Position: Executive Director, Southern California

Reports to: Interim Executive Director, Regional Operations

Status:  Full Time; Exempt

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Start date: Immediately 

Facing History and Ourselves is a global education non-profit organization that challenges teachers and students to use lessons of history to stand up to bigotry and hate.

The Executive Director is a senior leader who leads Facing History’s efforts in Los Angeles and across Southern California.  They are responsible for delivering on regional fundraising and programmatic goals, working closely with the Executive Director for Regional Operations, the Executive Director for Strategic Program Implementation and the regional Program and Development Directors.  The ED represents Facing History locally, communicating Facing History’s mission and organizational vision, extending Facing History’s visibility and building strategic partnerships. The ED works closely with the regional  development team to reach fundraising goals and ensure financial sustainability.  The ED partners  with the Office of Equity to build a culture of belonging for all staff and volunteers, and is responsible for developing, maintaining and strengthening the regional Advisory Board.

This position directly supervises the Director of Development and oversees the Regional Development team. Responsible for all people management processes in the region; indirectly or matrix manages all regional employees and/or consultants with input into the review process.

Specific Responsibilities in Strategy, Leadership and Management Include: 

Create and lead a diverse, equitable, inclusive and innovative workplace culture that nurtures a sense of belonging for all staff and volunteers, and is committed to excellence, quality, and the professional growth of an engaged staff. 

• Communicate organizational vision, themes, goals, and progress to staff, key funders, and advisory board members, and make visible the alignment of regional level activities to overall Facing History goals and strategies

• Create overall regional fundraising strategy and goals, and work closely with the director of development to ensure implementation

• Advance, extend and deepen Facing History’s work and impact in the region,  including piloting new initiatives in partnership with HQ and the regional  Program Director.

• Maintain a fundraising portfolio of principal gift level funders, foundations and corporations and work to ensure that they are connected to the work, understand the impact and feel appreciated for their support

• Grow, maintain and strengthen the regional Advisory Board,  ensuring that it is working to meet or exceed revenue and outreach goals.  

• In partnership with the California Program Director, works to reach multiple audiences including influencers & the general public; teachers, students, and school leaders; and parents and student alumni. Coordinate work with local educational institutions (museums, etc.), community groups and other education organizations (Holocaust, Racial Equity,  civics/SEL, teacher leadership/professional development). Create links to teacher education centers, and key local and national education policy makers;  participate in presentations of Facing History’s work.

• Seek out and embrace  opportunities to learn and grow with other colleagues through internal and external professional development opportunities, and find ways to share these learnings across the organization

Qualifications

Facing History understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude historically marginalized groups from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to perform this role, please don’t hesitate to apply!

• Ability to lead, inspire and develop staff, connecting daily work to Facing History’s mission and values

• Excellent interpersonal skills to create, maintain and strengthen relationships with philanthropic partners including donors and board

• Conduct effective presentations to diverse audiences

• Exceptional written and oral communications skills

• Project management and oversight; Ability to balance multiple tasks and to set priorities

• Ability to articulate the whole of Facing History’s work

• Demonstrated success in fundraising and working with staff and boards to achieve fundraising goals

• Proven record of extending awareness of a nonprofit across key sectors, leading to increased revenue, preferred

• Technology proficiency required, especially with communication tools, digital learning strategies and social media

Benefits Summary: In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Facing History provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including medical with a health reimbursement account, dental, vision, life & AD&D, long-term & short-term disability insurance, 403(B) retirement plan with a discretionary organizational contribution, generous paid time off, an employee assistance program, travel assistance plan, pre-tax commuter spending accounts, flexible spending accounts, voluntary Colonial Life group plans, robust wellness programs through Welnys TV, aHealthyMe & weekly virtual yoga and meditation, WellCents 403(B) advisement, and a friendly work environment.

Facing History values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Facing History’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At Facing History, we honor and value the uniqueness of each and every human being. Our strength as an organization that provides and distributes educational content and pedagogy to teachers across the globe is directly tied to our diversity of staff, leadership, educators, students, scholars, and volunteers. Our commitment is to treat individuals with dignity and to build and maintain a community of full participation, inclusive of the voices, needs, and contributions of all. As an organization, we are deeply aware of the legacies of injustices that persist in society and in the workplace, and we value and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their association with excellence.