Executive Director - Begins October 2023
Who Are We?
Young Storytellers equips young people to be the driving force of their own narratives. We believe that when a young person understands the power of their own story—made of their unique background, culture, race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, geographic location, and economic status—it creates a more empathetic and equitable future for everyone.
In 1997, three film students created Young Storytellers as a volunteer-run project in one classroom at Playa del Rey Elementary School. Over the last 25 years, the mission to fill arts education programming gaps in public schools has grown steadily into a robust 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with elementary, middle, and high school programs serving students in over 60 schools across Los Angeles.
Young Storytellers programs are designed around Common Core standards, integrate Social and Emotional Learning activities, and include components of Learning for Justice’s Social Justice Standards. In elementary school, students write scripts that are completely their own; in middle school, students write stories about challenges that they face; and in high school, students explore how various communities are portrayed in the media and craft stories that they feel represent their self-identified communities. Students in each program work with volunteer mentors, and every student gets to see their work performed by professional actors.
We raise voices, one story at a time.
What Is This Position?
The Executive Director will lead our organization into its next phase of growth and community impact by providing strategic vision and leadership to the organization, ensuring the successful execution of our programs and initiatives, largely in communities that are representative of our students. The Executive Director has the ability to lead and inspire a team, with a focus on fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture. This role will act as a representative of Young Storytellers to external stakeholders, partners, and the Board of Directors. In addition, it is responsible for building, managing, and maintaining a high-performing team of staff, volunteers, and contractors to support our mission and vision. The Executive Director will drive a high impact on the success of our programs in alignment with our worldview and values of belonging, connection, exploration, play, and antiracism, while also partnering with the Board of Directors to further the implementation of the Young Storytellers long-term strategic plan.
Cool, But Let’s Get Specific. What’s Involved in This Job?
Responsibilities:
Develop and implement a strategic vision for the organization that aligns with Young Storytellers' mission, values, and goals.
Lead day-to-day operations of the organization that includes successful delivery of our programs and initiatives, partnership and donor management, budget management, staff supervision, and effective communication with all stakeholders.
Cultivate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including the Young Storytellers Board, donors, partners, volunteers, and community leaders.
Ensure data collection systems and resources are implemented to evaluate Young Storytellers programs.
Monitor and report on the organization’s performance against its strategic objectives, providing regular updates to the Young Storytellers Board.
Engage with the Young Storytellers Board actively, which includes participating in regular Board and individual committee meetings, partnering closely with the Board Chair and other Executive Committee members, and supporting the recruiting, onboarding, and retention of all Board members.
Build and manage a high-performing team of staff, volunteers, and contractors to support the organization's mission and vision.
Drive fundraising and development efforts, including donor cultivation and stewardship, to ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.
Embody and promote the values of Young Storytellers, including Belonging, Connection, Exploration, Play, and Equity.
Provide strategic leadership by bringing a unique perspective to the role while remaining open to input from others.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of the organization’s history, vision, and values, and a clear vision for its future, driving the strategic planning process.
What Are the Skills & Experiences Needed For This Position?
Required Qualifications:
Progressive experience in a leadership role within the non-profit sector, with a track record of success in operations, program delivery, fundraising, and strategic planning
Passion and commitment to the mission and vision of Young Storytellers, serving as an aspirational model, steward, and boundary-setter
Experience with community-building and partnerships
Proven ability to execute successful fundraising strategies and leverage the power of their network, including grant writing, donor cultivation, and fundraising events
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, changing landscape with a progressive approach to evolving and adapting the organization, as needed
Strong team management skills, including recruiting, training, and managing staff, volunteers, and contractors
Exemplary ability to manage and communicate with stakeholders at all levels
Ability to balance vision and operational skills, with a focus on being a strong operator
Shares a lived experience similar to the students with which Young Storytellers engages, allowing for connective tissue between their personal narrative and the organization's mission
Desired Qualifications:
A personal connection to the communities we serve
A non-entertainment connection to storytelling, such as in journalism or advocacy, to bring a different perspective to the goal of universalizing storytelling
Preferred experiences: working in a creative field; scaling programs and expanding organizations; partnering and building relationships with government-related organizations
Young Storytellers values creativity and a willingness to learn and grow in the Executive Director role, in addition to relevant experience. While experience is important, we believe that a leader who is curious, adaptable, and committed to learning can be just as effective. We encourage candidates with a variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. We are committed to providing the support and resources to help the selected candidate succeed in their role.
What is My Compensation for This Position?
The Executive Director is a full-time (40 hours/week), exempt position with a salary range between $130,000 - $140,000 depending on experience. Compensation includes eligibility for an annual bonus, generous paid time off & paid holidays, monthly health & dental insurance allowance, and 401K matching contribution. The Young Storytellers team operates on a hybrid work schedule with two days at our DTLA office and three days remote each week.
What’s Your Covid-19 Vaccination Policy?
In alignment with our organizational values and Worldview, Young Storytellers has a Covid-19 vaccination mandate in place for all staff, interns, Board members, volunteers for in-person programs and events, and office visitors. We define “fully vaccinated” as all required shots plus a booster shot by a FDA-approved vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) or a comparable approved vaccine (i.e. AstraZeneca). Proof of vaccination must be submitted to Young Storytellers before interviewing with the organization. Legitimate health or religious exemptions will be considered, but the health and safety of the whole YS community will be equally considered.
Ok, I’m In. How Do I Apply?
The anticipated start date is October 2023, and candidates will be reviewed until the position is filled. To apply, please visit this link to fill out an application and upload the following in PDF form:
Resume / CV;
A brief statement or cover letter that includes why you are interested in working with Young Storytellers and this position in particular, highlighting your previous leadership and operational experience.
Anything Else I Should Know?
Young Storytellers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Belonging is a core value of the Young Storytellers culture, and our daily practices around equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-bias, anti-discrimination, and antiracism are central to that value. Young Storytellers firmly believes that Black Lives Matter. We encourage women and gender-diverse people, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, veterans, immigrants, and anyone with a disability to apply for this and all our positions. Young Storytellers has designed our interview, onboarding, and ongoing cultural practices to be a welcoming space for everyone. You can read more about our worldview on our website.
For any questions or accommodations while applying due to a disability, please email us at jobs@youngstorytellers.com or call us at 323.962.4500.