Senior Director, Preventing Poverty and Homelessness

SEATTLE, WA

United Way of King County works to build a community where all people have homes, students graduate, and families are financially stable. Our culture fosters collaboration, teamwork, open communication, leadership, integrity, and accountability.

With our unwavering focus on racial justice for all, we hope to achieve racially equitable outcomes in King County and beyond. We believe that having staff, volunteers, and supportive community members who represent diverse backgrounds and circumstances will help us more effectively accomplish our mission. We aim to a create a welcoming and inclusive work environment, and we also strive to have a diverse staff and particularly encourage Black and Indigenous people, and people of color to apply and join our team.

The challenges of housing instability and poverty are greater than ever in King County, and they are disproportionately impacting communities of color across the region. We are working to transform those most impacted in those communities, by funding and operating racial equity-based programs that address immediate needs, and policy advocacy to undo systemic racism and inequality.

We know that effective solutions will center the voices of those furthest from justice and use a combination of approaches that leverage the services we provide to individuals and families while also addressing the systemic root causes that impact our neighbors and our communities.

THE ROLE

The Senior Director, Preventing Poverty and Homelessness leads United Way’s multiple strategies to improve the lives of our neighbors furthest from economic stability and most impacted by systemic racism. The position provides strategic vision and leadership to United Way’s direct service programs and grant making strategies that reduce poverty and hunger, and work to prevent homelessness. Strategies are developed and implemented in alignment with United Way of King County’s vision to create an equitable and just community, and center the voice and solutions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals and communities. The position works with department leadership to inform United Way’s legislative and administrative policy advocacy that support those strategies, addresses systemic racism, and scales effective solutions.

This position works with other stakeholders in a leadership role to set a community-wide vision for preventing poverty and homelessness in King County. The role works collaboratively across internal teams and with community stakeholders to create and carry out a unified vision for addressing poverty and housing instability in accordance with United Way’s general guidelines.

The role supervises and coaches a team of staff and AmeriCorps members (approximately 16 FTE, and up to 150 seasonal National Service Members. This team is responsible for overseeing United Way’s direct service programs and collaborating with community grantees working most closely with our neighbors in greatest need of support. This role has core responsibility for ensuring strong stewardship of public and private funds. Direct reports to the role are: the Director of Ending Poverty, two Impact Managers, a Rental Assistance Program Manager, and the Senior Manager of Food Security and Benefits Access.

The position serves as a member of the Community Services Team’s leadership team and acts in an important collaborative, cross-team role. In collaboration with the Community Services Team, community agencies, direct service clients, and other stakeholders, the position creates and implements racial equity strategies for each program area, reducing racial disparities impacting poverty and housing instability. The person in this role will report directly to the Chief Impact Officer, Community Services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develops, manages, and implements racially just strategies to help people furthest from economic justice exit poverty and homelessness, address food insecurity, and gain housing stability.
Oversees a budget of approximately $45M, comprising grants to community-based agencies and direct services provision. Creation and implementation of strategies are driven by and center the voices of BIPOC communities.
Develops and maintains relationships and partnerships with BIPOC community agencies and individuals so that programmatic work is guided, informed by, and/or co-created with those most impacted by structural racial inequities.
Hands on experience managing budgets and deliverables for multiple grants with multiple reporting structures. about extensive budget and grants management experience.
Oversees analysis of data, interpretation of best practices, and evaluation of programs and grants. Keeps apprised of the latest trends in the fields of financial stability, poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
Serves as content expert and spokesperson on strategies and policies to address homelessness and poverty. Engages in speaking opportunities to local and national media, presentations and speeches to corporate partners and donors.
Leads strategic planning for the Preventing Poverty and Homelessness team and works with Community Services staff and volunteers to develop and monitor racial equity metrics tied to strategic goals. Guides development of indicators and outcomes to measure progress toward United Way’s goals related to poverty and housing instability/homelessness. Participates in Community Services Team leadership, strategic planning and supports teamwork to implement United Way’s shared racial equity vision and practices.
Works with local and national organizations including funders and advocacy groups that address economic stability; promotes United Way’s initiatives and identifies and implements equitable strategies and leverages additional funding sources.
Partners with the United Way Development Team to raise public and private funds to support equitable economic recovery programming. Builds and strengthens relationships with public sector funders and both private and corporate foundation staff.
Oversees the team responsible for recruitment and placement of annual and seasonal National Service Members. Ensures strong relationships with regional and national officials overseeing National Service programs and is accountable for adherence to National Service regulations and reporting and ensuring National Service Members are supported and successful in their assignments.
In close collaboration with the UWKC Systems Change and Public Policy team, develops and implements systems change strategies that support United Way’s goals. Policies address systemic racism and are driven by BIPOC individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by poverty and homelessness. May work directly with elected officials or their staff, testifying at public hearings, and supporting other advocacy and systems change efforts.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Demonstrated advanced knowledge of health and human services policy issues, and participation in local government and health and human services coalitions and community decision processes.
Demonstrated advanced knowledge of local, state, federal and private grants management.
Intermediate knowledge of best practices related to ending homelessness and poverty and can apply knowledge gained to enhance and advance United Way strategies.
Proven excellent facilitation and communication and public speaking skills (verbal and written) across demographic and diverse populations.
Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to analyze complex problems/issues.
Proven skills to help develop and implement departmental and agency strategic plans.
Mission driven and passionate about racial equity as well as addressing poverty and reducing homelessness.

EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, specializing in Human Services, Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, or a closely related discipline.
Must have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in areas such as human services planning, program management, community resources, government relations, and community affairs.
Must have at least 3 years’ supervisory and budget-management experience.
Lived experience and/or demonstrated professional skills working within a diverse work environment.
Proven exceptional ability to inspire, develop, lead, and participate in teams.
Demonstrated understanding of social and racial justice and equity, with a proven commitment to apply racial and economic justice lenses in both personal and workplace contexts.
Demonstrated leadership and collaboration skills at a high level, including leadership of a comprehensive team of department staff and cross-team collaboration. Including work with both internal and community stakeholders with diverse opinions and views to accomplish a common goal.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The annual salary range for this role is $123,000 – $130,000. United Way of King County is an exceptional place to work and also provides the following benefits:

Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
32 days of PTO (including holidays)
403(b) retirement savings plan
Subsidized Transit Pass (Orca Card)

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about this position, please contact Sarelle at sarelle@diversityrecruiters.com. Otherwise, please complete the form below:

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants who connect with Diversity Recruiters by September 30, 2023. Please fill out the application below, which includes attaching a current resume highlighting relevant experience for this opportunity.

The United Way of King County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. United Way is committed to promoting an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices for its clients, Board, and staff. All interested individuals, including people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex are particularly urged to apply.

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