SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains and advocates for programs, policies and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.
SMYAL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental handicap, or political affiliation.
Status: Full-time, exempt employee
Reports to: Board of Directors
Location: Washington, DC
Deadline: Resume reviews begin immediately. Best considered by May 1, 2022.
SMYAL seeks an experienced leader to guide a high-impact nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. The Executive Director will continue to build organizational capacity to sustain its recent rapid growth, serve as a thought leader for the LGBTQ+ community, and raise SMYAL’s profile locally, regionally, and nationally.
SMYAL was founded in 1984 by local youth service professionals and community activists who came together to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in the Washington, DC region. Over time, SMYAL has become the leading organization for LGBTQ+ youth to safely access affirming programs and services, build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage with peers and community through service and advocacy. SMYAL reaches youth ages 6 to 24 through programs such as:
The Opportunity
For nearly four decades, SMYAL has advanced the lives of thousands of LGBTQ+ youth through empowering services and resources that aim to affirm belonging, support basic needs, advocate for policy changes, and develop new generations of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Recent years have further exposed competing crises for LGBTQ+ youth: rising housing and food insecurity, widening unemployment gaps, worsening mental health concerns, intensifying police violence, and increasing anti-gay and anti-trans legislation across the country. These crises are compounded by the effects of racism that disproportionately impact Black and Latinx queer and trans youth and require a deeply intersectional approach to resources and programs.
With demand never greater, the SMYAL team continued to build upon its history of culturally responsive and trans-inclusive services by dramatically increasing its resources and deepening its reach within the community. Increased support doubled SMYAL’s housing capacity and a continued relationship with the DC Department of Human Services supported free mental wellness services. As a result, SMYAL’s budget has tripled and staffing grew from a dozen to nearly 50. SMYAL is positioned to share its models with like-minded organizations serving queer and trans youth across the country.
Given that the past few years have required rapid responses to emergent needs, one of the Executive Director’s early priorities will be to engage stakeholders to revisit SMYAL’s successes and evaluate youths’ needs through a formal strategic planning process. A new strategic plan will refine SMYAL’s strategic direction, stabilize and scale its infrastructure and staffing model, and identify opportunities to raise its profile.
Position Overview
SMYAL’s Executive Director will be an inclusive and affirming champion for LGBTQ+ youth. They will be passionate about SMYAL’s mission and be driven by the opportunity to support and empower queer and trans youth through the organization’s high-quality programs and services.
The Executive Director will lead an organization with operating revenues of over $2.5 million, a robust programmatic portfolio, and facilities that include an administrative office and program site as well as four housing properties. They report to a 13-member Board of Directors that actively governs the organization and raises funds for its programs.
The Executive Director will be an inspiring leader for a staff of 28 full-time employees, nine part-time employees, and six contractors. They will co-create a positive team culture, develop internal talent, and empower staff to meet youths’ needs. The Executive Director has five direct reports: a Deputy Executive Director, a Director of Development, a Communications Manager, a Director of HR and Operations, and an Accountant/Grants Manager.
The Executive Director will bring a record of strategic management and business acumen to strengthen the organization’s infrastructure and support its recent growth. They will be a systems-thinker with a keen understanding of procedures, tools, and processes that solidify and unify internal operations. They will align staff across departments, and promote clear departmental communication and effective decision-making practices. They will advance racial, LGBTQ+, gender, disability, and economic justice throughout SMYAL’s culture,
structures, and operations.
Additional areas of responsibility include:
Strategy, Leadership & Governance
Fundraising & External Relations
Organizational Management
Finance, Operations, and Facilities
Experiences, Skills, and Qualities
The Board of Directors encourages applications from a wide range of candidates. The most competitive applicants will likely have many, if not all, of the following attributes:
Compensation
Starting base salary in the $160,000 – $175,000 range, plus benefits such as health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and paid family leave.
Location & Travel
SMYAL is headquartered in Washington, DC, and accommodates a range of on-site and remote work arrangements depending on the position. The Executive Director should allocate 15-20% of their time to travel for conferences, events, and donor meetings.
Application Process
SMYAL is conducting this search in partnership with Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits and associations. Resume reviews begin immediately. Applicants should upload a resume and a detailed cover letter to www.good-insight.org/careers.
For best consideration, please apply by May 1, 2022. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search. Please direct confidential inquiries to Ginna Goodenow-Schirf or Erin Lau at SMYAL@good-insight.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer
SMYAL believes that people of color, queer and trans people, and people with disabilities must be centered in our work. We strongly encourage applications from people with these identities. As an equal opportunity employer, SMYAL will recruit and employ individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, gender, gender identity, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, familial status, ability, veteran status, sexual orientation, size, status with regard to public assistance, or genetic information.
SMYAL is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Request reasonable accommodation by contacting SMYAL@good-insight.org.
COVID-19 Requirements
SMYAL follows all regulations and guidelines as determined by the DC Government, which currently requires vaccines and boosters for government contractors.
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