Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is seeking a passionate, committed leader to use their expertise, wisdom, vision, cultural knowledge, and connection to Stockton to launch and lead Friends of the Children in San Joaquin County. Our model is proven to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with paid professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. As Executive Director for our Stockton chapter, you will work with community leaders, schools, non-profit partners, and investors to significantly impact foster care and intergenerational poverty in the region.

 Our Friends of the Children – Stockton Executive Director will be a passionate advocate for children and families facing life's greatest challenges and will be effective at communicating the urgency of our mission and success of our outcomes. They will be dynamic and engaging spokesperson for the organization and will excel at networking and fundraising with donors, corporate leaders, foundations, and the communities we serve.

 The ideal candidate will have experience in working with community leaders, caregivers, families, and children, deeply understanding and having the ability to consider the unique challenges facing children and families in Stockton. The ideal candidate will also have good business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, a soft heart for kids and unwavering hope for the impact our program can have for communities in the region. They will be equally skilled at leading strategic planning, reviewing financial statements, overseeing program evaluation, and securing financial support.

 As executive director you will be passionate about providing culturally sensitive and competent services to individuals, families, and groups from diverse backgrounds. The right leader will be fiercely committed to creating a culture of belonging and equity and will ensure that every aspect of the organization's mission is executed with full engagement of the youth, families and communities. They will be aware of the challenges facing families in Stockton and committed to walking alongside them to help overcome obstacles and rewrite their stories.

 Are you this amazing leader? Here's what we have to offer you:  

• Opportunity to work with an engaged, motivated Board that works hard, gives generously, and raises funds.
• Opportunity to enhance the circle of resources available to youth and families, particularly youth and families who have experienced significant challenges in life. 
• A team of talented employees who are passionate about working together to create an extraordinary and impactful organization.
• Strong, cohesive National team support committed to innovation and high standards.
• Respect for work-life harmony for yourself and others. You'll bring your full self to work and lead by example by integrating work and personal life with attention to self-care.
• A culture of belonging where every staff member is respected and valued.
• A comprehensive benefit package.
• Compensation commensurate with experience. $140k-$160k (salary with incentive)
• Most of all, you get to lead an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life story every day.

At Friends of the Children, you will get to think globally and act locally. You will be part of an established growing national network that provides professional mentors to thousands of children across the country. As the Executive Director for Friends of the Children – Stockton, you'll receive expert support from our National team headquartered in Portland, Oregon. You'll also work with a talented team of leaders from other locations across the country – including three other chapters in California – who collaborate to support the implementation of the model and our award-winning national scaling plan.

 Basic Function/Position Objective:

The Executive Director is responsible for leading the organization Friends of the Children – Stockton. The Executive Director provides the overall leadership, management, strategic vision, and accountability for results for Friends of the Children – Stockton. The Executive Director must embody our values: Put Children First, Build Relationships on Love, Commit to Empowerment; Pursue Goals Relentlessly, and Demand Equity. To ensure sustainability, the Executive Director must have an entrepreneurial spirit as they establish and grow Friends of the Children in the region. They must have the strategic skills to envision what Friends of the Children – Stockton can become and the operational management capabilities to make it a reality.

The Executive Director leads the Friends of the Children – Stockton executive team and is responsible for managing all aspects of the organization to establish and maintain effective operations and continuous development of Friends of the Children – Stockton.  The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring a diverse and sustainable foundation of funding support for Friends of the Children – Stockton, ensuring that the organization has the resources it needs to keep its 12 + year commitment to every child served. The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of Directors, staff and program participants to establish, implement, and maintain effective programming and administrative operations. This position reports to the Board of Directors and represents the organization with investors, community leaders and partner organizations. Friends of the Children – Stockton is part of a national network. The Executive Director works with the national team, and particularly the National Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Children, to build a high performing, sustainable organization that leverages network best practices, partnerships, and over 30 years of impact.

 Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

 Leadership:                    

• Provide enthusiastic leadership, inspiration, strategic direction, focus, and long-term vision for the organization.
• Be the lead fundraising champion and enthusiastic spokesperson, ambassador and advocate for Friends of the Children – Stockton.
• Model and ensure high professional and ethical standards throughout the organization.
• Lead the organizational effort to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all staff and children.
• Lead and model Friends of the Children’s commitment to diversity and equity. Foster an atmosphere of inclusion, empowerment, and support.
• Work closely with the National CEO and National staff to ensure that Friends of the Children – Stockton and National are working together as collaborators and that the program is administered with fidelity.
• Work closely with other Executive Directors in the state of California to align around opportunities for leadership, fundraising and statewide collaboration.
• Be able to break tasks and initiatives down into sizable chunks and milestones then select when and how to conquer things strategically.
• Collaborate with National and network leadership to promote and grow Friends of the Children both locally and across the country.
• Demonstrated fundraising and development results.
• Strategic thinker, with the ability to research, design/develop, integrate, implement, and sustain programs, projects, and ideas related to the business of the organization.
• The ability to anticipate problems and focus on details.
• Experience working with a community-based organization and working for children’s issues.
• Working knowledge and experience in the Stockton philanthropic and business communities; ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with these resources, including those at senior levels.
• Ability to cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including staff, program children, current and potential donors, Board members, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A team player, with exceptional interpersonal skills at all levels.
• Strong decision-making, organizational and time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.
• Strong, effective leadership and supervisory skills; ability to collaboratively set goals, provide direction, ensure accountability, and motivate others to achieve and overcome barriers.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and inspire others to buy into the vision of a growing organization.
• Proven ability to solve problems and meet deadlines and budgets in a fast-paced startup-type environment.
• Ability to assess opportunities and mitigate strategic risks, while monitoring progress and making timely course corrections.

Development:

• Establish long-term strategic direction resulting in clear development goals, objectives, and results.
• Cultivate and sustain meaningful relationships with major donors.
• Define, prioritize, and participate in major development efforts.
• Drive effective and positive public and community relations.
• Work closely with the public officials to develop a funding base that includes an appropriate amount of public funding (city, county, state, and federal).
• Work with the nonprofit community to implement and sustain strategic partnerships and collaborations.

 Strategic Planning and Annual Operations:

• Develop and maintain long and short-term plans, including strategic plans, annual operating plans and budgets, and revenue and expense projections.
• Work with the Board of Directors to develop, and with staff to implement, strategic plans that identify three, five, and ten year goals and objectives.

 Program:

• Ensure program fidelity.
• Ensure that youth and their caregivers are receiving the highest quality of service.
• Ensure quality feedback loops for program participants (youth, caregivers).
• Set expectations for organizational performance and monitor program performance outcomes.
• Work with Program Director to ensure that systems are in place to validate effective program implementation.
• Ensure training and development of program staff to meet the requirements of the program with regards to skills, knowledge, and understanding of program content.
• Ensure appropriate organizational structure within program to maximize effectiveness and results.

Financial Management, Human Resources, Administrative:

• Monitor and drive financial performance, including revenue and expenditures.
• Ensure accurate and timely communications with the Board of Directors and staff.
• Maximize human resources; ensure the effective supervision, guidance, development, and evaluation of all staff, and a work environment that results in positive morale and employee retention.
• Maximize organizational effectiveness without compromising program and organizational performance.
• Collaborate with, and benefit from, National team Finance, HR and Operational resources.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated fundraising and development results.
• Strategic thinker, with the ability to research, design/develop, integrate, implement, and sustain programs, projects, and ideas related to the business of the organization.
• The ability to anticipate problems and focus on details.
• Experience working with a community-based organization and working for children’s issues.
• Working knowledge and experience in the Stockton philanthropic and business communities; ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with these resources, including those at senior levels.
• Ability to cultivate and sustain relationships and work effectively with a wide variety of constituencies, including staff, program children, current and potential donors, Board members, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A team player, with exceptional interpersonal skills at all levels.
• Strong decision-making, organizational and time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.
• Strong, effective leadership and supervisory skills; ability to collaboratively set goals, provide direction, ensure accountability, and motivate others to achieve and overcome barriers.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and inspire others to buy into the vision of a growing organization.
• Proven ability to solve problems and meet deadlines and budgets in a fast-paced startup-type environment.
• Ability to assess opportunities and mitigate strategic risks, while monitoring progress and making timely course corrections.

Required Education, Experience, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred.
• Ten years’ experience in non-profit or similar management and fundraising capacity, in progressively responsible roles.
• Demonstrated success leading an organization and motivating others within a fast-paced constantly-changing work environment.

Location: Stockton, California 

Compensation: $140k-$160K (salary/incentive)

Cover Letter:  Applications without cover letters will not be considered; please use this as an opportunity to convey what you would contribute by being the Founding Executive Director at Friends of the Children – Stockton.

Friends of the Children is growing rapidly as communities across the country are experiencing the power of how “One” changes a child's story: One Friend. One Child. 12+ years. No matter what. #ThePowerOfOne

To know more about Friends of the Children go to: www.friendsofthechildren.org  

Friends of the Children - is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.