Director, Opportunity Youth (SFF)

The Schultz Family Foundation, established in 1996 by Howard and Sheri Schultz, creates pathways of opportunity for populations facing barriers to success. By investing in innovative, scalable solutions and partnerships, the Foundation aims to help unlock people's potential and in doing so, strengthen our businesses, our communities, and our nation. The Foundation focuses its efforts on two groups with enormous promise: the 4.9 million youth and young adults aged between 16 and 24 who are out of school and out of work, and the 2.8 million post‑9/11 veterans and the approximately 250,000 service members that will transition from active, National Guard, or Reserve duty back to civilian life each year. Opportunity Youth There is a group of young people that are disconnected from the systems that were built to serve them. These individuals are often born into situations that make pathways to opportunity challenging. The Foundation believes that one's potential should not be determined by their zip code and that this generation of young people represent assets that can have a significant impact on the future of our country. Through its Opportunity Youth portfolio, SFF forges unique partnerships and invests in clear pathways to employment. The portfolio also focuses on innovative initiatives in areas such as mentorship, job readiness, and access to housing – all of which endeavor to empower Opportunity Youth and help to close the opportunity gap for young people. Post 9/11 Veterans and Their Families Post‑9/11 veterans are returning to civilian life with diverse skills and tremendous potential, but many experience difficulties when they leave military service and transition to civilian life. The Foundation's investments focus on ensuring the transition experience is as seamless and successful as possible by supporting service members before they transition and reintegration strategies that help veterans and their families navigate services post‑transition. These investments enhance and accelerate employment opportunities through innovative training and career placement programs and coordinated access to services. To further these efforts, the Foundation works to ensure that employers and civilians understand the strengths and talents of our veterans, and the contributions they can make when they return home. The Foundation's programs support not only transitioning service members but also military spouses. The Foundation aims to achieve the following: Lifting Populations Out of Risk – Our social contract needs rewriting - there's so much potential that tends to be the overlooked. The Foundation works to identify solutions that move people from crisis to stability, to help them get the fair shot we all deserve. Realizing Economic Justice – The transformative power of jobs— for employers, employees, and communities alike— a job with meaningful opportunities for advancement is still the best social program there is. Harnessing the Power of Private Sector Engagement – Knowing what's possible when business leaders care as much for their community as they do for their shareholders, the Foundation is galvanizing a movement to compel businesses to do well by doing good. Building Solutions at Scale – The opportunity gap is getting larger. We need to move beyond solutions that serve few to ones that impact many. Proving Efficacy Is Price of Admission – The Foundation evaluates impact through the lens of both social and business value. Doing good isn't enough. Metrics are used to ensure that investments are leading to real impact and prove that hiring from these talent pools is good for business. Changing Hearts and Minds – The Foundation lifts up stories of success and hope vs. dysfunction and despair, harnessing the power of narrative to show what's possible if we work and think out of the box.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Director, Opportunity Youth (Director) will lead the ongoing development, refinement and implementation of the Foundation's Opportunity Youth initiatives. Building scalable solutions to solve the challenging hurdles that opportunity youth face will require national buy‑in from multiple sectors and the implementation of non‑traditional solutions. The Director will shape and manage a catalytic philanthropic investment portfolio that leads to scalable impact for opportunity youth. In addition, the Director will represent SFF, serving as an external voice and a thought partner to the wide range of organizations and individuals - corporate, philanthropic, political, nonprofit, and others - invested in advocating for and serving America's youth. Working closely with a high‑performing, entrepreneurial and collaborative team, the Director will work to ensure the Foundation achieves its goals. The Director will report to the Foundation's Executive Director and manage a small team. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Program and Portfolio Strategy Manage a national portfolio of investments focused on innovative, scalable and sustainable pathways for social and economic mobility for opportunity youth, including one of our signature strategies, the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative. Drive and shape investments that lead to impact while maximizing the economic opportunities available to opportunity youth, assessing investment opportunities and partnerships to ensure strategic and budget alignment. Steward relationships with existing partners and intermediaries , ensuring that grantees have the resources, financial and otherwise, they need to succeed in meeting their goals. Oversee the program budget , anticipating implications with changing scenarios. Evaluate ongoing program strategies, results, and metrics , and proactively make recommendations for strengthening the impact of the portfolio while also contributing to the internal team's ongoing learning and evaluation efforts. Support program staff with grant development, as needed, and oversee the preparation of grant documents and reviews. External Leadership and Relationship Building Serve as a leader in this space , driving and collaborating on national strategies with a wide range of leaders spanning corporate, government, and non‑profit sectors. Cultivate cross‑sector partnerships with business leaders, policy‑makers, other opportunity youth‑focused organizations and opportunity youth themselves. Develop deep, transformative relationships with private sector leaders , building strong relationships with external partners in the private sector is key to the long‑term success of this work. Form a nationally recognized Opportunity Youth Advisory Board , charged with providing strategic guidance to the Foundation; the Opportunity Youth Advisory Board will convene regularly, be integrated with SFF's work, and act as advisors and advocates for SFF's programs. Communications Lead and contribute to national discourse on topics related to Opportunity Youth, representing SFF with the highest level of professionalism, connecting with external partners, at conferences and events, and through the work of the Opportunity Youth portfolio. Communicate the strategies, learning, and impact of Opportunity Youth initiatives in grant making and management activities, and through collaboratively produced strategy papers, impact reports, and other written materials for internal and external stakeholders (e.g., Board of Directors, Executive Director, etc.) to drive internal initiatives and contribute to the national discourse. Advance the narrative about the Opportunity Youth strategy by working with senior leadership and other team members, including preparing talking points, briefing materials, strategic presentations and recommendations on salient program issues, strategies, and other relevant topics. Disrupt current systems with innovations to foster lasting results, utilizing tools such as digital platforms and multi‑sector partnerships.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Ten years minimum of leadership experience in the private, public, and/or nonprofit sector(s) (ideally all three), with a demonstrated commitment to providing more people access to the opportunities they need to build the lives they want. Track record of success working and building collaborative partnerships with government leaders at all levels, the private sector, other funders, nonprofit advocates; and community stakeholders. Exceptional strategic thinking , paired with strong analytic skills and the ability to synthesize information. Experience with start‑ups and building strategies from idea generation, to proof of concept, and then to scale . Proven ability to lead and be part of an entrepreneurial team , with a track record of effectively coaching and managing others. Collaborative approach ; comfortable wearing many hats within a small, close‑knit team while bringing the skills, sensitivity, and confidence to tap into the assets each team member brings to the mission. Familiarity with the youth field and related services , including an understanding of the issues youth and their communities face, and knowledge of public and private funding streams. Experience with grant making and/or other aspects of organized philanthropy a plus. Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with diverse audiences. Experience setting goals and objectives , prioritizing and structuring action plans, managing budgets and work activities. Passion, humility, integrity, flexibility, a sense of humor, and a commitment to the work of the Foundation ; combines seriousness of purpose with lightheartedness and fun. Master's degree in related field preferred.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Schultz Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background check. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Schultz Family Foundation -Seattle, WA