Vice President, Student and Community Services

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños provides education and wraparound support, serving over 10,000 children, youth, and families annually in some of the most underserved areas in Los Angeles. PLN fosters pathways to success by striving for excellence in education, family support, and comprehensive social-emotional, and community-based services.  Through early education, TK-8th grade education, youth workforce services, and family and community services Para Los-Niño’s’ model provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to break the cycle of poverty and help children and youth thrive.  For more information about Para Los Niños please visit www.paralosninos.org.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Student and Community Services will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for PLN’s comprehensive support programming for children, youth, families, and the broader community—excluding Para Los Niños (PLN) charter schools and Early Education programs. Reporting directly to and working closely with the CEO, this individual will serve on the executive management team that drives the organization’s overall strategy and represents PLN locally, regionally, and nationally. In addition to shaping strategy, the Vice President will play a key role in leading its implementation across community and social services programs. They will be accountable for delivering measurable outcomes across various initiatives, while also overseeing business development and securing funding to grow and sustain programs. The VP will work closely with the Vice President of Student Success to develop integrated strategies that support students and families in achieving academic success.

Duties

Program Strategy and Implementation

• Implement PLN’s mission, vision and core values as established in the PLN Strategic Plan.
• Identify and lead strategic efforts to improve and grow program impact.
• Serve as the executive leader over all children, family and community service programs (non-educational). 
• Responsible for on-going, multi-site, resource-oriented mechanisms that provide leadership, facilitate communication, coordination, integration and quality improvement.  
• Responsible for monitoring, tracking and leading on-going efforts to make systemic changes to the organization’s capacity and infrastructure to support student and family needs.  
• Work closely with the CEO and be responsible for working with PLN program management in translating the agency’s strategic priorities into measurable results. 

Leadership & Management

• Provide strategic oversight and executive leadership for the departments of Clinical Services, Community Transformation, Youth Workforce Services, Family Services, United Mental Health Promoter Program, and Youth Workforce Service, each encompassing multiple teams and functional areas.
• Ensure ongoing programmatic, financial, and administrative excellence.
• Work with senior program management team to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.
• Attract, develop, coach and retain high-performance team members, empowering them to elevate their responsibility, span of control and performance.
• Develop and oversee implementation of departmental budget and work plans.
• Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth. 
• Participate actively in fund development including proposal preparation for government funding. 
• Ensure program operations are in compliance with government and private contract requirements and in adherence with professional and best practice standards. 

External Relationships

• In coordination with internal and external stakeholders, increase PLN’s visibility through strategic partnerships. 
• Serve as a public representative and spokesperson for PLN with local funders, major donors and prospects, community partners, and general public events.

Knowledge Management

• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by the programs. 
• Ensure that key project outcomes and/or policy, advocacy, and legislation are evaluated and leveraged for maximum community and organizational impact. 
• Promote and ensure program management team works collaboratively to integrate cross program activities and functions. 

Executive Team/Other

• Provide strong and sound strategic program direction to the executive and program management teams. 
• Collaborate effectively with executive team members to ensure alignment across organizational priorities.
• Participate in the overall agency accreditation and quality improvement processes.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Student and Community Services (SCS) Committee of the Board of Directors, including preparing reports, presenting updates, and facilitating committee meetings.
• Carry out other responsibilities as assigned and directed by the President/CEO or their designee. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Bachelor’s degree required. MA in psychology, social work, public administration, human services, or related field preferred. 
• Minimum 7+ years of diverse experience; including familiarity in a human service/child welfare agency.
• 5 years direct supervision and experience leading a team of diverse members.
• Commitment to PLN’s mission, vision, and core values, with a deep understanding of and dedication to the children, youth, families, and communities we serve.
• A proven track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based program and staff.
• Experience and competency in the areas of strategic planning, program design, and development for non-profit organizations.
• Able to handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence with diplomacy while mentoring and coaching management.
• Experience in administering multi-faceted, multi-site service delivery system.
• Sound fiscal skills necessary to prepare and monitor budgets.
• Exemplary oral and written communication skills. Be keenly aware of the needs and issues of the children and families that PLN services and be a strong advocate for their needs.

Physical Requirements

To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily.   

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.    

• Approximately 50% of time is spent sitting, while frequently required to walk, stand and bend.   
• Must be able to speak and hear well.     
• Good vision is imperative.     
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.     
• Employee will be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance.  
• TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.   
• Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health (Pertussis, Measles and Influenza).

Expectations For All Para Los Ninos Staff

Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:

• Belief in the Para Los Niños mission and a deep commitment to the success of children and families served by PLN. 
• Commitment to excellence and high standards – for self, clients/students, and colleagues. 
• Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and professional development. 
• Data-informed decision-making for continuous improvement. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members at all levels. 
• Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition. 
• Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with parents and children marked by sensitivity to the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 

• Comfort with Microsoft Office and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer   

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.