.
• Experience managing strategic partnerships, including philanthropic partnerships. Proven track record of hitting fundraising goals and expanding programs.
• Experience with public policy and navigating political environments to garner fiscal and policy support for a program.
• Experience in developing and executing against a strategic plan, and has a proven track record of success (i.e. regularly achieved or exceeded desired goals and objectives).
• Commitment to developing equity skills and cultural competence of self and others
• The individual should strongly believe in service as a strategy to solve our nation’s most pressing issues. Additionally, has a strong desire to be part of a growing, mission-driven organization committed to the success of young men of color.

Computer Skills: 

• Familiarity with Salesforce, Microsoft and G-Suite applications

Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm; some weekends, evenings, and organization-wide events are required.

Pay Rate:

Salary range is $80,000-$120,000 per year DOE.

Benefits:

Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life AD&D, Voluntary Life AD&D, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and a 403(b) retirement with 3% employer match after one year of employment. There are also 2 weeks of accrued paid vacation and paid time off for school breaks. 

Work Location & Travel:

The Executive Director should live roughly in the Hinds County area, and will be temporarily remote during the first year of employment. This position will travel, have regular travel in state and out of state, including regular visits to IYT’s national office in Sacramento. New Employee Orientation takes place in the first week of employment; This position may be required to do a 30-day residential training in Sacramento during the first month of employment.  

IYT is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Salary : $80,000 - $120,000