At Youth Guidance, we believe that no matter what challenges a young person faces, they are more likely to succeed when they have caring adults in their lives. Our highly-trained staff guides kids to overcome the life and academic challenges facing Chicago's youth. We meet kids where they are — physically and emotionally — to help them focus on their education, make positive choices, and remain on the right path toward life success.

Founded in 1924 today Youth Guidance is a leading provider of outcomes-driven programs serving more than 8,500 youth while touching the lives of more than 14,000 youth, parents, teachers, and community members.

Position Summary

The Director of New Site Development is responsible for cultivating the funding relationships and resources to successfully launch new sites for delivery of Youth Guidance’s Becoming a Man (BAM) program. The Director will be a key leader of this expansion effort, working collaboratively with the BAM National Director to identify and develop resources to support expansion to prospective cities.

As a part of the organization’s ambitious 2020 business plan, with a goal of launching 1 new city per year, the Director will focus on future geographic expansion through licensing and/or replication. BAM is a nationally recognized group counseling and mentoring program that has been found to reduce arrests and increase school engagement among male students in grades 7-12 attending schools in at-risk communities. Youth Guidance developed and has piloted replication of the BAM program in Boston. The Director will travel frequently (30%) to identify potential champions and build relationships with public and philanthropic sector leaders to develop champions for BAM in new prospective cities that will serve as founding members of the city’s BAM Advisory Council.

Please submit all applications via the link below.

https://ats.youth-guidance.org/Pages/VacancyForm.aspx?VacancyID=60

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Builds and manages relationships with Youth Guidance champions in new geographies, including government, philanthropic and nonprofit partners
• The Director leads the development of philanthropic champions in new cities to secure the resources required to bring BAM to a new city
• Represents Youth Guidance as a member of the leadership team at external meetings with potential cities’ prospective government, nonprofit, corporate and foundation partners
• Key leader in facilitating cross-functional internal collaboration with program, finance, human resources and evaluation departments of the organization to achieve BAM’s geographic expansion
• Proactive relationship-builder and highly responsive to key public-sector partners
• Leads Youth Guidance’s grant seeking efforts for major growth goals in new geographies. This includes completing all stages of funding proposal development - outreach to grant-makers; the development of letters of inquiry; online applications; and formal proposals with the appropriate organization approvals obtained
• Leads the development of travel itineraries to maximize the impact of trips to prospective cities made with the BAM National Director and organize Chicago BAM site visits for potential partners
• Transitions key local relationships to local leaders as they are brought on-board, while remaining approachable
• Tracks progress of launch of BAM in a new geography against expectations of public and philanthropic funders to ensure goals are met
• In collaboration with the BAM National Director, prepares reports on the progress of all potential cities against greenlighting criteria to keep leadership team informed
• Develops board materials on city recommendations and the progress of prospective new cities toward meeting all criteria
• Serves as liaison to prospective funding partners utilizing written communication, in-person meetings, phone calls and formal reporting to achieve continued donor engagement in geographic expansion
• Ensures new geographies are well- represented in the organization’s digital and print communications through information sharing with the Director of Marketing & Communications
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience/Training

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, or social work strongly required. Master's degree in related field preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years of development experience and a demonstrated track record in resourcing the launch of new endeavors within the nonprofit sector required
• Government relations experience preferred
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Publisher)
• Raisers’ Edge experience strongly preferred

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to present a positive image, develop relationships and communicate mission effectively with diverse stakeholders
• Highly organized, with proven ability to handle multiple tasks, handle pressure and meet deadlines
• Strategic approach to advancement of mission, with a keen eye for ensuring alignment of external activities with Youth Guidance’s mission and growth plan.
• The ability to work well both independently and cross-functionally
• Commitment to cultural sensitivity and respect for differences
• Commitment to the continuous improvement of service quality and the organization’s mission

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to frequently talk and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time; walk; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Frequent overnight travel required (30%).

Youth Guidance is an equal opportunity employer and proudly values diversity. Youth Guidance does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law and is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity along all of these lines. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply