Senior Director of Equitable Economic Recovery
SEATTLE, WA
United Way of King County works to build a community where all people have homes, students graduate, and families are financially stable. Our culture fosters collaboration, teamwork, open communication, leadership, integrity, and accountability.
With our unwavering focus on racial justice for all, we hope to achieve racially equitable outcomes in King County and beyond. We believe that having staff, volunteers, and supportive community members who represent diverse backgrounds and circumstances will help us more effectively accomplish our mission. We aim to a create a welcoming and inclusive work environment, and we also strive to have a diverse staff and particularly encourage Black and Indigenous people, and people of color to apply and join our team.
About the Role
The challenges of housing instability and poverty are greater than ever in King County, and they are disproportionately impacting communities of color across the region. Effective solutions will center the voices of those furthest from justice and use a combination of approaches that leverage services and address systemic root causes.
The Senior Director, Equitable Economic Recovery position is responsible for leading the strategic investment of financial and non-financial resources to improve the lives of people furthest from economic stability and most impacted by systemic racism in King County. The position provides strategic vision and leadership to direct service programs and grant making strategies that reduce poverty and housing instability. Strategies are developed and implemented in alignment with United Way of King County’s vision to create an equitable and just community, and center the voice and solutions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals and communities. The position influences legislative and administrative policies that support those strategies, addresses systemic racism, and scales effective solutions.
The role supervises and coaches a team of staff and AmeriCorps members (approximately 16 FTE, up to 200 National Service Members throughout the year, and seasonal staff), and this team is responsible for direct service provision, grantmaking, collaboratively influencing policy and systems, and stewarding public and private funds. The position serves as a member of the Community Services Team’s leadership team and acts as an important collaborative, cross-team role. In collaboration with the Community Services Team, community agencies, direct service clients, and other stakeholders, the position creates and implements racial equity strategies for each program area, reducing racial disparities impacting poverty and housing instability.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Develops, manages, and implements racially just strategies to help people furthest from economic justice exit poverty and gain housing stability.
- Oversees a budget of approximately $45M, comprising grants to community-based agencies and direct services provision. Creation and implementation of strategies are driven by and center the voices of BIPOC communities. Current strategies include:
- Increasing college completion rates for BIPOC students and parenting students with low incomes by creating one-stop, low-barrier access to emergency grants, public benefits, and other basic needs.
- Reducing hunger by disrupting the food system to improve access to federal nutrition programs, tax credits, and culturally appropriate food.
- Implementing the Free Tax Campaign to generate Earned Income Tax Credits and create connections to other benefits.
- Preventing homelessness by providing rental assistance and other investments to communities most at risk of eviction, advocating for equity-centered changes to the homeless crisis response and prevention system, and investing in diversion and other proven approaches.
- Monitors local, state, and federal legislation and policies that impact poverty and homelessness. In close collaboration with the UWKC Systems Change and Public Policy team, develops and implements systems change strategies that support United Way’s goals. Policies address systemic racism and are driven by BIPOC individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by poverty and homelessness. Potentially works directly with elected officials or their staff, testifying at public hearings, and supporting other advocacy and systems change efforts.
- Oversees recruitment and placement of National Service Members annually at United Way of King County and community service agencies. Ensures strong relationships with regional and national officials overseeing National Service programs and is accountable for adherence to National Service regulations and reporting and ensuring National Service Members are supported and successful in their assignments.
- Develops and maintains relationships and partnerships with BIPOC community agencies and individuals so that programmatic work is guided, informed by, and/or co-created with those most impacted by structural racial inequities.
- Oversees analysis of data, interpretation of best practices, and evaluation of programs and grants. Keeps apprised of the latest trends in the fields of financial stability, poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
- Partners with the UWKC Development Team to raise public and private funds to support equitable economic recovery programming. Builds and strengthens relationships with public sector funders and both private and corporate foundation staff.
- Oversees analysis of data, interpretation of best practices, and evaluation of programs and grants. Keeps apprised of the latest trends in the fields of financial stability, poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Proposes new culturally specific strategies based on these trends, community-identified needs and solutions, and available data.
- Serves as content expert and spokesperson on strategies and policies to address homelessness and poverty. Engages in speaking opportunities to local and national media, presentations and speeches to corporate partners and donors.
- Leads strategic planning for the Equitable Economic Recovery team and works with Community Services staff and volunteers to develop and monitor racial equity metrics tied to strategic goals. Guides development of indicators and outcomes to measure progress toward United Way’s goals related to poverty and housing instability/homelessness. Participates in Community Services Team strategic planning.
- Works with local and national organizations including funders and advocacy groups that address economic stability; promotes United Way’s initiatives and identifies and implements equitable strategies and leverages additional funding sources.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and Abilities
- Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills at a high level, including leadership of a comprehensive team of staff and collaboration across departments similar to the Community Services Team at United Way, and with external partners. Effective at building coalitions and engaging stakeholders with diverse opinions and views to accomplish a common goal.
- Proven exceptional ability to inspire, develop, lead, and participate in teams.
- Demonstrated understanding of social and racial justice and equity, with a proven commitment to apply racial and economic justice lenses in both personal and workplace contexts.
- Lived experience and/or demonstrated professional skills working within a diverse work environment.
- Proven excellent facilitation and communication and public speaking skills (verbal and written) across demographic and diverse populations.
- Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to analyze complex problems/issues.
- Proven strategic planning skills.
- Demonstrated advanced knowledge of health and human services policy issues, legislative and community decision processes; local government and health and human services coalitions; external communications, and marketing.
- Intermediate knowledge of latest trends and best practices related to ending homelessness and poverty and can apply knowledge gained to enhance and advance United Way strategies.
- Mission driven and passionate about racial equity as well as addressing poverty and reducing homelessness.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, specializing in Human Services, Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline. Must have at least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in areas such as community resources, community affairs, human services planning, government relations, and/or program management.
Must have at least 3 years’ supervisory and budget-management experience.
COMPENSATION
The annual recruiting salary range for this position is $107,600 to $112,400 DOE. This position is open until filled.
United Way of King County is an exceptional workplace that can provide you with:
- Opportunities to work with smart, passionate, and enthusiastic team members and volunteers
- Ongoing collaboration with diverse staff and other constituents
- A desirable culture of high-performance expectations and accountability
- Exciting and challenging work
- Opportunities to help solve the community’s toughest problems
HOW TO APPLY
The United Way of King County is committed to diversity & inclusion and continually working to build an organizational culture and climate in which every voice is valued, staff have a sense of belonging and connection with one another and to the organization, and staff feel empowered to do their best work. We specifically encourage people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQ and individuals with disabilities to apply for this position.
All interested parties are urged to apply by completing the form below:
United Way King County operates a hybrid workplace with all employees able to work a combination of remote, on-site, and off-site. Full COVID-19 vaccination is required for this role.
GET IN TOUCH
- 877-998-9092
- nicole@diversityrecruiters.com
- Search Conducted by Diversity Recruiters™
or send us a message
email us and we will happily respond