Director of Education and Advocacy

eliminating racism
empowering women
YWCA Lancaster

YWCA Lancaster is looking for a full-time Director of Education and Advocacy, who is an integral part of our Leadership team.

The Director of Education and Advocacy is a mission-driven, equity-focused leader who advances YWCA Lancaster's commitment to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. This role is responsible for shifting systems, narratives, and institutional practices through education, training, and advocacy. The Director cultivates meaningful relationships across the community and leads education and advocacy strategies that advance gender and racial equity in alignment with YWCA Lancaster's mission, values, and policy priorities.

What your day looks like:

Prevention & Public Education

• Oversee and support prevention education initiatives that address root causes of inequity, violence, and oppression, especially as they relate to race and gender.
• Develop and facilitate community dialogues, workshops, and public events focused on gender equity, racial justice, and intersectional issues.
• Regularly monitor and update educational offerings, ensuring website and other marketing structures are in place, and relevant to current events.
• Oversee hiring and management of prevention education staff.

Mission-Related Policy Advocacy

• Lead education and events connected to YWCA Lancaster's mission and policy priorities.
• Translate complex policy issues into accessible, community-relevant educational opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to support mission-aligned advocacy and civic engagement efforts.

Community-Based Equity Education & Training

• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of workplace equity trainings for organizations, institutions, and community partners.
• Deliver community-centered education focused on oppression, power, and systems change, grounded in lived experience and inclusive learning practices.
• Develop and maintain equity frameworks that align with YWCA Lancaster's mission to guide internal and external education efforts.
• Oversee a team of facilitators who deliver justice-focused education initiatives.

Internal Equity Education & Organizational Guidance

• Collaborate with key staff members and leadership team to provide ongoing equity- and mission-aligned education, guidance, and technical assistance across the organization.
• Design and facilitate internal trainings, learning opportunities, and reflective practices to support organizational growth, accountability, and mission alignment.
• Partner with cross-departmental teams to embed equity principles into organizational systems, policies, and programmatic work.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with community members, organizations, coalitions, and institutions.
• Oversee YWCA Lancaster's Black Artist Waystation program.
• Represent YWCA Lancaster at community events, coalitions, and public forums as a speaker and active participant.

Budget Management & Funding

• Manage budgets for education, advocacy, and equity-related initiatives, ensuring responsible stewardship and alignment with organizational goals and funding requirements.
• Work collaboratively with Finance and Grants departments to develop budgets, monitor expenditures, and support grant reporting.
• Contribute to grant development and funder relations by identifying opportunities and supporting narrative, budget, and compliance efforts to sustain education and advocacy programs.

Who you are:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, Public Policy, Ethnic/Racial Studies, Sociology, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education, professional training, and lived experience; Master's degree preferred.
• Strong grounding in racial and gender equity, systems change, and community-based education.
• Training or professional development in equity and justice-focused practices (e.g., DEI/EJDIB, anti-racism, anti-oppression, trauma-informed or healing-centered approaches).
• Experience designing and facilitating trainings, community education curricula, and public dialogues.
• Solid understanding of oppression, institutional inequities, intersectionality, and prevention-based approaches.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with humility, accountability, and cultural responsiveness.
• Experience managing budgets and supporting grant reporting.
• Clear commitment to YWCA Lancaster's mission and values.

Who we are:

YWCA Lancaster is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Everything we do is based on the belief that all women and families have the right to be safe and choose the direction of their lives. Since 1889 , we have served children and adults in the community through a variety of programs. Current offerings include the Racial Equity Center, Dorothy Height Book Club and Lunch & Learns on current topics; Kepler Hall residence, home to fifty women, men and children; Child Enrichment Center providing child enrichment for ages six weeks to five years and before/after school care in a number of settings; Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center with a 24 hour hotline and no-cost professional counseling for survivors of sexual assault and their significant others. Our programs address the fact that far too many individuals experience violence, and lack economic security, and these issues disproportionately impact women and people of color. If we want to empower all women, we must also tackle racism.When all women and families can reach their full potential, our communities thrive.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision after 30 days of employment
• Retirement plan with employee match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 403b Plan
• Aflac Supplemental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long/Short Term Disability
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Participation in YWCA activities and seminars
• Childcare at a discounted rate
• Parental leave
• 20% tuition discount at Widener University (including graduate and continuing studies-bachelor's completion)

We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team. As a progressive company with strong cultural values, we offer a professional working environment and a competitive benefits package as well as the opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Equal Opportunity Employer

YWCA is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.