Chief Youth Development Officer
Rocking the Boat
Summary
Rocking the Boat began as an afterschool boatbuilding program for high school students in the South Bronx and was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2001. Today, the organization, with an annual budget of $5 million, is a hub of youth development programming that serves nearly 5,000 community members annually across three locations. The mediums of boatbuilding, environmental science, and sailing are paired with social-emotional, academic, and career counselling by a team of licensed social workers to have profound and lasting impact on participants.
The Chief Youth Development Officer is an experienced manager of boat- or water-based youth programs and a key member of the organization’s four-person senior management team. The position manages the organization’s wooden boatbuilding-, sailing-, and environmental science-based youth development programs as well as the curriculum and physical infrastructure that supports them. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Youth Development Program Officer is responsible for supervising up to five program directors; overseeing the development and implementation of curriculum, lesson planning and new program initiatives; ensuring participants are supported socially, emotionally, and academically; and managing the upkeep of programmatic equipment and facilities. The position also involves representing Rocking the Boat in a range of external environments and requires regular evening and intermittent weekend work.
The Chief Youth Development Officer is an experienced manager of boat- or water-based youth programs and a key member of the organization’s four-person senior management team. The position manages the organization’s wooden boatbuilding-, sailing-, and environmental science-based youth development programs as well as the curriculum and physical infrastructure that supports them. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Youth Development Program Officer is responsible for supervising up to five program directors; overseeing the development and implementation of curriculum, lesson planning and new program initiatives; ensuring participants are supported socially, emotionally, and academically; and managing the upkeep of programmatic equipment and facilities. The position also involves representing Rocking the Boat in a range of external environments and requires regular evening and intermittent weekend work.
Qualifications
Strong candidates for the Chief Youth Development Officer position will have the following minimum qualifications, skills, and experiences:
- At least five years’ working in nonprofit management
- Track record of successfully leading and managing teams with a strong but flexible and creative leadership in educational/youth development environments
- Managing professional-level full time staff
- Cross-organizational program design, curriculum development, and implementation
- Working in racially and socioeconomically marginalized communities
- Empowering direct reports to fulfill programmatic objectives while holding them accountable
- Administering programs in non-traditional or experiential education environments
- Developing and managing program budgets
- Collaborating with other organizations or schools
- Organizational planning and problem solving
- Managing databases, ideally Salesforce
- Working with Development staff to provide statistical and anecdotal content for fundraising
- Management of equipment, facilities, or other physical infrastructure
- Experience with boat- and water-based programming a significant plus
Duties
Program Development, Execution, and Evaluation
- Oversee curriculum development, lesson planning, and implementation across all programs
- Regularly observe program in action to assess quality, impact, and continuity across programs
- Lead monthly cross-programmatic curriculum review meetings
- Lead the direct service program staff and the Social Work team in individual participant recruitment
- Work with staff to implement strategies to maintain active program enrollment, robust attendance, and participant retention from semester to semester
- Work with the Director of Social Work to ensure that all participants are receiving mental health and college and career services
- Promote a professional workplace culture among high school- and college-age staff
- Oversee cross-programmatic events and activities such as family nights, off-site day and overnight trips, and end-of-semester celebrations
- Measure and analyze the individual and collective impact of Rocking the Boat’s Youth Development programs
- Act as primary Salesforce database manager
Financial Management and Fund Development Support
- Work with the program staff to draft annual program budgets and review quarterly budget vs. actual statements
- Work with staff to manage spending on restricted grants
- Review and approve program staff’s monthly credit card expenses
- Serve as a bridge between development and program staff, helping to provide content for proposals, reports, and marketing materials
- Synthesize statistics and generate reports for external communication
Staff Supervision and Professional Development
- Supervise the Director of Social Work, Director of Boatbuilding, Director of Environmental Science and Justice, Director of Sailing, and Middle School Program Manager, offering regular guidance and evaluation at both a team and individual level on programmatic and administrative duties alike
- Hire, orient, train, and retain a highly qualified team
Equipment and Safety Management
- Confirm that staff effectively maintain all program-related equipment including all rowing, sailing, and power boats, environmental science equipment, camping gear, and woodworking tools
- Ensure that Rocking the Boat Safety Protocols are up to date and enforced
- Support staff in securing any necessary city or state permits
Community Relations
- Represent Rocking the Boat at community meetings, events, and conferences
- Backup the Executive Director as organizational spokesperson to media outlets and at events
How to Apply
To apply please send a detailed cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and qualifications along with a current resume to Adam Green, Executive Director at adam@rockingtheboat.org with Chief Youth Development Officer as the subject.
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