Reports to:            Director of Programs
Classification:       Full Time/Exempt

ORGANIZATION

Living Redemption Community Development Corporation (LRCDC) is an independent Harlem-based nonprofit, dba Living Redemption Youth Opportunity Hub (LRYOH), founded in 2019 to catalyze Central and West Harlem’s homegrown “Credible Messengers,” who are part of the larger Credible Messenger and Transformative Mentoring Movement. With a mission to Save Lives and Heal Communities One Relationship at a Time, LRCDC offers restorative transformation for Central and West Harlem’s most vulnerable populations by providing intensive Credible Messenger-led mentoring, community outreach, and a holistic model of programs and services, including wraparound support and advocacy.

LRCDC is excited and proud to be a part of a groundbreaking new initiative in ACS’s Division of Child and Family Well-Being, which aims to establish Family Enrichment Centers (FEC) citywide. The FEC is a home-like, inclusive, safe environment where community members can gather, build new relationships, learn new skills, participate in offerings and receive access to resources that are needed in order for children, families and individuals to thrive. The FEC model stands apart from many others in that it is community-led in both design and operation, with Living Redemption partnering with residents and local community-based organizations in West and Central Harlem to co-create the Family Enrichment Center.

 POSITION

The FEC Site Director will join the initiative at the outset of the planning process and will be tasked with conducting outreach to community members and local organizations. This outreach will have three goals: (1) to build awareness about the planned Center; (2) to solicit input about community strengths and needs; and (3) to engage and identify community members who will serve as expert advisors and partners throughout the planning process ensuring that the Center becomes part of the fabric of the community grounded in the principles of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). The FEC Site Director embodies and creates a culture of openness, creativity and flexibility, is a true partner and servant leader in the community and is committed to social justice. Responsibilities include recruiting, hiring and supporting a diverse staff in a collaborative work environment, building partnerships with stakeholders from multiple sectors to support the FEC and building an FEC Advisory Council/Board to guide the vision, decision-making and programming of the FEC. The Site Director will also ensure the FEC is run with fidelity to the model, serve as a liaison to ACS and implement co-design and co-implementation strategies.  The Site Director will be expected to participate in learning collaboratives with other FEC Directors and stakeholders across the city and to collaborate with ACS and external partners to develop and implement quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) mechanisms. Every decision about the Center—choosing a location and name, designing the space itself, selecting initial offerings and assessing whether the Center is having the desired impact—will be made in collaboration with community members.

The Site Director will provide direct supervision to one (1) Community Liaison, one (1) Family Advocate and one (1) Receptionist.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the budget of the FEC in partnership with the FEC Advisory Council/Board and manage hiring, training and coaching of FEC staff/team members.
• Identify community members via a series of virtual and in-person meetings who are interested in being a part of the FEC and engage them in discussions about community needs, assets and strengths to inform FEC vision and offerings.
• Help to identify and secure a physical space for the FEC and ensure that the space is co-designed with the community to be a welcoming, encouraging and positive environment.
• Bring the model of co-design to life by ensuring that members have substantial roles in creating a vision for the FEC and designing offerings that promote one or more of the seven Family Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, Communication, Economic Mobility and Community.
• Develop and support an Advisory Council/Board of FEC members to guide the strategic vision for the FEC, and participate in management decisions, reviewing financial reports and budgets and other activities.
• Create a culture of teamwork and collaboration among staff, FEC members and Advisory Council/ Board members that is built on equity, inclusiveness, and non-hierarchical decision making.
• Supervise a team of Community Liaisons and Family Advocates to: (1) build partnerships with community organizations and public institutions to raise awareness of the FEC, bring expertise to complement FEC offerings and help members connect to local resources; and (2) conduct outreach to community members, engage them in co-designing offerings, promote and participate in offerings, and engage participants in quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) of offerings.
• Create a culture of equity by ensuring that FEC team members interface with community members as partners, not clients, and a culture of respect built on the belief that families and communities possess the inherent strengths and knowledge needed to succeed given the right access to opportunities and support.
• Maintain consistent communication with the New York City Administration for Children Services (ACS) Division of Child and Family Well-Being team to discuss progress and ensure that all contractual responsibilities are being adhered to.
• Ensure that the FEC is known as an entity separate from the contractor, not marketed as a “program” of the contractor, and that the contractor allows the community to create its own FEC identity.
• Leverage additional resources through in-kind donations, pro-bono services, and additional funding opportunities.
• Participate and engage FEC team in learning collaboratives facilitated by ACS with other FEC teams from across the city.
• Support ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) to assess FEC impact and ensure fidelity to frameworks of equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry (AI), and protective factors by working with FEC members, ACS representatives, contracted agency staff and/or consultants.
• Complete other duties as assigned and required.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of, and commitment to the Central and West Harlem community.
• Experience in a leadership position managing community organizing and/or community-driven programs.
• Management skills in collaborative team environments that include supporting paid and volunteer team members, managing budgets, and monitoring milestones and outcomes.
• Commitment to, and ability to implement strategies related to cultural competency, equity, and diversity and inclusion.
• Strong interpersonal skills, facilitation skills, and the ability to connect with people with diverse and intersecting identities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced, challenging and constantly changing environment.
• Ability to organize and maintain detailed program records, complete necessary reports and meet prescribed deadlines.
• Ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule including evenings and weekends as needed.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of one or more of the FEC frameworks (equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry, Family Protective Factors) or other frameworks/approaches with similar components.
• Fluency in a language other than English commonly used in the West and Central Harlem community.

DEGREE & EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum qualifications include either: a Master’s degree and five (5) years of relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of relevant experience; or a High School Diploma and at least eleven (11) years of relevant experience.
• Relevant experience includes managerial and/or leadership roles in community organizing, community-led programs, coalitions, or other community-driven service delivery.
• Experience can be a combination of professional, paid experience or verifiable volunteer experience.
• Ideal candidates will be from or have deep connection with the community they will be serving.

 Hours:  11:00am – 7:00pm

Salary:  $75,000

Benefit Status: This position is eligible for excellent benefits, including paid vacation and sick leave, medical and dental insurance, retirement, life and disability insurance.

Application Process: Please complete the Job Application Form on the Living Redemption website at: https://www.livingredemption.org/careers-at-lryoh/.  Please include the following in application submissions:

• Cover Letter explaining salary requirements and interest in this specific position
• Current Resume
• Writing Sample

 Closing Date:  Open until filled; to be filled as soon as possible.