Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs is seeking a passionate committed leader to use their expertise, vision, and cultural knowledge to lead Friends of the Children in Colorado Springs. 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 Colorado Springs chapter, you will work with community leaders, schools, non-profit partners, and investors to have a significant impact on foster care and intergenerational poverty in El Paso County.

Our Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs 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 a 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 Colorado Springs.  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. You will be aware of the challenges facing families in Colorado Springs and committed to walking alongside them to help overcome obstacles and rewrite their stories. 

Are you this impactful 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.
• The support of a strong, cohesive National team 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. $120k-$140k (salary with structured incentive program)
• Most of all, you get to lead an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life story every day

 Basic Function/Position Objective:

The Executive Director is responsible for leading the organization Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs. The Executive Director provides the overall leadership, management, strategic vision, and accountability for results for Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs. 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 grow Friends of the Children in the region. They must have the strategic skills to envision what Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs can become and the operational management capabilities to make it a reality.

The Executive Director leads the Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs executive team and is responsible for managing all aspects of the organization to maintain effective operations and continuous development of Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs.  The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring a diverse and sustainable foundation of funding support for Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs, 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 – Colorado Springs 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 continue 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 – Colorado Springs.
• 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 – Colorado Springs and National are working together as collaborators and that the program is administered with fidelity.
• Be able to break tasks and initiatives down into sizable chunks and milestones and 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.

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 the 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 the 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.
• Demonstrated 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 Colorado Springs 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.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Demonstrated 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: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Compensation: $120k-$140k (salary with structured incentive program)

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision (Organization pays the employee only rate)
• Life Insurance (Organization paid)
• 401k with 3% match

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 Executive Director at Friends of the Children – Colorado Springs.

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

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 based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

To learn more about Friends of the Children in Colorado Springs, go to: https://friendscoloradosprings.org/

Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs 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 - Colorado Springs hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.