Executive Director

Executive Director

The Executive Director (ED) provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership to Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara in partnership with and under the direction of the Board of Directors. The ED advances the organization's mission, strategic priorities, financial sustainability, and community impact through effective leadership of staff, board relations, fund development, partnerships, and organizational operations. The ED is responsible for overall management, performance, and day-to-day administration of the organization while fostering a culture grounded in equity, belonging, positive youth development, and excellence.

Status: Full-time, Exempt

$165,000 – $195,000 (commensurate with qualifications and experience). Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara offers a competitive benefits package.

The Executive Director will model the Girls Inc. Leadership Framework across five core areas:

• Vision, Strategy & Organizational Leadership
  • Demonstrate passion for the Girls Inc. mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold; serve as a visible and effective advocate for girls
  • Articulate a compelling vision for the future, inspiring staff, board, and external stakeholders to rally behind strategic priorities
  • Drive long-term strategic planning and implementation to advance the mission and ensure organizational sustainability
  • Align organizational plans, programs, operations, and resource development with the Girls Inc. mission, vision, and strategic priorities
  • Steward a positive organizational culture grounded in Girls Inc. values while fostering equity, inclusion, belonging, and opportunity throughout the organization
  • Partner with program leadership to ensure high-quality, mission-driven programming that meets community needs
  • Establish and implement program goals and tangible evaluation metrics aligned with the organization's mission and strategic priorities
  • Champion organizational growth, sustainability, and measurable community impact
• Development, Leadership & Management of People
  • Develop and maintain an effective partnership with the Board of Directors and Board Chair by supporting governance, strategic planning, board communication, implementation of board decisions, and board recruitment, orientation, development, and engagement
  • Attend Board of Directors and committee meetings; serve as the organization's chief professional advisor and resource to the Board
  • Foster transparent, timely, and effective communication between the Board of Directors and staff while maintaining appropriate governance and operational roles
  • Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for 3–5 direct reports and approximately fifty indirect reports
• Business Acumen & Financial Stewardship
  • Manage a $3 million annual operating budget with strong financial stewardship, fiscal accountability, and strategic oversight to ensure the organization's long-term sustainability
  • Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the organization's annual operating budget in partnership with staff and the Finance Committee
  • Work with the Finance Committee to ensure responsible fiscal management and adherence to approved budgets, policies, and financial controls
  • Develop and maintain systems, policies, processes, and procedures that support operational excellence and organizational effectiveness
  • Oversee organizational functions including finance, human resources, technology, data management, legal compliance, and risk management
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable licensing, regulatory, accreditation, and organizational requirements
• Fund Development & Philanthropy
  • Lead the organization's fundraising efforts, including capital campaigns, working closely with the Board of Directors, Development Director, campaign leadership, and major donors to develop strategy, cultivate prospects, secure transformational gifts, and successfully achieve fundraising goals
  • Collaborate closely with the Development Director to maintain ultimate accountability for a diversified revenue portfolio that meets or exceeds the annual fundraising goal (currently approximately $1.5 million) through individual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, events, planned giving, and public funding
  • Serve as the organization's lead ambassador and fundraiser through authentic storytelling, impact reporting, relationship-building, and mission-driven leadership
  • Navigate the philanthropic community with professionalism, integrity, and respect; maintain a trusted organizational reputation
  • Partner with the Development Director, Board, and key stakeholders to establish fundraising priorities and implement an annual fundraising plan
  • Build a culture of philanthropy by engaging staff, board members, volunteers, and community stakeholders in fundraising and relationship-building efforts
  • Strengthen the Girls Inc. brand, visibility, and community presence; utilize fundraising data and performance metrics to inform strategy and continuous improvement
  • Ensure all fundraising strategies and partnerships align with the organization's mission, values, strategic priorities, and ethical standards
• Community Leadership & Strategic Partnerships
  • Confidently engage community leaders, funders, elected officials, educators, and strategic partners to advance the Girls Inc. mission
  • Build, leverage, and expand strong relationships with community leaders, donors, foundations, elected officials, business leaders, schools, and nonprofit partners to increase Girls Inc.'s visibility, influence, and impact
  • Serve as a well-connected community ambassador actively representing Girls Inc. throughout Santa Barbara County and within local philanthropic and civic networks
  • Represent the organization as spokesperson through community partnerships, public events, presentations, media opportunities, and outreach activities
  • Stay informed about community needs, priorities, emerging opportunities, and current research and trends affecting girls
  • Develop and implement a communications strategy encompassing public relations, marketing, and community engagement in collaboration with staff, vendors, board members, and volunteers

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, recreation, psychology, business administration, management, nonprofit leadership, or a related field; Master's degree preferred. Equivalent education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree
• Minimum of 5 years of senior leadership experience in youth development, nonprofit management, and/or education, including administrative, supervisory, and budgetary responsibility
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and facilitate cooperation among individuals with diverse backgrounds, identities, lived experiences, perspectives, and communication styles
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, belonging, and positive youth development
• Demonstrated experience partnering effectively with a Board of Directors, including supporting governance, strategic planning, and board engagement
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and external relations, including donor stewardship, major gift cultivation and solicitation, grant development, institutional funding, and community engagement
• Demonstrated success leading or playing a senior leadership role in a comprehensive capital campaign, including campaign planning, major donor cultivation, and campaign execution
• Strong existing relationships and credibility within the Santa Barbara County philanthropic, nonprofit, business, and civic communities — or a demonstrated ability to quickly establish them
• Ability to lead and motivate teams, manage organizational change, and foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture
• Excellent communication, leadership, management, public relations, organizational, and relationship-building skills

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.