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Managing Director, Black Leadership Institute

Employer
Institute for Nonprofit Practice
Location
Massachusetts, United States
Salary
$170,000.00 - $170,000.00
Closing date
Aug 3, 2022

The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) is pleased to invite nominations and applications for its Managing Director, Black Leadership Institute position. INP transforms communities by equipping the most promising social impact leaders – nonprofit, public sector, and social enterprise – with the skills, networks, confidence, and resources they need to effectively lead, advance justice, and make their organizations more effective, innovative, and sustainable.

Since its founding in 2007, INP has sought to advance organizational effectiveness while closing historic racial and gender gaps in leadership, ensuring that the social impact sector reflects the strengths and diversity of communities served. Building on the social, knowledge, and financial capital of student leaders, INP seeks to create a transformed and thriving social impact sector, driven by effective nonprofits and community organizations with strong and diverse leadership across all levels—from staff and managers to executives and board members. Operating in nine cities across the country, INP trains thousands of leaders annually through the Core Certificate Program, Community Fellows Program, RISE Fellowship, Summer Program, and the Leadership Learning Series, all deeply rooted in the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. More on INP’s program offerings can be found here.

As part of its efforts to grow and scale its programs and impact, INP publicly announced in December 2021 the creation of the Black Leadership Institute (BLI) in response to the ongoing systemic racism and oppression experienced by the Black community. The BLI program seeks to connect, inspire, and uplift Black leaders in the social sector and actively contribute to the building of Black power, influence, and wealth. Through transformative programming, BLI supports Black leaders with the resources, network, content, and community needed to build upon their social, financial, knowledge, and cultural capital as they step into positions of greater power and influence.

In its first year, BLI will recruit at least 20-30 Black leaders who are leading in fields or on issues with significant outcome disparities for Black people, i.e., incarceration and recidivism, health and health care, environmental justice, poverty, and education. The inaugural national cohort will be comprised of four to five smaller, local cohorts located in Founding Communities across the country, allowing Fellows to develop strong local and national bonds of shared commitment, support, and purpose. The program is expected to grow to at least 10 cities over the next 3 years. The program includes:

  • 18 months of programming, including 12 months of in-person regional convenings and virtual sessions with the full national cohort, followed by 6 months of executive coaching.
  • Two in-person retreats (pending travel restrictions) to locations of significance to the Black experience in the U.S. and to the creation of greater Black power as we look towards the future.
  • Sessions that anchor on critical topics that enable Black leaders to identify and implement new strategies to build power and greater influence in their communities. Fellows will explore multiple forms of power, currency, and exchange looking through the lenses of social, financial, knowledge, and cultural capital.
  • A focus on cultivating joy and renewal through a pedagogy grounded in deep personal connection, community building, mindfulness, and the intersection of self-awareness and leadership.
  • A strengthening and building of local and national cross-sector networks.

The Managing Director of BLI will lead this exciting and transformative new program through its early stages, acting as its ambassador, strategist, recruiter, co-designer, and builder of key relationships – with funders and potential participants alike. They will thrive in the external elements of this role while not losing sight of the key internal projects and deadlines that will keep BLI’s development and programmatic delivery on track.

Success in this role will require someone who is:

  • A visionary strategic leader, able to articulate and communicate a clear and compelling vision for the programmatic work of BLI that draws in new partners, supporters, and participants.
  • An exceptional relationship builder with strong national networks who can increase excitement, rapport, trust, and transparency across a diverse and growing community of robust, passionate, talented stakeholders.
  • A highly effective bridge builder who has experience with growing a leadership development program from the ground up.
  • An effective collaborator who will partner with INP staff, leadership, and other constituents to shape and integrate this new program fully into the INP enterprise.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE MANAGING DIRECTOR

The Managing Director will join an extraordinary team of staff and faculty at INP who are committed to catalyzing and resourcing social change by investing in and connecting Black social impact leaders across the nation and amplifying their work and their influence. INP is in a period of growth and scaling, and the Black Leadership Institute is a key element of this growth. The new Managing Director will lead BLI through its inaugural stages, building out the external relationships and internal design that leads to a healthy, vibrant program embedded in the organization’s values. The Managing Director will engage in the following opportunities and challenges:

Build and Refine Strong Innovative Programmatic Strategy for BLI.

The Managing Director will grow BLI into a first in class, transformative, nationally recognized leadership development program for Black leaders while guiding and stewarding the vision of BLI through its early years. They will create a strategy to deliver on the goals of this program while deftly working across the larger INP organization to leverage the systems and resources that support this work. The Managing Director will uphold and center diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in designing transformational experiences for Black social impact leaders. They will develop robust, trustful relationships with existing and new stakeholders and will cultivate opportunities for staff, faculty, alumni, partners, and funders to engage and build together toward a new era of more equitable leadership across the social impact sector. The Managing Director will lead on executing strategies for impact, leveraging the success of BLI to position INP as a leader and pioneer in the field.

