Senior Director of Strategy (focus on Haverhill and Lawrence)

Are you a leader who loves engaging communities and building a team motivated to serving the most disconnected young adults?  Someone who enjoys taking the initiative to help build a vision even when the path is not fully laid out? A leader who can be very creative in developing/systematizing partnerships while also excited about being close to the details in preparing protocols for expansion?  Who is driven by the idea of building culture by blending contagious passion with authentic accountability? Who is passionate about community-building in Lawrence and Haverhill? If yes, please read on! 

BACKGROUND ON UTEC, INC.: UTEC’s promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. We serve young adults, ages 17-25, with serious criminal and gang involvement in the Merrimack Valley area (Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill). UTEC’s outcomes-focused model begins with intensive street outreach and in-reach within correctional facilities, specifically targeting proven high-risk youth “where they’re at.” UTEC engages youth in workforce development (running our own social enterprises in mattress recycling, food services, and woodworking), while also integrating educational programs (high school equivalency preparation and other core competencies). We provide intensive transitional coaching and counseling services, all within a two-generational approach (providing on-site child care, parenting and a whole family approach for our young parents and their kids). Finally, our model prioritizes embedding social justice and civic engagement in all programming, including the opportunity for young adults to lead policy campaigns on issue areas that directly impact them (e.g. criminal justice reform).

Overall summary of role: DIrectly reporting to the CEO and in close collaboration with the Chief Program Officer, the Senior Director of Strategy is a leadership role responsible for supporting UTEC’s growth and opportunities for additional impact. This work includes directing the strategy for our work in the cities of Lawrence and Haverhill, as well as leadership involvement in the evolution of UTEC’s overall program model. This person will serve as the lead staff in all community relations and partnership building in Haverhill and Lawrence. He/she will oversee and coordinate the design and implementation of all additional programming within these communities. The Senior Director of Strategy will also play a critical role in the development of new programming within correctional facilities that serve our young adults, while continuing to expand our street outreach efforts in partnership with UTEC’s DIrector of Outreach and Reentry. We seek a leader with the capacity to provide support, analysis and creativity to UTEC during this growth period such that the core of the agency remains stable and its culture sound. 

Responsibilities include:

Design and oversight of new expansion: She/he will be responsible for designing and implementing the strategy for best increasing outreach, services and programming in both Haverhill and Lawrence. UTEC currently has a new space in Haverhill and our mattress recycling enterprise is located in Lawrence.  Under the direction of this person, we envision an expansion of programming (including the development of a new site in Lawrence), additional staff, and increased presence in both communities.UTEC is committed to a long-term strategy in providing services to reduce recidivism and increase educational/employment opportunities in both cities.

Community relations and partnership building: This new position will work with various community leaders, as well as current staff, to develop a comprehensive plan based on community needs and UTEC’s strengths/capacities. This position will be the lead staff in building partnerships and community relations in both Haverhill and Lawrence. As such, they will be charged with maintaining and building a wide range of additional collaborations including governmental, nonprofit, neighborhood, and business sectors (including oversight of new advisory groups).

Operations Oversight:  The Senior Director of Strategy will be responsible for designing the plan for services and operations at all UTEC sites in these communities. They will supervise any operations staff as we continue to build our team. She/he will also help manage the search for any new program locations in Lawrence as well as the operations of our current programming sites in Haverhill. 

Correctional pre-release programming: He/she will also be directly involved in helping provide leadership support for the expansion of UTEC programming behind the walls, including partnership and program development work (both at county jails and state prisons).

Organizational leadership involvement: As a brand-new position, this person will serve in a leadership capacity in overall UTEC organizational development issues.  He/she will be engaged in key financial, fundraising, and strategic planning discussions and decisions. She/he will support this work through close collaboration with the Chief Program Officer and Chief Finance Officer and participation in leadership-level meetings. The position will also include review of data, incorporating staff and young adult voice and supporting the development of policies and procedures that document changes from current practice.  As we move forward in expanding UTEC’s statewide Training Center of Excellence to a national level, this person will also be involved in supporting the Center’s overall design work -- helping maintain fidelity of our overall model, regardless of site location.

Requirements:

Experience in non-profit management or related business experience; strong communication skills; experience in starting new initiatives from the ground up a plus; youthwork experience a strong plus as well;  Exemplify our commitment to follow-through (strong project management skills, ensuring systems for all key tasks to be completed on time, even in the midst of varied distractions and possible disorganization); Demonstrate strong skills in consistently using data to best learn and improve program quality;  Embody UTEC’s value of chipping away, not only in our youthwork but in creatively building partnerships and advancing projects; Knowledge of Lawrence and Haverhill communities a definitive plus, including ability to speak Spanish fluently; Master’s degree preferred; with 7 plus years’ of management experience preferred; Commitment to UTEC core values and culture: See https://utecinc.org/who-we-are/mission/; Flexibility in one’s schedule is preferred; Willingness to work within grey areas, acknowledge mistakes, and capacity to laugh at oneself is a plus.

To apply: All candidates should apply online at www.utecinc.org/jobs and include resume and a thoughtful cover letter. Please indicate where you first learned about this job opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.  No application will be considered if there is not a cover letter attached.

Salary/Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include retirement 401K plan, health and dental (50-85% subsidized), 3 weeks paid vacation, holiday and paid sick/personal time, opportunity for a paid sabbatical after 3 years, first-time homebuyers funding, in addition to other areas. Please see www.utecinc.org/jobs for more details.