Executive Director - Must have Cover Letter to apply

City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts

Executive Director

City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts (www.Cityhearts.org)is seeking an EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to support the mission of City Hearts. 

For over thirty-four years, the grassroots nonprofithas provided equal access to the Arts for the most-at-risk children and teens in economically stressed neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles County with in-school and after-school curriculum-based Arts programming in Photography, Dance, Theater Arts, Shakespeare and Music. Currently, City Hearts is in nine school sites and one transitional housing center, and reaches up to 400 underserved youth each week. 

City Hearts was founded by Sherry and Bob Jason, attorneys with the L.A. County Public Defender’s Office, in response to needs of the youth they represented on a daily basis in the Juvenile Court. The husband and wife team recognized that the Arts could be one of the most powerful tools to communicate with children and youth at-greatest-risk from gangs, drugs, school failure, delinquency and crime. City Hearts’ innovative programming has steadily grown in scope, driven by the specific needs of L.A.’s underserved children, with a desire to help them discover and celebrate their unique skills and talents. 

The Jasons have been intimately involved with the successful day-to-day operations and growth of City Hearts from the beginning, both sit on the Board of Directors and Sherry Jason currently serves as City Hearts’ Executive Director. 

As part of City Hearts’ current Strategic Goals, the new Executive Director will join the City Hearts’ team at a pivotal moment as the founders move into a more strategic leadership and legacy role with the organization and Ms. Jason takes on the role of CEO during the transition.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This is an exciting opportunity for the right mission-driven leader, with a successful track record in the areas of Administrative, Program and Fund Development. Reporting to City Hearts Board of Directors, and in partnership with the CEO, the Executive Director will help guide City Hearts into its next chapter of service to our youth. 

Based at City Hearts’ administrative office in woodsy Topanga Canyon, the Executive Director will be responsible for fund development, strategic, program and operational management of City Hearts, and will be responsible for the daily management of City Hearts on-going operations, including taking a lead role in City Hearts fundraising, event and donor acquisition activities; developing corporate partnerships/coalitions and introducing City Hearts to a larger community; participation in program oversite; developing and directing staff and fiscal and contract management. 

The Executive Directorwill work with the CEO, Teaching Artists, hosting school sites and funding partners to ensure effective design, delivery, management and evaluation of all Arts education programming consistent City Hearts mission and all applicable educational requirements.  

In addition, the Executive Director will collaborate with the members of our engaged Board of Directors in developing and implementing City Hearts’ long-term strategic goals critical to the agencies’ to ensure continued success and sustainability.

The perfect candidate will understand the impact of change and will value the importance of creating a culture that welcomes the divergent views of team members, while maintaining a commitment to best practices and innovation.

Along with Ms. Jason, our dedicated staff includes a part-time Grant Writer, a Program and Administration Coordinator, and a Fund Development Associate.  City Hearts contracts with numerous professional teaching artists who are in charge of school-site program implementation.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is dedicated, committed, and passionate about empowering our youth through education and the Arts, and who is prepared to take on new and exciting challenges. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• A bachelor’s degree, ideally in General or Arts Education (or in any Arts genre),Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, or equivalent experience 
• At least 4-7 years’ progressively responsible senior management experience working with nonprofits required - Preferred: familiarity with Arts education nonprofits for underserved youth in diverse communities and/or schools.
• Proven and measurable Fund Development Skills: Individual, corporate and foundation, events, grant writing and grants management and reporting. Experience with government grants is a huge plus
• Excellence in operational management, including ability to set and achieve strategic objectives, and provide budget design, implementation, management; that meetinternal and external financial reporting requirements.
• An innovative, approachable, and hands-on manager, the Executive Director will be a forward-looking and entrepreneurial self-starter with keen business acumen and strong people management skills to deliver results. A proven track record of success in working with boards, staff, communities, and major donors to achieve goals is a must. 
• Provides Strategic and Entrepreneurial Leadership skills: in partnership the Board and CEO, the Executive Director will have the ability to develop and implement clear, action-oriented, innovative strategies for a successful leadership transition over time. 
• Goodjudgmentandkeenanalyticalskills,ability to think strategically and provide thoughtful input to a broad range of internal and external tasks across all levels of supervision 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Must be able to work independently, as well as part of a team and work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people
• Ability to meet deadlines and multi-task and manage projects from start to finish
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• Proficient MAC computer knowledge: MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Knowledge in the use of technology for accomplishing the organization’s goals, including social media, office systems, grants management and financial management and reporting

• Reliable transportation, valid driver's license
• Ability to climb stairs and lift at least 25lbs. 

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:

• Salary: Commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Please visit the City Hearts website to learn more about our programs. www.Cityhearts.org.
• Email resume ANDa Cover Letter to jobs@cityhearts.org
• Subject Line: Executive Director
• NO CALLS PLEASE