LEADERSHIP PROFILE Executive Director - Dallas Year Up Dallas, Texas Every urban young adult will have access to the education, experiences and guidance required to realize his or her true potential. ~ Year Up Vision THE OPPORTUNITY Six million young Americans are unemployed or stuck in dead-end jobs. Disconnected from educational and employment opportunities, these 18-24 year-olds have little or no access to the mainstream economy, due to systemic educational and socio-economic inequities. At the same time, American employers are challenged to recruit motivated, talented entry-level employees. Year Up is a rapidly-expanding national movement to close this Opportunity Divide, by connecting motivated low-income urban youth with educational and employment opportunities. An award-winning $100 million nonprofit founded in 2000, Year Up offers an intensive, one-year training program that has given 13,000 young high school graduates (or GED equivalent) skills and the chance to change the trajectory of their lives. This is a time of promise in Dallas, where Year Up will launch its acclaimed program this fall. The Dallas Executive Director has a bold, entrepreneurial and transformative opportunity: to introduce Year Up to the Dallas community, and to connect motivated, underserved young adults with opportunities through win-win corporate, nonprofit and community college partnerships. Click here to view a Year Up 60 Minutes segment.
Page 2 of 7 The founding Dallas Executive Director will lead Year Up s launch and growth. The ED will develop, implement and grow Year Up partnerships, programs, reputation and impact in Dallas. The ED will establish Year Up as the partner of choice for entry level talent in the Dallas metro area. Dallas is the first Year Up market in Texas, and is a high-priority, high-potential Year Up city: Dallas has a broad-based, growing economy with high demand for talented entry-level employees. The city is a hub for finance and technology sectors where Year Up graduates have thrived. Multiple Year Up partners, including JP Morgan, AT&T and Bank of America, have large operations in the market. Dallas ranks in the top 10 markets in philanthropic support. One in five young adults in Dallas--over 27,000 people--are disconnected from mainstream educational and employment opportunities. THE ORGANIZATION Year Up is an award-winning $100 million nonprofit with proven results. Its mission is to close the Opportunity Divide that keeps talented individuals from reaching their potential and deprives employers of access to a motivated, diverse workforce. The organization partners with corporate employers and local community colleges to offer motivated 18-24 year-old, low-income high school graduates (or GED equivalent) access to further education, personal development and professional careers work that pay a livable wage. Year Up was founded in 2000 in Boston by business executive and social entrepreneur Gerald Chertavian. Chertavian s vision for Year Up grew out of his experiences during college as a mentor to low-income youth. He was impressed by the ambition and talents of the young people he came to know, but realized they had little access to the mainstream economy. A combination of educational disadvantage and lack of exposure to corporate America kept many from entering the economic mainstream.
Page 3 of 7 Year Up was founded to bridge the Opportunity Divide. The organization sees historical barriers to education and professional work the Opportunity Divide as driven by race, ethnicity, national origin and/or socio-economic status. Year Up seeks to close the divide by offering resilient, motivated young adults the opportunity to develop marketable technical and professional skills in a setting of high expectations and high support that prepares them for professional careers and further education. The Year Up program has become a national model for economic and social impact. Companies gain a cost-effective solution for recruiting entry-level employees, while young adults gain access to a ladder to career success. Corporate Partners who employ Year Up students find the students motivated and talented, and over 90% of partners express satisfaction with the program. Year Up is an integral strategy for growing their pipeline of future employees, particularly in the areas of information technology, finance and customer service. Year Up interns are described by employers as highly motivated, dedicated and energetic, with an enthusiasm that's almost infectious. Year Up s year-long training puts young adults onto a path of selfsufficiency through a combination of hands-on skills development, college credits, corporate internship experience and social/emotional development. Students receive mentoring and a modest stipend throughout the program. During the first six months, the program consists of intense, classroombased career training in information technology, finance and other key skills that are in demand by employers. During the second six months, students work with leading corporate partners who support internship placement. After their Year Up graduation, students are supported in their job search (85% succeed) and in developing professional networks through Year Up local and national alumni associations and YUPRO, a staffing firm owned by Year Up. Year Up is committed to measuring outcomes and impact. Mark Elliott of Economic Mobility Corporation says Year Up has the most exciting evaluation results we've seen in youth employment in 20 or 30 years." Year Up has been rated one of the top 10 nonprofits in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and has won numerous accolades for its results. These results include:
