Executive Director

Summary The Executive Director serves as the chief leader of Elevate Jacksonville, responsible for advancing the mission of building long‑term, life‑changing relationships with Jacksonville youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. This role provides vision, strategy, and operational oversight, ensuring organizational excellence in programs, fundraising, partnerships, and team culture. The Executive Director will be both a strategic thinker and hands‑on leader, building relationships with donors, partners, and community stakeholders while fostering a high‑performing, mission‑aligned team. About Elevate Jacksonville Elevate Jacksonville, an independent affiliate of Elevate USA, employs a unique, relationship‑based approach that integrates four core program components: Accredited Classes, Mentoring, Adventure, and College & Career. Our full‑time Teacher/Mentors, who represent the communities they serve, engage students both inside and outside the classroom, making themselves available after school, on weekends and during the summer, to build trust and guide youth toward success. We currently serve students at Jean Ribault HS and its feeder pipeline as well as Westside HS and its feeder pipeline. We have a strong desire to expand our reach into additional school pipelines in the future in order to impact more students across the city of Jacksonville. Essential duties and responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Vision Partner with the Board and Elevate USA to set a 3–5-year vision and annual operating plans. Anticipate trends, guide policy, ensure compliance with affiliate agreements, and align with Elevate’s mission and values. Represent Elevate Jacksonville with integrity to the community, partners, and the general public. Program & Operations Oversight Oversee the design, delivery, and evaluation of programs to ensure measurable impact for students and families. Implement policies, procedures, and quality‑control measures to maintain high standards. Ensure operations meet or exceed the expectations of students, families, schools, and funders. Fundraising & Financial Management Lead a diversified fundraising strategy including major gifts, grants, corporate and individual donors. Build and steward relationships with key supporters, serving as the primary liaison to donors and partners. Work with the Board to prepare, manage, and report on annual budgets and cash flow. Oversee and ensure the organization’s overall financial health and performance. People Leadership & Organizational Culture Recruit, develop, and hold accountable a high‑performing team that reflects the community served. Foster a culture of trust, inclusion, cultural humility, and psychological safety. Build leadership capacity across the organization to support growth and sustainability, in accordance with the strategic plan. Community Engagement & Partnerships Serve as spokesperson and ambassador, building relationships with schools, civic organizations, community leaders, and corporate partners. Establish feedback loops with students, staff, and community partners to inform continuous improvement. Risk & Compliance Management Identify operational, financial, and reputational risks; develop mitigation strategies. Ensure compliance with legal, insurance, and data privacy requirements. Staff Management & Organizational Oversight Provide direct leadership and oversight of all staff, from the Executive Leadership Team to Program Director and Teacher Mentors, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and expectations. Ensure all key roles are fully staffed by leading strategic hiring efforts, building strong talent pipelines, and maintaining appropriate staffing levels to meet program and organizational needs. Implement and manage performance systems, including regular evaluations, goal setting, and individual development plans, to drive accountability and continuous growth across the team. Develop and coach leaders within the organization, strengthening internal capacity and preparing staff for increased responsibility over time. Foster clear communication, role clarity, and operational alignment across all levels of the organization to ensure effective execution of the mission. Qualifications Mission-driven and values-aligned. Relationship builder who earns trust and inspires collaboration. Organized, self-starting, and committed to follow-through. Adaptable problem-solver who thrives amid complexity. Integrity-driven leader committed to excellence and impact. Education and Experience Proven nonprofit leadership experience, preferably in education or youth development, with demonstrated success leading an organization or major division through measurable growth, stabilization, or expansion. Demonstrated fundraising success, including major gifts, grants, and diversified revenue streams, with a proven track record of leading or significantly contributing to fundraising efforts for an organization with a $1M+ annual budget. Strong people leadership experience, including direct supervision of staff across multiple functions (program, operations, development). Proven ability to build, lead, and retain high-performing teams, develop leaders, and cultivate a healthy, accountable team culture. Track record of strategic leadership and execution, including developing and leading strategic plans, setting organizational priorities, and driving results across multiple initiatives with clear outcomes. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to cast vision, influence stakeholders, and engage diverse audiences including board members, donors, community partners, and staff. Demonstrated ability to manage complexity and deliver results, including overseeing multiple priorities, solving problems, and making sound decisions in dynamic environments. Working knowledge of nonprofit governance, finance, and compliance, with experience partnering effectively with a Board of Directors and managing budgets, reporting, and organizational accountability. Deep passion and personal commitment to serving youth, with alignment to Elevate’s mission, values, and faith-based foundation. Salary/Salary Range $90,000-$120,000 How to Apply We want you! If you’re a visionary, people-driven leader who excels in organizational development, and can galvanize teams around a shared mission, spark collaboration, build momentum, and unite diverse talent to create lasting change for students, we want to hear from you! If interested, please submit your resume to: View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr