Hiring Group: Operation Understanding DC (OUDC)
Vacancy Title: Executive Director
Job Category: Executive Director
Date Posted: September 23, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

Searching for a challenging career opportunity reaping bountiful rewards?
Look no further… the OUDC Executive Director position offers this and so much more.

Founded in 1995, Operation Understanding DC (OUDC) is a nonprofit organization that operates a transformative leadership and cultural education program for high school students from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. As a small organization, with a distinguished record for promoting life changing and enduring values, our mission is to build a community of youth leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation, while working to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination within the broader community.

The Black and Jewish communities, through a relationship that has endured for many decades, remain at the forefront of the social justice movement in America. These groups have worked, separately and together, to end religious and racial bias and build a diverse and inclusive community. Inspired by this legacy, OUDC was founded to strengthen this time-honored alliance where students can learn about the history, culture and diversity among both groups. The program is open to all students, regardless of ethnicity, gender, race or religion. The central focus, however, promotes viewing historical and current events through the lens of the Black and Jewish experience.

OUDC has earned an excellent reputation and is positioned to increase its leadership
locally and nationally in the inclusion and anti-discrimination education and training fields, building on its core experiential, youth education and training model.

For more information about Operation Understanding DC, visit www.oudc.org
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for OUDC staff, fundraising, programs, expansion, and execution of its core mission. Initially, the candidate will develop a deep knowledge of the core program, operations and business plans, and then will focus on fundraising and programmatic development. A basic understanding and ability in social media and networking is required and in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mastery of video/virtual conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, is a necessity.

Salary Range: $70,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience, plus benefits packet.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management:
• Ensure ongoing operational excellence in areas of administration, finance and communications;
• Lead, coach, monitor, foster teamwork and retain OUDC’s staff by cultivating and sustaining a positive, healthy working environment;
• Document, oversee and preserve records and intellectual property of the organization;
• Collaborate and advise with our engaged Board of Directors, serve as ex-officio of each Board committee, partner in the development of the strategic plan, provide a linkage with staff and identify, maintain and expand ongoing involvement opportunities with local community groups;
• As a spokesperson, the ED would actively engage and energize OUDC volunteers, Board members, alumni, event committees, partnering organizations, and other stakeholders and funders.

Fundraising and Communications:
• Partner with Board of Directors to develop and implement a fundraising plan for the organization;
• Partner with the Board, through the Board Treasurer, to prepare a comprehensive annual budget;
• Communicate regularly with OUDC parents, alumni and other stakeholders;
• Deepen and refine all aspects of communication—including web presence and social media with the goal of creating a stronger footprint;
• Use external presence and relationships to garner new opportunities.

Planning & Vision:
• Develop an operational plan to implement OUDC’s strategic vision;
• Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate the daily delivery of, OUDC’s existing programs and services and plan for future programming;
• Design service and outreach program activities, in collaboration with program coordinator, which promote the OUDC mission; Build new partnerships and develop special projects to establish relationships with funders and community leaders;
• Continue to promote OUDC’s external local, regional and national presence that endorses, communicates and publishes programmatic activities, with an emphasis on the successes of the core program to meet the expectations of students, families, Board, funders and other stakeholders;
• Expand outreach via the use of technology to emphasize the intrinsic value and successes of the organization.

Qualifications
• The Executive Director will be thoroughly committed to OUDC’s mission.
• Candidate should have proven leadership, coaching, and relationship management experience.
• Residence in or plans to relocate to the immediate DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia) area.
• In addition , other proficiencies and concrete, demonstrable experiences include:
o Undergraduate degree in the area of education, social work, American history, business or related fields is a prerequisite (Master’s degree or equivalent encouraged, but not required);
o At least 3-5 years of mid to senior management experience with a track record of effectively leading a performance- and outcome-based program or organization and staff;
o Unwavering commitment to quality programs and data-driven program evaluation and outcomes;
o Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff, manage and develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage a budget;
o Past success working with an advisory board, planning committee, or board of directors with the ability to cultivate existing board/committee member relationships and help recruit new members to the board;
o Strong marketing, public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders and diverse communities;
o Demonstrated sound written and verbal communication skills—a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal abilities;
o Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission driven and self-directed.

Please send a resume, a thoughtful and concise cover letter, and a short writing sample (500 words or less) addressing: What does Social Justice mean to you in 2020? Submit complete packet by COB Friday, October 9, 2020.