  • Build on the long-term strategic vision of BLI; design and refine programmatic strategies needed to integrate and scale the organization’s programs and solidify its reputation on the national stage.
  • Effectively attract nationally prominent speakers and highly effective coaches and mentors to the program to ensure students access to a best-in-class experience.
  • Develop a robust recruiting and admission program in partnership with INP’s Strategy Team that ensures INP is capturing diverse and compelling talent and identifying leaders that would maximally benefit from BLI’s work and approach.
  • Work closely with INP’s leadership team to design and execute organizational program strategy that integrates BLI’s program within the larger organization and establishes a plan for program learning, refinements, and scale.
  • Partner with the CEO and Development team to build a sustainable funding model and strategy to support the longevity of the program.
  • Lead efforts in collaboration with the Strategy team to evaluate and refine the program experience to ensure optimal impact
  • Stay abreast of developments in relevant fields, spot emerging gaps and opportunities for impact in training and equipping Black social impact sector leaders.

Grow and lead a new initiative through inspirational people leadership.

The Managing Director will build and steward a wide network of relationships and partnerships across the nation that contribute to (a) increasing name and brand recognition of BLI across the U.S., (b) recruiting faculty and students, and (c) partnering in its programming with other aligned organizations and initiatives. Operating within a small team, they will cultivate strategic partnerships and relationships, and leverage these connections in ways that grow and strengthen BLI over time.

The Managing Director will also foster strong relationships with staff and the wider INP community. In addition to building their team, the Managing Director will deliver results and reframe challenges as opportunities for organizational growth. They will model organizational values and translate vision into action. They will support and build the leadership capacity of their team and ensure that they have the tools needed to be successful. They will lead and support their BLI program staff as outlined below:

  • In partnership with the Executive leadership team, respond and attend to organizational challenges and work to adequately advance the organization while centering INP’s
  • In partnership with leadership, ensure the availability, alignment, and good stewardship of BLI resources in the long and short-term, setting priorities and designing programs that optimize the impact of BLI resources.
  • In partnership with the Finance leadership, regularly review organizational financial documents and identify areas of improvement and opportunities.
  • Recruit, hire, assess, program staff.

Supervise staff and lead teams during gaps in program leadership positions, as needed.

Represent INP and BLI and Manage Effective External Relationships.

The Managing Director will have a strong desire and interest in developing relationships and strategies that help build out BLI’s reputation on the national stage. They will be deeply committed to maintaining, building, and extending partnerships in the service of BLI’s work, and embrace and explore new ideas that can refine the work, impact, and mission of BLI in its early stages.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be first and foremost committed to INP’s mission and the visionary evolution of the organization. They will help INP leverage design thinking and collaborative organizational development to increase investment from staff and movement partners resulting in more sustainable impact. They will be distinguished as a leader in racial equity and organizational development, and as a successful people-developer grounded in an asset-based approach.

While no one person will embody all the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

  • A demonstrated track record of excellence innovating and managing programs, initiatives or organizations, experience with early-stage program design and development strongly preferred.
  • Lived experience that promotes knowledge of and sensitivity to the challenges historically marginalized communities face including appreciation for historical context, discernment of relationship nuances and power dynamics, and understanding of social, racial, and ethnic realities.
  • A tactical and visionary leader, who is comfortable toggling between big-picture strategy and working out the details in the various elements of this position.
  • A creative and innovative builder of systems and processes that will bolster the impact of the Black Leadership Institute and its fellows.
  • Highly developed capacity for self-management and self-regulation, active listening skills, and the ability to use interpersonal and political skills in collaborative ways.
  • Successful experience leading a high-impact team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
  • Strong relationship building and communication skills with the ability to have authentic dialogue around sensitive issues.
  • Excellent writing, editing, analytical, and oral communication skills including the ability to collect, review, synthesize, and present information and findings.
  • Ability to multitask and meet deadlines within designated timeframes as well as demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities; strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail with the ability to work both independently, take initiative and contribute ideas for enhancing performance.
  • Exemplary public communication skills and experience participating in national and regional convenings as a panelist or keynote speaker.
  • An optimistic outlook and the humor, integrity, kindness, and diligence to work within a transformative environment.

Additionally, candidates need to bring a strong commitment to excellence, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, & WORK LOCATION

Work Location:  Currently INP is operating according to state and federal health and safety guidelines. However, we anticipate staff to return to the office where applicable. This is a full-time position and will ideally be based in the Boston area. For the most highly qualified candidates, remote work locations with ability to travel will be considered.

Salary and Benefits:  The salary range for this position starts at $170,000 and is negotiable depending on experience. INP has a generous benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision coverage and a retirement savings 401(k) plan. In addition, and at present, we offer 15 days of paid vacation for new team members, ten paid holidays, and a winter holiday break for all employees.

TO APPLY

For more information about the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, please visit: www.nonprofitpractice.org

This search is being led by Julian Jackson, Yuniya Khan, and Rachel Burgoyne of NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

The Institute for Nonprofit Practice is an equal opportunity employer fully committed to creating an environment and team that represents various backgrounds, perspectives, styles, and experiences. All are encouraged to apply because we believe a diversity of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.

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