Page 4 of 7 100% placement of qualified Year Up students into internships. 90%+ Corporate Partner satisfaction. 85% of graduates gainfully employed or attending college full-time within four months of completing the program. Employed Year Up graduates earning an average $18 per hour - the equivalent of $36,000 per year. Year Up Dallas will partner and co-locate with a downtown community college. Corporate, foundation and other investors will provide support for the mission. Already, half of the $2 million needed to launch has been raised from a corporate partner, and there is a robust set of prospects for the remaining investment. By the year end of 2017, at the conclusion of the launch phase, Year Up Dallas will have an annual operating budget of $1.5 million and a staff of about 10. For more about Year Up, go to www.yearup.org. THE RESPONSIBILITIES The Executive Director will lead and manage the Year Up Dallas site and market growth. The ED will be a compelling, successful leader with credibility in the Dallas market, passion for bridging the Opportunity Divide and a proven track record of leadership, innovation and growth. She or he will have authentic passion for working with urban young adults and an unshakeable belief in their potential. The Executive Director will: 1. Provide leadership and vision. The Executive Director will be a valuesdriven, compelling and influential servant leader with high emotional intelligence. He or she will inspire confidence with staff, peers and the community, and will lead the organization to broad-based success. The ED will provide collaborative, forward-thinking leadership that ensures continuing growth and impact of Year Up in Dallas and nationwide. 2. Build relationships and partnerships. As the market leader for Year Up Dallas, the Executive Director will build high-value, impactful and sustainable relationships with corporate partners, community colleges and the Dallas community. The ED will identify and engage partners and funding sources, energizing corporate and community support and
Page 5 of 7 identifying talent and opportunities. The Executive Director will connect in an authentic and caring way with everyone including program participants, legislators, community leaders and corporate CEOs--helping each understand the benefits of the other s success. 3. Grow mission impact, partners and resources in Dallas. The ED will have a track record of growing organizations and resources. Adept at both strategy and implementation, the ED will guide Year Up Dallas to grow in private support, corporate partnerships, participants and measurable impact on lives. 4. Build Year Up visibility and reputation in Dallas. The Executive Director will be a credible, persuasive advocate for bridging the Opportunity Divide, and will spend more than half his or her time externally. The ED will advocate vigorously and effectively for the students and the Year Up program. She or he will be a compelling speaker in all kinds of settings including media interviews, large forums and the corporate boardroom. 5. Be a strong manager of people and the business. The Executive Director will be an experienced, caring and effective manager of people and the business. He or she will bring vision, commitment to staff and students, and the ability to lead fiscal and operational success. The ED will set clear expectations, empower team and individual achievement, and build a culture of accountability. She or he will engage regularly with students as an accessible mentor, advisor and trusted leader. The ED will understand and maximize the performance of the site s fundraising and program activities to ensure the highest level of performance and results. THE CANDIDATE The ideal candidate is a proven servant leader with the drive, motivation, commitment and proven track record of running a growing, entrepreneurial organization. The ED will be an ambassador for Year Up and the students it serves. The ideal candidate will: Have a compelling personal style that inspires others to engage and support the mission of Year Up. Communicate and advocate clearly and persuasively.
Page 6 of 7 Be recognized as an experienced peer among potential corporate partners and donors, and bring a strong network and reputation within the greater Dallas area. Have proven competency in relationship building and fundraising. Have a passion for working with urban young adults, strong belief in their potential and commitment to the mission of Year Up. Understand the Opportunity Divide and its drivers, and be passionate about providing a bridge for young adults. Be committed to diversity and inclusion. Be comfortable in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with multiple demands and constituents. Have strong financial, business acumen and decision-making skills. Have the ability to engage, manage, motivate and unite people around common goals and strategies, and to drive teamwork and results. Have an authentic and approachable style, with the humility of a servant leader. Have a bachelor s degree; an advanced degree in business or public policy is preferred. THE RELATIONSHIPS The Executive Director will report to the National Site Director of Year Up, work with a local Board of Directors and manage the Dallas team, which is expected to grow to about10 through the launch and fully operational phases. Year Up is a matrixed organization, so the ED will have multiple relationships and partnerships across Year Up. The Executive Director: Reports to National Site Director Manages Site Director/Senior Director of Programs Program Manager Volunteer Manager Operations Coordinator (part-time) Internship Services Manager AD of Admissions and Enrollment Outreach and Community Partner Coordinator Key relationships A downtown Dallas community college (to be finalized) Corporate partners Year Up students and alumni Community partners Current and prospective donors and partners
Page 7 of 7 THE LOCATION Year Up Dallas will be based in downtown Dallas on the campus of its partner community college. Dallas is the ninth largest city in the nation and home to over one million residents and the world's fourth busiest airport. The Dallas metro area hosts 18 Fortune 500 companies and some of the world s most admired institutions. TO APPLY Compelling candidates could come from a variety of contexts. Year Up is an equal opportunity employer, and a diverse slate of compelling candidates is being sought. For potential consideration or to suggest a prospect, please email YearUpDallas@BoardWalkConsulting.com or call Kathy Bremer or Patti Kish at 404-262-7392.