Executive Director

Job Title: Executive Director

Organization: Urban Word NYC

Background:

Urban Word NYC champions youth voice by empowering young people to express themselves through poetry, spoken word, and creative writing. Since 1999, Urban Word has been at the forefront of the youth poetry and spoken word movements and a leading presenter of literary arts education and youth development programs across the country though a comprehensive roster of programs, after school and school-day workshops, fellowships focused on artistic excellence and civic engagement, and the National Youth Poet Laureate. We work with thousands of teens per year in NYC alone, and thousands more through partner programming in 80+ U.S. cities. Urban Word's dedication to amplifying young voices and fostering creative expression has a profound effect on individuals and communities, deepening our impact in the lives of our youth.

Urban Word NYC is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization through an exciting period, to focus on achieving resource stability (financial and human resource), ensuring highest-quality programming attached to a strong brand, evaluating and communicating our impact, and building our leadership in the field.

Job Description:

The Executive Director will provide strategic leadership and vision for the organization, overseeing all aspects of its operations, and ensuring its financial sustainability and growth. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, manages local and national staff, and works closely with community partners and donors to fulfill the organization's mission and achieve its goals.

A successful candidate will be: a trust-based leader who can confidently lead a growing team; a strong administrator; and able to motivate and inspire staff, Board, partners, funders – and most importantly, the young people we serve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Steward Urban Word’s mission and vision ensuring all programs and activities are aligned with the organization’s artistic direction and desired social impact
• Develop, clearly articulate, and implement strategic plans and initiatives to advance the organization's mission and objectives
• Oversee and align day-to-day operations, including staff supervision, program management, managing budgets, fundraising, and human resources management
• Build internal systems, policies and procedures to support the mission and ensure organizational sustainability
• Lead fundraising and revenue-generation efforts including identifying, securing, and maintaining funding
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, partners, and community stakeholders
• Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, board members, and youth
• Embed Urban Word’s values and the principles of equity throughout all levels of the organization to uphold a safe and healthy company culture
• Represent the organization and advocate for its interests in public forums, with media, government officials and other settings
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

Qualifications:

Required

• At least 5 years of experience in a supervisory senior management role in a nonprofit organization, preferably in the arts or youth development sector
• Demonstrated contribution to fundraising function and revenue generation
• Financial management skills, including budgeting and financial reporting
• Commitment to and knowledge of youth development principles and practices; comfortable interacting with youth
• Knowledge & appreciation of poetry and/or the literary arts

Preferred

• Academic degree in a relevant field (e.g., arts administration, nonprofit management)

Key Competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinking: Ability to develop and implement long-term plans and initiatives that align with the organization's mission and goals
• Leadership: Ability to inspire and motivate staff, volunteers, and board members to achieve excellence. Ability to manage remote staff in different geographic locations.
• Organized: Thorough and detail-oriented
• Equity-focused: Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and its application in the nonprofit sector
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with others to achieve common goals and build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities and lead the organization through periods of transition or uncertainty.

Salary & Benefits:

Compensation for the Executive Director position at Urban Word NYC includes a salary range of $130,000-$140,000 depending on experience, plus a benefits package that includes medical, PTO, sick days, and retirement. All benefits are subject to modification at any time.

Location:

Work is expected to be performed in or near New York City. Urban Word NYC’s staff currently works 100% remotely, while most programming, performances, meetings, and other activities take place in the NYC metro area.

Urban Word NYC is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are intentional in our recruitment efforts and committed to a visible, audible adult presence among staff and Board that is representative of the young people we serve: BIPOC, female-identified, LGBTQIA+, international, and other marginalized identities. We also greatly value the diversity of educational, social, economic, artistic/genre, and other experiences in our community(ies). Those with lived experience that parallels that of our youth are strongly encouraged to apply.

We employ qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, gender identity or expression, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.

How to Apply:

Urban Word NYC has retained the services of PENN Creative Strategy to conduct this search. Inquiries and applications may be directed in confidence to: UWEDSearch@penncreativestrategy.com

To apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter that references your experience working with youth (preferably as a single .pdf file) to UWEDSearch@penncreativestrategy.com. Please put “Your Name – UW ED Search” in the subject line of your email. All inquiries and resumes must be submitted via email.

Due to the high volume of applications, we may not be able to contact each candidate regarding the status of their application. We will contact prospective candidates for further information.