Description

Organization Description 

Founded in 2014, the South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z), a project of Community Partners, is a historic and unprecedented collective impact effort with over 100 cross-sector public, private, academic, and community partners working to revitalize South Los Angeles by moving residents to economic opportunity. To reach its goals, SLATE-Z works at the intersection of economic revitalization and environmental sustainability through five levers of change: Education, Jobs, Public Safety, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Transit. The organization’s primary work is overseeing the South LA Promise Zone, which is one of 22 federally designated promise zones addressing poverty in select urban, rural, and tribal communities across the nation, and implementing various initiatives, including the South LA Eco-Lab project, a $60M investment in South Los Angeles. 

Position Description 

SLATE-Z is searching for a midcareer professional eager to expand their professional leadership responsibilities in non-profit management. The Deputy Director will work closely with the President and CEO and other members of the Leadership Team to create and manage the execution of strategic projects and priorities of the organization. This role will be the lead internal oversight for SLATE-Z initiatives, while working with the President and CEO on external partnerships and implementation of the strategic vision. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: (1) Implementing and supporting SLATE-Z initiatives (such as those around Universal Basic Mobility, Transformative Climate Communities, and Cultural Treasures of South LA); (2) Leading and coordinating staff and partners to secure additional local, state, and federal investments to support new initiatives focused on infrastructure and climate resilience in South LA; and (3) Guiding SLATE-Z through its organizational strategic planning (with the support of a consultant) and leading work planning and team building efforts to achieve these goals. 

Key Responsibilities 

Initiative Implementation and Management 

• Oversee and manage SLATE-Z initiatives from initiation to completion, including organizing and managing staff, facilitating internal and external meetings, preparing dashboards and related milestone materials, working with outside consultants and initiative sub-grantees (through an RFP process), and preparing progress and final reports with partners, stakeholders, staff, and others. 
• Develop and manage initiatives to be completed on time and within budget, including implementing improvement processes based on feedback and recommendations from partners and related stakeholders. 
• Build influence across Los Angeles County, California, and the nation, representing SLATE-Z in coalition and stakeholder groups. 
• Oversee budgets, including those utilizing city, county, state, or federal funds, and maintain collaborative relationships with related partners. 

Investment Growth 

• Collaborate and facilitate in-depth discussions with SLATE-Z initiative partners to define objectives, scope, budget, and timelines. 
• Develop and implement strategies to support SLATE-Z’s and its partners’ goals around public sector investment into South LA, including securing and overseeing technical assistance or other resources needed to develop strong grant proposals and other funding. 
• Represent SLATE-Z and South LA in forums with goals and objectives that intersect with SLATE-Z’s efforts, with a focus on bringing more relationships and partnerships into South LA. 

Strategic Planning & Implementation 

• Lead organizational strategic planning and annual work planning efforts. 
• Create and revise tools for annual individual staff goal setting and progress monitoring. 
• Plan annual staff retreat. 
• Execute and monitor the organizational strategic plan, in collaboration with the President and CEO and other members of the Leadership Team. 
• Lead initiatives with the Operations Manager that help foster a positive team culture and that connect with SLATE-Z’s values around collaboration, grace, clarity, quality, and joy. 
• Work with the President and CEO and Operations Manager in interfacing with the Board of Directors. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year university. Master’s Degree preferred. 
• Minimum of 8 years of work experience in project management, strategy, economic development, or consulting (2 years in a senior leadership role preferred). 
• Experience in a fast-paced environment with high profile partnerships. 
• Solution-oriented with a growth mindset. 
• Focus on collegiality, humility, and diplomacy, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts. 
• Effective communicator and facilitator before different audiences. 
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 
• Excellent listening, verbal communication, and meeting facilitation skills. 
• Strong stakeholder management and service orientation. 
• Self-directed, results-oriented, and persistent. 
• Positive, upbeat attitude that supports SLATE-Z staff and its organizational partners. 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain relationships and create commitment with cross-sector partners and community members. 
• Budget management experience over $1M. 
• Strong writing skills. 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, Google Docs, Canva, and related platforms, etc. 

Location 

The position is based in Los Angeles, California. The position will be hybrid, requiring both virtual and in-person activities in Los Angeles, California. 

The SLATE-Z office is currently located on the campus of the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, which has COVID restrictions outlined by the Los Angeles Community College District. Position requires proof of COVID vaccination. 

Salary 

SLATE-Z offers competitive salaries and benefits packages, based on experience. The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $135,000. This is a full-time exempt position. 

SLATE-Z is a project of Community Partners® and is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.