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Executive Director

Employer
Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Salary
The salary range for this role is $85,000 to $90,000.
Closing date
Feb 2, 2022

The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth was founded in 1992 by Governor William Weld as the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth and was designed to respond to high suicide risk among gay and lesbian youth in the Commonwealth. In 2006, we transformed into an independent state agency established under M.G.L. Chapter 3 Section 67 and today we are the Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth, mandated to advise others in state government on effective policies, programs, and resources for LGBTQ youth.

Our 50-member Commission and its staff issue annual recommendations, work in partnership with 18 state entities, and hold community events and listening sessions. The Commission also produces the Safe Schools Program with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, provides training and technical assistance to schools across the state, organizes the statewide network of Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), and works to make schools safer for all students.

Justice Resource Institute (JRI) is the Commission’s fiscal agent and a leader in social justice and one of the largest non-profit human service agencies in New England with over 100+ diverse programs and services.

About the Opportunity

The Executive Director will be responsible for overseeing a diverse range of Commission activities including policy and research initiatives, budget, personnel, consultants, operations, and the Commission’s Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students in partnership with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). You will also have a chance to work collaboratively with staff and Commission members to develop a racial justice plan for our internal and external work. In addition, you will lead initiatives that provide support for LGBTQ youth in the foster care system, launch a train-the-trainer program at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and work with DESE to meet the training and technical assistance needs of school districts.

This role will report to the Commission Chair and Director of Community Health and Education at JRI. The Executive Director will manage and lead the staff team of 5.5.

Key Responsibilities

As a key focus of their work, the ED will be responsible for the following:

Strategy and Leadership in Programs and Policy

  • Act as the lead author and coordinator of the Commission’s annual policy recommendations in collaboration with the Legislative & Policy Manager with input from Commission membership teams.
  • Recommend policy priorities for the Commission, with particular attention to transgender youth, LGBTQ youth of color, and out-of-home youth.
  • Serve as the liaison to executive branch agencies, the Legislature, and other state entities on behalf of the Commission.


Programmatic and Operational Management

  • Annually coordinate state budget funding recommendations and rationale to increase the Commission’s line item allocation as well as an advocacy plan to inform legislators.
  • Manage the Commission’s budget and develop the upcoming annual budget proposal in collaboration with the chair, executive committee, fiscal agent, staff, and stakeholders in compliance with legislative funding restrictions that require support of the MA anti-bullying law.


Staff/Stakeholder Management and Engagement

  • Committed to developing a positive collaborative culture that is strongly committed to ensuring high levels of acceptance and support necessary for LGBTQ youth to thrive.
  • Manage the staff and consultants of the Safe Schools Program (SSP) in partnership with DESE to maximize support for LGBTQ youth in schools, with a focus on the MA anti-bullying law, through research, policy, training, curriculum, and GSA initiatives.
  • Represent the voice of the Commission in media relations, community relations, and government relations.
  • Any additional job related duties as directed by supervisors in collaboration with the Executive Committee.

Qualifications & Experience

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below:

  • Track record of servant leadership with a generosity of spirit that seeks to learn from and understand others in an effort to achieve excellence
  • Demonstrated experience supervising staff/consultants and creating cultures of collaboration, interdependency, and professional learning
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills
  • Thorough knowledge of non-profit organizational operations, financial and accounting policies and practices
  • Strong strategic thinking and organizational development skills with an ability to use data to make decisions and to translate strategy to action
  • Knowledge and understanding of LGBTQ youth issues and social justice
  • Experience with research, public policy analysis and authoring reports
  • Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent amount of experience & education
  • Prior experience with advocacy in governmental or similar settings preferred
  • Willingness to work flexible hours (including evening meetings)

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $85,000 - $90,000. We’ll promote your professional growth and development by providing access to a competitive salary and benefits package and additional employee benefits that include but are not limited to through JRI:

  • Opportunities for training, professional development, and advancement
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) starting within the first year
  • Tuition reimbursement – up to $4,000 per year
  • Over 76% covered health insurance
  • 100% dental insurance
  • Extended medical leave
  • Short and Long term disability
  • T-Pass program
  • 401K – JRI matches employee contributions up to $800/calendar year
  • Pension (vested after 5 years)

More detailed benefits information could be found HERE.

How to Apply:

The Commission has engaged Positively Partners to manage this search on its behalf. To apply to this position, please have an updated resume and a thoughtfully written cover letter to the attention of the Search Committee. For confidential inquiries or for assistance in completing the application, please contact us via email at search@positivelypartners.org and a member of our team will follow up.

Making the Decision to Apply

We will review and respond to all applications received. While subject to change, candidates elected to advance throughout the process can expect to progress through a process that includes initial conversation with Positively Partners in January 2022, an interview with the Commission Chair, and for finalists, an interview day with members and staff of the Commission. Anticipated start date is Spring 2022.

Due to COVID-19, our offices are currently closed until further notice and all responsibilities will be conducted remotely. Once we can safely return to the workplace following COVID-19, there is the expectation of occasional trips to our office in Boston and all employees are required to be fully vaccinated or can request an exemption.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

JRI is strongly committed to providing an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment for our employees and the people we serve. Persons from diverse backgrounds including women, communities of color, the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. JRI is an equal opportunity employer.

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