Boston SCORES Executive Director

Positively Partners•Boston, MA

3d•$175,000 - $210,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Boston SCORES inspires youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. For over 25 years, Boston SCORES has partnered with Boston Public Schools and community organizations to provide youth in grades K-12 with after-school soccer and enrichment programs. Boston SCORES school-based afterschool programming combines soccer with poetry, social entrepreneurship, and college and career exploration. The organization has become a trusted youth development leader across the city with strong community credibility and high-quality programming that serves more than 2,000 youth annually. The recent capital campaign, construction, and activation of Boston SCORES Field in East Boston had a transformative impact on the organization's ability to provide new types of programming, including a community-based youth soccer league, travel team opportunities, and workforce development programs. Boston SCORES' impact can be seen in the following metrics: Academic Engagement: 90% of elementary and middle school students reported an increased desire to go to school Social and Emotional Skills: 91% of students say Boston SCORES made them more confident Health and Fitness: 83% of students improved their aerobic capacity Post Secondary Preparedness: 100% of Boston SCORES high school seniors graduated on time Boston SCORES is a proud member of the SCORES Network, through which 13 affiliates across the country use the power of soccer, poetry, and service-learning. It has grown to a budget of $2.9M annually with 20 year-round staff and around 200 coaches. The Opportunity Boston SCORES is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization through one of its most dynamic and consequential chapters. The Executive Director serves as the chief executive, strategic leader, and primary spokesperson for Boston SCORES — reporting to the Chair/Co-Chairs of the Board and responsible for advancing the organization's mission, vision, and strategic priorities; ensuring organizational sustainability; and strengthening community impact. The Executive Director leads organizational strategy, fundraising, financial stewardship, and external relations while fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture among staff, board members, partners, and volunteers. FIFA World Cup & Celebration 26 This summer, Boston SCORES will host Celebration 26 — an international youth festival running alongside the World Cup in Boston — bringing together over 300 youth soccer players from across the country and around the world to play, learn, and celebrate soccer and football as tools for youth development, social inclusion, girls' empowerment, and economic mobility. The festival will elevate the organization's visibility and open new fundraising opportunities, while regular afterschool and field programming in East Boston continues in full stride. Strategic Direction Boston SCORES launched a strategic planning process this winter. The initial stage saw strong engagement from staff and Board, and established three core goals for the next three years: sustaining the quality and growing the impact of its programs, scaling its revenue, and supporting its team. The incoming Executive Director will be the primary driver of this plan's definition and implementation, inheriting strong momentum while shaping what comes next for the communities Boston SCORES serves.

Requirements

A minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit management, education, youth development, or a related field.
Demonstrated aptitude for fundraising, including major gifts, institutional funding, and corporate partnerships.
Previous success in fostering professional development and building an inclusive team culture.
Proven experience in strategic planning and setting organizational vision and priorities.
Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and nonprofit fiscal management.
Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.
Commitment to youth development and community-based programming.

Responsibilities

Lead a comprehensive development strategy to secure sustainable, diversified funding
Partner with the Chief Development Officer to set and achieve annual and multi-year fundraising goals
Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and public funders
Oversee grant proposals, sponsorship packages, and major funding requests
Engage and support the Board in fundraising and external relationship-building
Provide overall leadership and direction for day-to-day operations
Supervise and support direct reports, setting clear performance expectations and accountability structures
Ensure effective systems, staffing, and processes to deliver high-quality programming
Foster a culture of inclusion, learning, and continuous improvement
Oversee the organization's financial health and long-term sustainability
Partner with the CFO and Finance Manager to develop and manage the annual budget and multi-year financial plans
Review financial statements and ensure compliance with policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements
Engage the Finance Committee and Board in fiscal oversight and planning
Serve as the principal advisor and strategic partner to the Board of Directors
Support the Board in governance best practices, policy development, and strategic decision-making
Maintain transparent, consistent communication with the Board on organizational performance, opportunities, and risks
Foster a strong, trust-based partnership between Board and staff grounded in shared accountability
Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic plans in collaboration with the Board and senior leadership
Translate strategic priorities into operational and programmatic initiatives
Monitor progress against goals using data and continuous evaluation
Identify opportunities for innovation, partnerships, and program growth that deepen mission impact
Serve as chief spokesperson and ambassador for Boston SCORES
Build and maintain relationships with community partners, schools, public agencies, funders, and civic leaders
Represent the organization in public forums, events, and media
Elevate awareness of the organization's mission and impact across Boston's philanthropic and civic communities