Family Enrichment Center (FEC) Director
7 days ago
New York
Job Description Summary Job Description: The Family Enrichment Center (FEC) Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Family Enrichment Center, funded by the New York City Administration for Children Services (ACS). FECs represent one of ACS’ approaches to supporting child and family well-being and strong communities. The Director embodies and creates a culture of openness, creativity and flexibility, is a true partner and servant leader in the community and committed to social justice. Responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, and supporting a diverse staff in a collaborative work environment, building partnerships with stakeholders from multiple sectors to support the FEC, and building an FEC Advisory Council/Board to guide the vision, decision-making and programming of the FEC. The Director will also ensure the FEC is run with fidelity to the model, serve as a liaison to ACS , implement co-design and co-implementation strategies. The Director will be expected to participate in learning collaboratives with other FEC Directors and stakeholders across the city and to collaborate with ACS and external partners to develop and implement quality assurance and quality improvement mechanisms. About Little Flower: Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a human services nonprofit supporting the well-being of children, youth, families, and individuals across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 builds well-being by providing prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities, and medical and mental health services. Principle Responsibilities: • Manage budget of FEC in partnership with FEC Advisory Council/Board and manage hiring, training, and coaching of FEC staff/team members, • Identify community members via a series of virtual and in-person meetings who are interested in being part of the FEC and engage them in discussions about community needs, assets, and strengths to inform FEC vision and offerings, • Help to identify and secure a physical space for the FEC and ensuring that the space is co-designed with the community to be a welcoming, encouraging, and positive environment., • Bring the model of co-design to life by ensuring that members have substantial roles in creating a vision for the FEC and designing offerings that promote one or more of the seven family protective factors (Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, Communication, Economic Mobility, & Community), • Develop and support an Advisory Council/Board of FEC members to guide the strategic vision for the FEC, and participate in management decisions, reviewing financial reports and budgets, and other activities, • Create a culture of teamwork and collaboration among staff, FEC members, and Advisory Council /Board members that is built on equity, inclusiveness, and non-hierarchical decision making, • Supervise a team of Community Liaisons and Family Advocates to 1) build partnerships with community organizations and public institutions to raise awareness of the FEC, bring expertise to complement FEC offerings, and help members connect to local resources, and 2) conduct outreach to community members, engage them in co-designing offerings, promote and participate in offerings, and engage participants in QA/QI of offerings, • Create a culture of equity by ensuring that FEC team members interface with community members as partners, not clients, and a culture of respect built on the belief that families and communities possess the inherent strengths and knowledge needed to succeed given the right access to opportunities and support, • Maintain consistent communication with the New York City Administration for Children Services (ACS) Division of Child and Family Well-Being team to discuss progress and ensure that all contractual responsibilities are being adhered to, • Ensure that the FEC is known as an entity separate from the contractor, not marketed as a “program” of the contractor, and that the contractor allows the community to create its own FEC identity, • Leverage additional resources through in-kind donations, pro-bono services, and additional funding opportunities, • Participate and engage FEC team in learning collaboratives facilitated by ACS with other FEC teams from across the city, • Support ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement to assess FEC impact and ensure fidelity to frameworks of equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry (AI), and protective factors by working with FEC members, ACS representatives, contracted agency staff, and/or consultants, • Complete other duties as assigned and required Special Qualifications:, • Knowledge and commitment to the community, • Outstanding community organizing, collaboration, and advocacy skills, • Management skills in collaborative team environments that includes supporting paid and volunteer team members, managing budgets, and monitoring milestones and outcomes, • Commitment to and ability to implement strategies related to cultural competency, equity, and diversity and inclusion, • Strong interpersonal skills, facilitation skills, and the ability to connect with people with diverse and intersecting identities, • Strong verbal and written communication skills, • Ability to perform multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced, challenging, and constantly changing environment, • Knowledge of one or more of the FEC frameworks (equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry, Family Protective Factors) or other frameworks/approaches with similar components, • Fluency in a language other than English commonly used in the community Minimum Requirements or Preferred Skills:, • Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree and five (5) years of relevant experience, • A bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of relevant experience, • Or a high school diploma and at least eleven (11) years of relevant experience., • Relevant experience includes managerial and/or leadership roles in community organizing, community-led programs, coalitions, or other community-driven service delivery., • Experience can be a combination of professional, paid experience or verifiable volunteer experience., • Ideal candidates will be from or have deep connection with the Bed-Stuy community they will be serving. Travel Requirements:This position is located in Brooklyn and requires some travel to other locations. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Statement: With more than 250 years of combined experience, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and St. John’s Residence for Boys have a long-standing history of serving children, youth, adults and families of color. Our mission, vision and values are grounded in elevating the shared humanity of every staff member, community partner and those with whom we engage. We recognize that our DEIB work is continuously evolving as we strive for equity and inclusion for individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, religions and lived experiences. Accessibility: Some job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may be designed to protect the safety and health of the employee, their fellow employees and the individuals being served and may therefore exclude some individuals. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.