Youth Research, Inc. (YRI) is the nonprofit affiliate to the New York Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). YRI develops, administers, and delivers training and related activities in all OCFS service areas including child welfare, juvenile justice, childcare, adoption, and foster care, youth development, child and adult protective services, and services for the blind. YRI collaborates with OCFS and other public and private partners to respond to new and emerging human services needs and priorities in New York State. YRI’s annual budget and scope of work has continually expanded since its inception in 2019 and the organization is poised to grow significantly in the next few years.

The Vice President (VP) of Strategy, Equity and Advancement (SEA) reports to the Executive Director and will play a critical role in YRI’s continued expansion. The ideal candidate will have significant experience planning, implementing, and managing nonprofit programs and growth strategies, preferably in the human and social services field. The VP of SEA will turn strategic insights and opportunities into actionable plans for the organization. They will have primary responsibility for all special projects within YRI’s scope of business and will have direct oversight of both the project management team and the development team. They will serve as part of the Senior Management Team. The VP will identify and evaluate projects and potential partnership opportunities through meetings with key stakeholders. They will work closely with YRI’s Executive Director, VP of Finance, VP of Programs, and Human Resources (HR) Manager to ensure a synergistic and holistic strategy across the organization to manage and sustain growth. The VP of SEA will carry out all management duties and responsibilities listed in detail below:

· Assist in the development, implementation, and ongoing management of YRI’s strategic initiatives as they pertain to special projects

· Lead initiatives in support of the ongoing development of current staff

· Serve as a strategic partner to the rest of the Senior Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors

· Conduct operational planning to ensure YRI’s continued growth and success

· Build strong working relationships with senior leaders at OCFS as well as other agencies, foundations, and corporations to identify and capitalize on partnership opportunities

· Assess and evaluate all potential special projects for viability, initiate all projects, review data throughout to monitor progress, and review and assess any risks

· Work closely with the VP of Finance and HR Manager to assess current capacity for new projects and emerging capacity-building needs

· Provide direct supervision and oversight for YRI’s Director of Special Projects and Director of Development

· Work with the Director of Special Projects and the Director of Development to provide input for job descriptions, interviews, and hire project management and development staff as needed

· Take full ownership of the Department of Special Projects while delegating tasks and initiatives to the Director and other department staff

· Work closely with the Director of Development to help balance funding opportunities with organizational capacity, assist with grant proposals and project plans

· Make recommendations for process improvements, technical support, and the establishment of new protocols and/or tools

· Actively contribute to growing YRI as an anti-racist organization, in which Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are centered in both internal and external strategy

· Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or comparable work/school-related experience with an emphasis in business administration, social work, management, human services, or a related area

· At least 5 years of senior management experience, preferably in a nonprofit or human services field

· Experience managing complex projects from conception through completion

· Previous participation in and/or the leadership of strategic planning

· Highly developed ability to manage multiple projects and effectively prioritize

· Supervision experience is required

· Demonstrated track record of progressive leadership responsibility

· A working knowledge of HR

· Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and online learning and conference tools such as Zoom

· Excellent oral and written communication skills

· Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively, efficiently, and professionally with colleagues and partner agency staff

· The ability to work collaboratively as a team player

· Unwavering commitment to extending respect to all colleagues and project partners

· A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

· Experience with data interpretation is a plus

· Knowledge of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services is a plus

Preferred Qualifications:

· Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, social work, management, human services, or similar discipline

· Eight to ten years of progressive leadership roles in business administration and project management with a nonprofit agency

· Experience working directly for or in partnership with NYS agencies

· Knowledge of childcare, child welfare, and juvenile justice initiatives and/or issues

Additional Information

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. YRI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. YRI is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity. It is the policy of YRI to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position for which they are applying or for which they are employed. YRI does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $130,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Senior Management: 5 years (Required)
• Project management: 5 years (Required)
• Supervising: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: One location

• Health insurance