Executive Director

The Moran Company•San Diego, CA

40d•$145,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Moran Company is partnering with Friends of the Children–San Diego to recruit the organization's first Executive Director. This role offers an entrepreneurial nonprofit leader the chance to build a new chapter of a nationally proven professional youth mentorship model in San Diego. The Executive Director will be responsible for building the team, expanding philanthropic investment, and serving as the leading ambassador for the organization in San Diego. Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit with a mission to impact generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through long-term relationships with paid professional mentors. The San Diego chapter is launching with significant momentum, including secured seed capital, established relationships with community leaders, and a strong foundation for success. The chapter will focus on enrolling children ages 4-6 and their caregivers facing significant challenges, with an initial emphasis on former foster youth and families at risk of child welfare involvement. The chapter will operate as an independent 501(c)(3) supported by Friends of the Children National, leveraging a proven operating model, extensive resources, and a network of experienced Executive Directors.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Ten or more years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience in nonprofit or related environments is desired.
A passionate appreciation for child development, youth outcomes, and long-term mentoring models.
Significant fundraising experience and demonstrated ability to successfully secure major gifts and diversify revenue streams.
Strong executive presence and credibility with donors, board members, community leaders, and public stakeholders.
Established relationships and credibility within San Diego County, or a demonstrated record of quickly building trusted relationships with philanthropic, business, civic, and community leaders, is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success leading an organization and motivating others within a fast-paced, start-up work environment.
Strategic thinker with experience building, scaling, launching, and leading organizational growth initiatives.
Demonstrated success leading across fundraising, operations, finance, strategy, and people leadership.
Cultural competence and sensitivity when working with diverse communities and family structures.
Exceptional listening skills and an approachable, empowering leadership style.
Outstanding storytelling, written and verbal communication skills, and public speaking abilities.
Exceptional decision-making, organizational, and time management, delegation, and follow-up skills.
Effective leadership and supervisory skills; ability to collaboratively set goals, provide direction, ensure accountability, and motivate others to achieve and overcome barriers.
Ability to assess opportunities and mitigate strategic risks, while monitoring progress and making timely course corrections.
A team player, with a commitment to collaboration and partnership with National and peer leadership.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Established relationships and credibility within San Diego County, or a demonstrated record of quickly building trusted relationships with philanthropic, business, civic, and community leaders, is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide enthusiastic leadership, inspiration, strategic direction, focus, and long-term vision for the organization.
Be the lead fundraising champion and spokesperson, ambassador, and advocate for Friends of the Children–San Diego.
Build trust across staff, board, community partners, families, and donors. Model professionalism and high ethical standards throughout the organization.
Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team.
Partner with Board leadership to ensure a strong and engaged Board culture and governance.
Lead and model Friends of the Children’s commitment to a “children-first” culture of engagement, empowerment, support, belonging, and mutual respect.
Foster a transparent, approachable, collaborative, and servant-oriented leadership culture where staff feel heard, valued, and supported.
Work closely with the National CEO and National staff to ensure collaboration, program fidelity, and mission growth.
Work closely with other Friends of the Children Executive Directors in California to align around opportunities for leadership, fundraising, and statewide collaboration.
Lead all fundraising and resource development efforts, including establishing clear fundraising goals, objectives, and results, and serving as the organization’s sole fundraising professional during the launch years.
Personally define, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, foundations, and corporations, including local and regional funding opportunities that deepen community investment.
Partner with the Board on fundraising and explore and develop diversified revenue opportunities that strengthen long-term sustainability.
Represent the organization throughout San Diego's philanthropic, civic, business, and nonprofit communities.
Serve as the organization's chief storyteller and external relationship builder.
Work closely with public officials to develop a funding base that includes an appropriate amount of public funding (city, county, state, and federal).
Empower program staff to implement and sustain strategic partnerships and collaborations that advance program outcomes.
Partner with the Friends of the Children Chapter Grants team to bring in new opportunities, review grant proposals, and ensure ongoing reporting for grant deliverables.
Partner with the Friends of the Children Chapter Web/Marketing team to tell stories, build the brand, and amplify the impact of Friends–San Diego.
Develop and execute strategic plans, annual operating plans, budgets, revenue and expense projections, and growth initiatives.
Identify opportunities for expansion, innovation, and increased community impact.
Monitor organizational performance and proactively manage risk.
Partner with the Board and National leadership to achieve long-term goals.
Ensure fidelity to the Friends of the Children model and ensure the resources necessary to uphold program excellence.
Support and empower program leadership in delivering exceptional service and outcomes for youth and families.
Monitor outcomes and foster continuous improvement.
Cultivate quality feedback loops for program participants (youth, caregivers).
Support the ongoing training and development of program staff to meet the requirements of the program with regard to skills, knowledge, and understanding of program content.
Maintain alignment of the organizational structure and staffing to maximize effectiveness and results.
Provide sound financial stewardship and organizational sustainability.
Recruit, develop, supervise, and retain a high-performing team; ensure the effective supervision, guidance, development, and evaluation of all staff, and a work environment that results in positive morale and employee retention.
Maintain accurate and timely communications with the Board of Directors and staff.
Maximize organizational effectiveness without compromising program and organizational performance.
Collaborate with, and benefit from, National team Finance and Operational resources to maximize effectiveness.