California YMCA Youth & Government Executive Director

YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES

The LA Y is the Center for Community Well-Being in Los Angeles, committed to building stronger communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all. We are focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle. The LA Y’s health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. Our mission is to provide services and resources that contribute to the well-being of our community. The LA Y operates 29 Centers and over 200 program sites across LA County.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Executive Director, California YMCA Youth & Government provides strategic, external-facing leadership for one of the nation’s largest civic education and youth leadership programs, serving thousands of middle and high school students across the state. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this position is responsible for advancing the program’s mission through a strong focus on fundraising, philanthropy, governance, and statewide relationship development, while ensuring high-quality program delivery and operational excellence.

This role serves as the primary leader for building and sustaining relationships with donors, partners, YMCA associations, schools, and key external stakeholders across California. The Executive Director works closely with volunteer leadership, including the Board of Managers, to strengthen governance, expand resources, and guide long-term strategy. A critical component of this role is cultivating relationships with civic leaders, public agencies, and community partners to elevate the visibility, relevance, and impact of Youth & Government as a premier civic engagement program.

The Executive Director oversees statewide program operations including Model Legislature & Court, Model United Nations, and other leadership and civic engagement experiences, ensuring alignment with YMCA values, youth development outcomes, and participant safety. This position leads a team of staff and works in partnership with a large network of volunteer advisors and youth leaders to deliver high-quality, impactful programs. As a member of the YMCA leadership team, this role contributes to broader organizational goals and represents the YMCA in statewide and community settings.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PHILANTHROPY & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

• Lead and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support and grow the California YMCA Youth & Government program.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, major gifts, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective funders, ensuring ongoing engagement and investment in the program.
• Partner with volunteer leadership and board members to expand fundraising capacity and outcomes.
• Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships.
• Support and lead donor engagement opportunities including events, program showcases, and youth-facing experiences.

GOVERNANCE & BOARD DEVELOPMENT

• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Youth & Government Board of Managers.
• Lead board development efforts including recruitment, onboarding, engagement, and evaluation of board members.
• Partner with board leadership to set strategic direction, establish goals, and monitor progress.
• Ensure effective committee structure, charts of work, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Support board members in fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement efforts.
• Provide regular programmatic, financial, and strategic updates to the board.

PARTNERSHIPS & EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Build and maintain strong relationships with YMCA associations, schools, school districts, and community organizations across California.
• Cultivate relationships with civic leaders, public agencies, and community stakeholders to strengthen program visibility and expand access to resources and opportunities.
• Represent the YMCA and Youth & Government program at local, regional, and statewide meetings, events, and convenings.
• Position Youth & Government as a leading civic engagement program that prepares youth for leadership and public service.
• Support strategic partnerships that enhance program reach, quality, and sustainability.

PROGRAM OPERATIONS & STRATEGY

• Provide oversight of statewide program operations including Model Legislature & Court (MLC), Model United Nations (MUN), and other leadership programs, including the Conference on National Affairs, the National Judicial Competition, and other statewide/nationwide programs and trainings.
• Ensure high-quality program delivery, educational outcomes, and participant safety across all program areas.
• Support program innovation and development to remain relevant to current civic issues and youth interests.
• Ensure effective planning and execution of statewide conferences and events, including large-scale experiences serving thousands of youth.
• Monitor program performance, participation, and outcomes, ensuring alignment with YMCA standards and goals.

STAFF & VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

• Recruit, supervise, and develop program staff, fostering a high-performing and mission-driven team.
• Lead and support a statewide network of volunteer advisors, program leaders, and committees.
• Promote leadership development opportunities for youth participants, including youth officers and student leaders.
• Foster a culture of belonging, collaboration, and continuous improvement across staff and volunteers.

FISCAL MANAGEMENT

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
• Monitor financial performance through forecasting, variance analysis, and expense control.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting and alignment with YMCA financial policies and procedures.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE

• Ensure all programs meet YMCA safety standards, including supervision, risk management, and incident reporting.
• Ensure staff and volunteers are trained in mandated reporting and report suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with laws and YMCA policies.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

• Attend staff meetings and training as required.
• Uphold YMCA policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management.
• Demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character (Trustworthiness, Citizenship, Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Fairness) as well as the YMCA Core Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty and Responsibility, in all dealings with members, guests, volunteers and fellow staff.
• Demonstrate competencies in and willingness to develop in the Cause Driven Leadership areas of mission advancement, collaboration, operational effectiveness and personal growth.
• All other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

The Y’s Leadership Competency Model is comprised of multiple leadership competencies (leadership knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for success in the Y), organized by the four disciplines of cause driven leadership:

• Advancing Our Mission & Cause: Provide visionary leadership to the organization and ensure that all resources are mobilized to adapt to new challenges and needs in the community.
  • Competencies Include: Change Leadership, Engaging Community, Philanthropy, & Volunteerism
• Building Relationships: Connect people to the Y’s cause by developing inclusive relationships, partnerships and collaborations so that Ys can co-create solutions to pressing social needs.
  • Competencies Include: Collaboration, Communication & Influence, Inclusion
• Leading Operations: ensure relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organization so that we can continue to fulfill our promise to the community.
  • Competencies Include: Critical Thinking & Decision Making, Fiscal Management, Functional Expertise, Innovation, Program/Project Management
• Developing & Inspiring Others: support the holistic development of self and others so that everyone can embrace the Y’s cause, sustain the Y’s culture, and inspire others to take individual and collective action to further our impact.
  • Competencies Include: Developing Self & Others, Emotional Maturity

While all competencies are significant the following are critical to success in this position:

• Philanthropy
• Volunteerism
• Communication & Influence
• Collaboration
• Fiscal Management
• Developing Self & Others
• Emotional Maturity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• AGE: 21 years old or older
• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, education, nonprofit management, or related field or its equivalent in academic preparation and experience; master’s degree preferred.
• RELATED EXPERIENCE:  
  • Minimum of 6–8 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit management, youth development, civic engagement, or related field.
  • Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor development, and resource generation.
  • Experience working with or supporting boards, committees, or volunteer governance structures.
  • Experience managing large-scale programs, events, or initiatives.
  • Experience building partnerships with schools, community organizations, or public sector stakeholders.
• SPECIALIZED SKILLS:
  • Strong fundraising and relationship development skills with the ability to engage donors and partners.
  • Ability to lead through influence in a statewide, network-based program model.
  • Strong communication, public speaking, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into action.
  • Strong organizational and leadership skills in a dynamic environment.
• CERTIFICATIONS:
  • Must hold or be willing to obtain within 60 days: YMCA Approved Infant-Child-Adult CPR, First Aid, and AED certification.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to plan, lead, and participate in activities.
• Job is performed in indoor and outdoor environments throughout the year, including at Camp Grounds.
• Ability to lift 30–35 lbs.
• This position requires frequent statewide travel, including evenings and weekends for conferences and events.
• Reliable transportation required.
• This position offers flexibility for the ideal candidate to work in Los Angeles or Sacramento. Frequent travel between both cities is expected throughout the year.
• You must have the physical, visual, and auditory ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Salary : $110,000 - $135,000