The Client

In 1993, two graduate students launched an eight-week “pilot” project to provide a weekly after-school support group for LGBTQ youth. Meetings were held in the attic of a local social service agency and The Attic Youth Center was born. During the late 1990’s, The Attic grew its programming, services, and staffing. In 2000, The Attic incorporated as a nonprofit organization and received a gift from an anonymous donor to purchase its current home on 16^th Street, in Center City Philadelphia.

Today, The Attic is a nationally recognized, multi-service youth organization, and one of the largest community centers in the U.S. committed exclusively to serving LGBTQ youth and allies. The Attic’s youth programming focuses on assisting youth and young adults to develop essential life skills in the areas of job readiness, educational enrichment, leadership, arts and culture, and health and wellness. Services include HIV prevention, support groups, and case management. Counseling includes Comprehensive Risk Counseling Services (CRCS) and clinical mental health counseling. Additionally, the Bryson Institute provides training and education to build inclusive environments that recognize and promote the value of diversity. Since 2001, the Institute has been working with educational systems, social service agencies, workplaces, faith-based organizations, and communities to improve the support systems for LGBTQ youth and young adults.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, The Attic Youth Center is governed by a nine-person Board of Directors and operates with a $1.6 million annual budget and 22 staff.

The Mission 

The Attic Youth Center creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community and promotes the acceptance of LGBTQ youth in society.

The Opportunity

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an experienced change agent to provide transformational leadership to a dynamic organization that provides vital services to Philadelphia’s LGBTQ youth.  The new Executive Director will play an integral role in reducing the isolation felt by LGBTQ youth; counteracting the prejudice and oppression they often face; and developing healthy, independent, thriving adults.

The Position

The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership to advance the agency’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives. Reporting to a nine-member Board of Directors, comprised of prominent Philadelphia business and community leaders, the Executive Director is responsible for all agency programs, operations, and fiscal oversight. They will lead by example and set clear strategies and performance expectations developed in collaboration with the staff and board. The Executive Director is the primary representative of the agency and is directly responsible for engaging stakeholders and securing funds to enhance its services and ensure its financial health. The Executive Director supervises a five-person leadership team responsible for programs, development, finance, and operations. Essential responsibilities of the position include:

Leadership

• Inspire, motivate, and lead a team of committed and engaged staff to realize the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic goals;
• Lead by example to enhance a culture of transparency and accountability and ensure organizational cohesion;
• Champion a culture of inclusion throughout the organization by fostering diversity and implementing robust equity policies;
• Recruit, retain, and develop a competent, qualified team to manage programming, counseling, and business functions;
• Establish organizational policies and procedures and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Programs

• Oversee senior staff responsible for designing and delivering programming and counseling services;
• Ensure ongoing programmatic excellence, rigorous program evaluation, and consistent quality of services;
• Implement systems to track scaling progress and regularly evaluate program components to measure and effectively communicate successes to the board, funders and other constituents.

 Fundraising and Fiscal Stewardship

• Lead the development of budgets and related program and staffing plans that advance the organization’s mission and strategic goals;
• Manage the organization’s financial resources, building on its foundation of fiscal stability and ensuring its long-term viability;
• Develop the overall fundraising strategy and maintain relationships with key stakeholders including individual, foundation, corporate, and government funders;
• Partner with the board to identify, solicit, and acquire new sources of funding, to encourage board giving, and to build sustainable sources of income for the organization.

Communications

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson representing the Attic Youth Center in public, in the media, and at events;
• Foster strong relationships with other professional, civic, and private organizations and utilize those relationships to strategically enhance AYC’s Mission;
• Oversee marketing and communications efforts with goal of enhancing AYC’s brand.

Professional Requirements

The Attic Youth Center is seeking an entrepreneurial executive with fundraising and social services experience. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of LGBTQ youth and proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience. The ideal candidate will have the following:

• A minimum of 10 years’ progressive management and organizational leadership experience in a social services agency. Prior experience as a CEO or Executive Director is strongly preferred;
• A dedication to and understanding of systemic oppression particularly as it relates to gender, sexual orientation, race, and adultism;
• Experience delivering programs and counseling services to youth, ideally LGBTQ youth;
• Demonstrable success leading and scaling a performance- and outcomes-based organization and a firm commitment to data-driven program evaluation;
• An understanding of case management services, ideally case management for homeless youth;
• A track-record of success developing donor relationships and generating new revenue streams;
• In-depth knowledge of nonprofit management and board governance best practices;
• Prior experience developing and implementing strategic plans;
• An undergraduate degree in a related field is desired, a graduate degree is preferred;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite is essential.

Personal Characteristics

We are seeking a visionary leader who passionately believes LGBTQ youth deserve a safe space to express their identity, talk with a caring adult, participate in after-school activities, and receive assistance finding housing or a job. They will lead by example to create a culture of transparency and accountability. They will have exceptional interpersonal skills to engage and inspire donors and stakeholders and the business acumen to foster an innovative approach to fiscal planning and reporting. The ideal candidate will have:

• Knowledge of the history and issues affecting LGBTQ and gender non-conforming/non-binary (GNCNB) youth;
• An understanding of the intersectionality of racial equity, gender equity, and economic justice issues and their impact on LGBTQ, GNCNB youth;
• Strong relationship-building skills including a track record of success in fostering collaboration and strengthening networks;
• An approachable, collaborative, and transparent leadership style;
• A strong commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a commitment to advancing social justice;
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, including persuasive and passionate interpersonal communication and public speaking ability.

Compensation

Our client is offering a competitive salary, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, and an excellent benefits package including 100% employer paid health and dental insurance, a 401k retirement plan with annual budget-based employer matching (2% in FY20) contributions, and generous PTO and paid holiday policies.

Reimbursement toward basic relocation expenses will be considered for the exceptional individual they are seeking.

Location

When public health guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic permits, the Attic Youth Center’s new Executive Director will work in the agency’s 16^th Street, Center City offices. Currently, all staff are working remotely.

To Apply

Please submit cover letter and résumé as attachments via e-mail to:

Michelle Kristel, Managing Partner

McCormack+Kristel

1740 Broadway, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Phone: 212.531.5003 | Fax: 212.203.9599       

Email: [email protected] | Website www.mccormackkristel.com

All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.  Please note that your education, dates of employment and other information will be verified prior to an offer.

The Attic is an equal opportunity employer. The Attic does not discriminate on the basis of religion, creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.