Executive Director, Elevate Youth Services - Eos Transitions

Elevate Youth Seeks Executive Director

About Elevate Youth

Elevate Youth Services (EYS) creates the conditions and provides the spark that empowers youth to achieve fulfilling, healthy lives, and advocates for the well-being of all youth. Its mission is to promote safety,

competence, and confidence as youth create their path through adolescence and into adulthood.

For nearly 50 years, EYS has served youth in Washington County, Vermont and beyond and is the only non-profit in Washington County focused solely on the unique needs of adolescents and young adults.

Highlights of EYS 's work include:

• Housing for homeless youth
• Shelter and counseling for runaway and homeless youth
• A drop-in teen center
• Post-prison 24-hour support and aftercare services for young adults
• One-on-one counseling and family therapy
• Substance use treatment and prevention
• Assistance with education, employment, and housing
• The administration of two statewide coalitions of youth service providers that strengthen and ensure a statewide safety net for youth.

Formerly Washington County Youth Service Bureau, in 2022 the organization engaged in a thoughtful name change process and selected a name that reflects its purpose and impact - to ensure that youth have the support they need and that services and policies work for them.

EYS has a staff of approximately 40 youthwork professionals. The staff describe the EYS culture and work environment as warm, collaborative, adaptable, and friendly, with team-spirited staff who are passionate, casual yet professional, open minded, and dedicated to a strong youth-centered approach. The workplace offers ample flexibility and support.

The annual operating budget is $5,500,000 and is largely comprised of state and federal grants and contracts. EYS is overseen by a 6-member Board of Directors comprised of community professionals and program alumni; there is an intention to continue to grow the board membership. After 24 years at EYS, including 13 as Executive Director, Kreig Pinkham announced his departure from EYS to pursue a small business passion.

Opportunity Going Forward

The Executive Director will have the opportunity to lead a well-established, highly credible, and influential statewide organization. Reporting to EYS's Board of Directors, the ED has overall fiscal, strategic, and operational responsibility for staff, programs, growth, and impact - all in service to the organization's mission and vision, and fully aligned with organizational values and behavioral standards. High priorities for the next leader include:

• Navigating the leadership transition, ensuring that existing and strong relationships with funders and donors, legislators, collaborations, and partners are maintained and grown.
• Establishing EYS as a vital and visible youth service organization, locally and statewide, so that it is readily known to potential service recipients, partners, and donors.
• Securing philanthropic funds and local business support to diversify support EYS's programs and services while also navigating important and complex government funding awards and opportunities.
• Continuing to support and advocate for policies during the legislative session that focus on youth service delivery, access, and appropriations, and networking with youth development organizations and the broader youth service sector to expand awareness of the needs of youth and develop sustainable funding sources.
• Working with the Board to grow its membership and active stewardship.
• Championing EYS's racial equity work, ensuring the organization maintains its commitment to creating an inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace.
• Leading, empowering, and mentoring a team of skilled, mission-driven professionals and helping everyone embrace a collective understanding of EYS's many services.
• Working with the Board of Director to craft a 2024-2027 strategic plan.

Profile of the Ideal Candidate

The next ED of EYS will be a seasoned organizational leader with significant experience as a service-providing professional, capable of leading an organization of EYS's size. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following capacities:

• understands the challenges facing young people living in rural communities and brings passion for improving the human condition.

• a trusted community ambassador and advocate who is excited to serve as the primary public face of EYS in the greater community and brings strong, diplomatic verbal communication and storytelling skills.
• an innovative fundraiser who engages creatively with the community and institutional funders to leverage financial support.

• experienced with organizational growth and has a strategic approach to problem solving, fund raising, and organizational visibility and is an entrepreneurial leader who thinks strategically about the roles EYS could play in the community.

• a seasoned professional knowledgeable about nonprofit service delivery and administration, with financial acumen in budgeting, grant reporting, and financial oversight.
• experienced working in partnership with a board of directors.
• a compassionate, collaborative, and supportive employer who values communication and strives to provide flexible, equitable, family-friendly working conditions for all staff, with experience coaching and leveraging talent.
• a respectful bridge-builder who fosters collaborative relationships with community and youth sector partners, legislators, and funders.
• a collaborative professional who makes thoughtful and brave decisions, and prioritizes inclusive and transparent practices, seeks out the widest diversity of views, listens attentively, and builds consensus among a wide variety of stakeholders.

• a flexible and willing team player who has experience in a fast-paced, high-risk environment, and happily engages in a wide variety of tasks and enjoys having fun.

Credentials and Requirements

• 7+ years of relevant senior leadership experience, including some in non-profit organizations.
• Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, human services, or related field. Master's degree in nonprofit management or public administration preferred; extensive and closely related experience may be substituted for educational degrees.
• To work onsite in Berlin, VT.
• Local and some statewide travel will be necessary, and occasional weekend and evening work may be required.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with a starting salary range of $115,000 - 125,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. EYS also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Vacation Allowance: 15 days
• Personal Days: 3 days
• Holidays: 12 days
• Sick Leave: 10 days
• Health Insurance: Up to $525/month premium share paid by EYS
• Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance: Yes
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 50% Discount GMC Fitness

Application Process and Additional Information

EYS is an equal opportunity employer and views diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence as vital guiding principles in its work. EYS welcomes and encourages applications from visible minority group members, Indigenous persons, members of the LGBTQ community, persons with disabilities and others who may contribute to the diversity of the organization and reflect the diversity of the communities served.

Candidates must include a resume and a cover letter, both in PDF format, which describe how qualifications and experience match the needs and mission of EYS. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Upload required documents to: https://eostransitions.applicantpool.com/jobs/.

This executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners consultant, Nancy Jackson. All submissions will be acknowledged and are confidential, and any questions can be submitted to Nancy at: njackson@eostransitions.com.