Open Buffalo - Job Posting

Leadership Development Director

About the Leadership Development Director:

Open Buffalo’s Leadership Development Director holds primary responsibility for the development and implementation, in conjunction with contracted and community partners, of OB’s multi-tiered leadership development program.  The Leadership Development Director must have a long-term vision for the development of leaders throughout the city of Buffalo, based on a broad vision of the needs in the city of Buffalo and the necessary skills to affect changes in our city. The Leadership Development Director will also provide technical assistance and network development to social justice and other community partners; development and maintenance of key programmatic relationships; and representing OB in day-to-day aspects of tactical government relations, to inform the facilitate placement of Open Buffalo Leadership Program Graduates into complementary leadership positions throughout the city of Buffalo. 

The Leadership Development Director (LDD) will oversee all Leadership Development programs in Open Buffalo. This includes overseeing the Emerging Leaders and Democracy Fellows programs; coordinating and executing program recruitment, application processes, curriculum development and execution and post-program alumni placement and engagement.  The LDD must maintain a birds-eye view of both programs at all times.

The Leadership Development Director reports to the Executive Director.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Experience: A bachelor’s degree + 3-5 years of experience, a master’s degree + 2-3 years of experience, or a minimum of six or more years of continued professional growth in a demanding non-profit or government setting 
• Demonstrated commitment, through work or volunteer experience, to social justice 
• Cultural competency and proven ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
• Significant experience working with diverse constituencies from high level officials to grassroots organizations and community members
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and communications skills 
• Self-directed and an ability to manage multiple projects at once
• Experience with and understanding of the tenets of community organizing 
• Ability to manage staff, partner organization relationships, and multiple programs and initiatives
• Substantive familiarity with leadership training and development
• A firm knowledge base of the functions and operations of government structures and systems
• A strong interest in and familiarity with public policy, advocacy tactics and strategies
• The ability to craft, implement and manage long term strategies involving a broad array of partners to build community power and win social change
• Experience with the non-profit field and expertise in providing direct technical assistance to organizations
• Ability to identify opportunities and deficiencies within the local social justice field and develop collaborative strategies to increase system-wide capacity
• Experience in facilitation of large group trainings, especially in topics such as social justice and systems change
   

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the entirety of Open Buffalo’s various Leadership programs, ensuring that the curriculums for each program are aligned with the Open Buffalo strategic plan as well as the skills needed for affecting change in Buffalo
• Build meaningful relationships with the program participants, with an eye toward creating well-rounded leaders, aligned with Open Buffalo campaigns.
• Identify and develop trainers to deliver the curriculum
• Addressing the logistical needs of the programs, while remaining within the given budget(s)
• Serve as the primary contact for the both Emerging Leaders program and Democracy Fellows program. Attend all sessions, ensuring logistics and needs for the facilitators are met.
• Create workshop curriculum, monitor curriculum creation of guest teachers of workshops
• Engage with Leadership Program mentors and ensure mentees and mentors are meeting on a regular basis
• Building strong and trusting relationships with staff, partners and community allies, identifying community leadership placements for Leadership Program participants to pursue after graduation
• Monitor continued engagement and development of program alumni
   

Application:

Open Buffalo values diversity and inclusion throughout our city and within our organization. People of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please no calls or email inquiries. Please submit a cover letter that directly relates to the qualifications for the position, resume and three (3) professional references to:

Open Buffalo Search Committee
617 Main Street, Suite 350
Buffalo, NY 14203

Or via e-mail to jobs@openbuffalo.org