LA Site Director - The Hidden Genius Project

POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:

Building on a decade of success in California, the Los Angeles Site Director within The Hidden Genius Project is the fundamental driver of the organization’s launch within the greater Los Angeles community. This person is responsible for holding The Hidden Genius Project’s culture and values while managing a team that delivers dynamic and effective programming to local young people. The Site Director continually exercises ingenuity, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to continual learning within an exciting startup environment.  Finally, the Site Director works as part of a dynamic, communicative, and supportive team of staff, volunteers, and Board members committed to their success.  This is the consummate role for an individual with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Organizational Leadership—Maintain effective organizational culture consistent with the values of The Hidden Genius Project 

• Mentorship and positive student experience—Develop rich one-to-one connections with Immersion participants.  Through mentorship relationships, identify holistic participant needs as they arise, and strategize with The Hidden Genius Project staff to develop a plan to address them. Solicit participant and parent/guardian feedback to guide responsive programmatic improvements to maximize participant enjoyment and success.  

• Relationship development with key stakeholders and partners—Coordinate responsive communication with participants, their families, and key partners. Identify pressing constituent needs and develop strategic responses. Develop strategic partnerships to support healthy operations, program implementation, and fundraising.

• Office and programming operations coordination—Ensure programming spaces are set up properly.  Coordinate and set up student meals.  Oversee arrangements for student travel to field trips and other activities.

• Oversight and management of site budget—In partnership with the Regional Director (West), develop, manage, and responsibly implement the annual site budget. Practice sound judgment in allocating adequate resources for effective operation and program delivery, while also identifying opportunities for cost savings. Ensure that the organization meets annual expenditure and revenue targets.

• Fund development—Submit philanthropic grant proposals to support the site and organization writ large. Cultivate partnerships with local and nationally-based businesses to garner financial and in-kind support. Attract local individual donors to contribute to annual and growth campaigns.

• Team coordination and development—The Site Director ensures smooth coordination of the site team’s operations while working with internal partners, such as department leaders, to support key functions of operations. Though the site team doesn’t report directly to the Site Director, they oversee site operations and ensure the team’s work aligns with overall program goals. The Site Director may partner with central team members to support hiring or volunteers. Curate and coordinate team celebrations,  training, and professional development opportunities.

• Site Visit coordination—Track, organize, and communicate partner site visits with the site team, to support Immersion and Catalyst programs.

• Data Collection and Reporting—Partner with The Hidden Genius Project leadership to implement core data collection processes to support organizational learning and quality assurance.

• Training, technical assistance, and facilitation—Train The Hidden Genius Project staff and volunteers on relevant content, competencies, and/or methods. 

• Engagement of local advisors—Identify respected and trusted partners to offer advocacy, guidance, and key relationships to support the effective operation of the site. As appropriate, establish a local Advisory Council to champion The Hidden Genius Project’s mission.

• Core Communications—Produce and distribute locally-focused core communications content and materials, including electronic newsletters, social media content, press releases, brochures, and any other necessary materials (to go along with centrally-developed content). 

• Other duties as assigned including but not limited to working on other short-term and long-term projects as the need arises.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Serve as an exceptional role model and mentor to The Hidden Genius Project participants. 

• Communicate effectively (via email, phone, and/or postal mail) and in a timely manner with all relevant constituencies, including participants and their parents/guardians.

• Act as a dynamic ambassador to The Hidden Genius Project within the community

Other responsibilities as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Required

• Excellent leadership abilities and positively rooted community reputation 

• Experience managing significant youth program components (including staff) and/or directing at least a division of a youth-facing organization

• High comfort level with technology 

• Experience working and communicating effectively with Black male youth and adolescents more broadly

• Intense commitment to the life success of Black males and boys and men of color

• Experience mentoring and working closely with Black male youth

• Ability to prioritize, organize, and delegate effectively

• Ability to receive feedback and engage in continuous self-improvement 

• Ability to adapt to a dynamic, rapidly changing work environment 

• Ability to build positive relationships across constituencies and sectors

• Firm belief in personal accountability, producing measurable outcomes, and sustaining high expectations

 Desired

• Bachelor’s Degree 

• Experience working in the technology industry 

• Research and policy advocacy experience

• Commitment to achieving The Hidden Genius Project’s mission and vision

ROLE OVERVIEW: 

• Role Location: Los Angeles, California  (on-site) 

• Reports to: Regional Director (West)

• Manages: Overall programming of site operations, interns, and volunteers (including coordination tasks)

• Status: Exempt

• Schedule: Full Time (minimum 40 hours per week); starting by January 2025; working evenings and weekends, as needed

• Additional requirements: must travel to Headquarters in Oakland, CA for multiple days at a time (totaling up to 2-4 weeks on aggregate) between January and May 2025 to engage in immersive training

BENEFITS:

• Dynamic, fun work environment.

• Excellent opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of numerous underserved youth.

• Entrepreneurial organization; implement your own ideas and immediately see the effects.

• Opportunity to meet and interact with multifarious individuals in the technology industry.

• Opportunity to play a fundamental role in building a national program.

• Opportunity to innovate in building effective models for holistic technology instruction

COMPENSATION: 

• Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• The employee may occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; the employee may frequently stand, walk, or sit; the employee may regularly grasp objects, talk, and/ or hear.

• The employee will occasionally lift up to 50 pounds; the employee will regularly lift up to 10 pounds

•  This job requires vision abilities that ensure the safety of operating and programming spaces for all stakeholders

• Travel and supervise the transportation of students as needed

APPLYING: 

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how your qualifications align with the above requirements via email to hiring@hiddengeniusproject.org, with the subject head: “Site Director-Los Angeles.”