| Posted |
|---|
| 7/21/2010 |
| Region |
| South East, Mid-West |
| Function |
| Management |
| Industry |
| Non-profit |
Director of Strategy - Youth Villages
The Bridgespan Group
Memphis, Tennessee
Youth Villages is a nationally-recognized, private nonprofit organization that helps troubled youth and their families live successfully. With a high-performing and dedicated staff of more than 2,300 working in 11 states as well as the District of Columbia and an annual operating budget approaching $200 million, the organization serves more than 16,000 emotionally and behaviorally challenged youth annually through its comprehensive, evidence-based programs: intensive in-home services, residential treatment, foster care, adoption, group homes, transitional living, specialized crisis services, and intensive residential treatment.
The organization, founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1986, measures its success in reunited families and in children who are able to live at home and do well in school. Since 1994, when Youth Villages began an emphasis on helping children in the least restrictive environment -- preferably in their own homes -- success rates have soared: in 2009, 88 percent of the children who received at least 60 days of service at Youth Villages were discharged successfully and 83 percent of them were still living successfully in the community two years after their discharge. Youth Villages’ success rate is extraordinary when compared with a 60 percent failure rate for traditional child welfare services.
Along with the high impact on children’s lives, Youth Villages has also achieved 15% growth per year for the last fifteen years. President Obama recognized Youth Villages as a nonprofit with “promising ideas that are transforming communities.” Youth Villages Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Lawler, was named one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News and World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
For more information, please visit www.youthvillages.org
Position
The Director of Strategy is a newly created role and will report directly to Youth Villages’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patrick Lawler. The Director will also partner closely with the senior leadership team in its efforts to support the organization’s growth. Based in the organization’s Memphis headquarters, s/he will leverage the CEO’s time by facilitating all strategic planning processes (both at the national and state levels), managing significant merger and expansion projects, coordinating diverse special projects, and facilitating the communication of results and strategy across multiple audiences.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a mission- and results- driven management consultant to have significant and national-scale impact on disadvantaged youth.
Responsibilities
Growth strategy due diligence
Provide comprehensive analytical and due diligence support as Youth Villages continues to pursue a high growth trajectory.
Proactively identify growth opportunities in multiple states and geographies.
Conduct feasibility studies for new projects, partnerships and mergers: review of funding streams, strength of business and programmatic models, etc.
Organizational strategy formulation and facilitation
Partner with the CEO and senior leadership, as well with external consultants, in the formulation of Youth Villages’ overall strategic plan. Create and communicate cohesive project plans and chart progress to plan.
In partnership with the senior leadership team, drive strategic and implementation planning across state and program lines, including new sites and annual updates for existing sites; ensure consistency with Youth Villages’ overall strategic direction.
Develop project timelines and tools that maximize staff time while continuously engaging them in the plan’s success and outcomes for the youth served.
Project management
Track and oversee special projects as assigned by the CEO.
Partner with the CEO to ensure that external contractors have a compelling scope of work, and are managed to deadlines and outcomes. Provide senior leadership team with updates and summaries, as well as analysis of return on investment.
Support cross-organization projects, including for fundraising and national communications.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have achieved managerial and project leadership seniority at a leading strategy consulting firm, with a strong track record in all areas of strategy development, business analysis, problem solving, recommendation and consensus building. S/he will have worked with and gained the respect of senior leaders/clients in high-performing and fast-moving environments. S/he must learn quickly and demonstrate flexibility as well as good judgment around priorities, while also being articulate, detail-oriented and pragmatic. Other qualifications include:
Bachelor’s degree plus an MBA, with at least eight years of overall professional experience in a management position at a strategy consulting firm, ideally with some exposure to nonprofit clients, or a significant track record of social sector volunteerism. May also have in-house strategy experience for a multi-state for-profit business or nonprofit organization.
Speaks knowledgeably and specifically about translating a complex strategy into action and implementation.
Has experience managing multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Data-driven by nature, with a keen appreciation for fact-based decision making.
Innately curious; enjoys learning from others and working with a wide range of colleagues and external partners/stakeholders.
Wants to make a difference; strong sense of leaving the world a better place.
Strong, intuitive communicator who is comfortable presenting to, and engaging with, senior leaders.
Skillful at managing through influence with humility. Can point to tangible examples of facilitating a group to get to the right answer, not necessarily his/her answer.
High energy and positive attitude; shows passion about Youth Villages’ mission.
Youth Villages is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position. The Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit organization, serves diverse organizations and is committed to building high-performing teams that mirror the communities we serve. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume in WORD to: yvs@bridgespan.org
Contact Information
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