Executive Director

ABOUT YAYAFor the past 35 years, YAYA (Young Aspirations Young Artists) has served as a creative community where young people have the freedom, opportunities, and resources to discover their passions and artistic voices. YAYA’s programming empowers creative young people through visual arts education combined with entrepreneurial and life skills training. As an incubator for young talent, YAYA has nurtured generations of culture-bearers, creative thinkers and problem solvers, many of whom are now professional artists, designers, teachers, and leaders in New Orleans and beyond.

POSITION SUMMARYIn partnership with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will have strategic and operational responsibility for YAYA’s programming, partnerships and funding structures while serving as the chief driver of the organization’s mission and vision. The ideal candidate is a values-centered, people-first leader with deep cultural competence, strong integrity, and a commitment to youth outcomes. They must balance fiduciary responsibility with visionary leadership, prioritizing staff input and youth and community relationships to fulfill the organizational mission.

The Executive Director is a skilled influencer who leverages deep insight, sector knowledge and strong relationships to deliver on organizational goals and execute forward facing strategies.

Since 1988, YAYA has provided educational experiences in the arts and entrepreneurship to New Orleans-area youth, many from historically underserved and underrepresented populations. Achieving national and international acclaim for its impact, YAYA is regarded as a model for youth development and a force for greater access and equity in the artistic field. Building on the organization’s history of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, the Executive Director will define and implement a comprehensive, values-driven vision for its strategic direction.

This position represents a great opportunity for both emerging and established leaders in arts, youth development and nonprofit management. The Executive Director will lead a small, yet dynamic and capable staff and support their work delivering on YAYA’s core programmatic offerings.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Vision Setting & Organizational Leadership

• In partnership with the Board of Directors, sets a clear and cohesive vision for the organization's strategic direction. Additionally, creates the conditions to successfully operationalize that vision.
• Leads organizational and operational strategy and adapts as necessary to achieve targeted goals and outcomes.
• Leverages data and analysis to inform strategy, decision-making, and program iteration.
• Balances short and long-term priorities, recognizes opportunities to drive organizational objectives and advance the mission.
• Ensures alignment between leadership decisions and staff input, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and trust. Creates a work environment where employees feel heard, valued, and supported in their professional growth.
• Oversees YAYAs program evaluation strategy, ensuring the organization has access to high-quality data and analysis of key metrics to improve programming practices and participant outcomes.
• Ensures that financial, programmatic, and operational decisions are backed by measurable outcomes.
• Builds and sustains meaningful relationships with YAYA alumni and the greater New Orleans arts community, ensuring program offerings reflect the evolving needs of young artists.
• Manages donor cultivation strategies to ensure sustainable financial support.

Financial, HR & Operational Management

• Oversees finance and administration including oversight of the annual budget, audit, compliance, and risk management.
• Prepares, justifies, and administers the budget for discrete program areas.
• Plans, administers, and monitors expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of programs and policies.
• Assesses the financial condition of the organization proactively.
• Makes a clear distinction between financial strategy and daily financial oversight (i.e., ensuring financial sustainability vs. actively managing budget execution).
• Ensures cost-effectiveness in operations.
• Engages in people centered leadership to build on the capabilities and strengths of present and future personnel. Ensures adequate staffing by recruiting, supervising, supporting, coaching and evaluating full-time and part-time staff.
• Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, and professional growth opportunities.
• Emphasizes entrepreneurship and business-minded leadership in both program development and revenue generation.
• Ensures that YAYA’s creative programming is sustainable, integrating business and financial acumen into youth development initiatives.
• Prioritizes staff well-being and morale by fostering a healthy workplace culture, addressing workload distribution, and implementing clear procedures that support staff efficiency and long-term sustainability. Builds an organizational structure that ensures staff members are supported and not overextended.
• In coordination with the Board Chair, ensures proper governance practices, Board management, communications, and recordkeeping and engages the Board to identify and recruit potential Board members with diverse perspectives.
• Oversees all facilities management, policy development, safety and compliance priorities for the organization.
• Demonstrates command of key levers and dynamics impacting the arts and youth development space.

Fundraising & Development

• Sets fundraising goals and operationalizes strategy around those goals for the organization’s $750k annual budget.
• Leads fundraising efforts in partnership with the Board and development team, ensuring financial sustainability through diverse funding sources, including grants, corporate partnerships, and earned revenue. Implements financial strategies that allow for sustainable staff and programmatic growth.
• Leads in cultivating, stewarding and advancing relationships with a range of partners, including schools, funders, and prospective supporters to advance the mission.
• Leverages strong relationships with the key organizations and community leaders to drive impact.
• Actively builds and stewards relationships with funders at all levels.
• Engages meaningfully with stakeholders through effective storytelling, and navigation through the arts/nonprofit sector as a thought leader.

Partnerships & Communications Strategy

• Serves as the public representative of the organization with partners, funders, peers, artists, and communities.
• Connect and build relationships across diverse constituencies.
• Oversees all aspects of YAYA’s marketing and communications strategy defining and building the organization’s brand, visibility and reach..

Qualifications

• Minimum of five to seven years of nonprofit management experience, with at least three years of leadership experience.
• Extensive background in arts education, youth development, and entrepreneurial training, with a demonstrated ability to integrate these areas into impactful programming.
• Commitment to youth-centered and/or youth-led practices and commitment to fostering an accessible and welcoming environment for all young people.
• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a proven track record in securing grants, developing corporate partnerships, and implementing sustainable financial strategies that support staff and program expansion.
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the needs of artists and communities that have been historically under-resourced
• Experience building the capacity of small nonprofits and scaling impact.
• Must identify with, embody and lead through YAYA’s core values of Artistic Excellence, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Youth Voice & Creative Expression, Generational Impact and Equity & Access
• Deep experience and active engagement with New Orleans' artistic, cultural, and community landscape, including relationships with local artists, educators, and community leaders. Preference for candidates with lived experience in the region.
• Creativity and agility; ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Adept at working collaboratively across lines of difference; a proven and capable relationship builder.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• New Orleans, LA 70115 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• New Orleans, LA 70115: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $80,000 - $100,000