The Louis August Jonas Foundation

Executive Director Job Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Louis August Jonas Foundation (LAJF) is poised to welcome a new Executive Director to advance our mission to develop in promising young people from around the world a lifelong commitment to compassionate, responsible, and ethical leadership for the betterment of their communities and the world. We are seeking a new leader to build upon LAJF’s 95-year track record of providing life-altering experiences to youth of all nationalities and backgrounds and creating a vibrant alumni community 6,600 strong. The new LAJF ED will be charged with overseeing the organization's strategic direction, operations, and financial sustainability, while creating a team culture of excellence, diversity, and service.

Target Start Date: July 2025

THE ORGANIZATION AND IMPACT

For almost 100 years, LAJF has trained young people in ethical leadership that is rooted in serving others. Our international, scholarship-based programs bring together youth from more than 30 countries to learn from each other, expand their worldviews, and grow as individuals. Through our experiential learning model, our participants gain the skills and confidence they need to address the most pressing issues of our time. This life-altering experience motivates young people to become leaders in their communities and drive positive change in ways big and small. LAJF remains committed to offering educational and professional support to our active network of 6,600 alumni worldwide, who share a commitment to building a better world for us all.

Through our programs for teens and alumni of all ages we seek to:

Foster an appreciation of both diversity and our common humanity.
Expand intellectual horizons and heighten artistic sensibilities.
Develop leadership abilities and self- reliance in a safe environment.
Offer and demonstrate a philosophy of living to serve society through the pursuit of humanitarian goals.

The incoming leader will inherit a team of 12 dedicated and high-performing staff members, and an experienced and devoted Board of 20 individuals. They will be charged with leading LAJF’s staff to continue to deliver excellent programming while working toward long-term financial stability for the organization. This new Executive Director will be deeply passionate about youth leadership development and will be an inspiring people manager, culture creator, fundraising and development strategist, and community builder.

Success in this role will include:

Informing long term vision and strategy for the organization and support development and execution of strategic planning.
Serving as a visionary leader and exceptional manager for LAJF’s people.
Driving program innovation and excellence via a keen understanding of education and youth leadership disciplines.
Stewarding the continued growth, stability, and fiscal health of the organization.
Leading, championing, and upholding our core values to nurture an inclusive and engaged community of alumni and other stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Culture Stewardship

Provide clear direction to and lead staff team, fostering a positive, inclusive, and performance-driven organizational culture.
Serve as a transparent and open leader that builds trust, fosters collaboration, and drives engagement amongst staff, alumni, families, donors, and the Board.
Represent the organization externally by cultivating relationships with leaders and organizations across the youth education/development ecosystem to promote collaborative efforts, shared ideas, and opportunities.

Fundraising and Business Operations Acumen

Oversee and implement a robust fundraising strategy to secure and diversify funding streams, such as individual donors, foundations, corporate sponsors, grants, and revenue generating programs.
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective donors and funders.
Lead efforts to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization.
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization, including human resources, budgeting, and facilities.
Deploy the human and capital resources needed to maintain LAJF’s operations in service of the organization’s mission.

Innovation and Strategy Building

In collaboration with the Board and staff, lead the development and execution of strategic initiatives to leverage LAJF’s resources for even greater impact.
Build internal capacity to be curious, ideate, evaluate, and execute on new programs and innovative moves to expand the impact of LAJF.

Program and Impact Evaluation Management

Collaborate with staff and other subject matter experts to continually innovate and strengthen LAJF’s programming.
Work with the Board and staff to establish standards and systems that track the effectiveness and impact of LAJF, including identifying learning objectives and intended outcomes and incorporating feedback loops to promote continuous learning that informs future strategy and tactics.

Board and Stakeholder Engagement

Communicate vision and decisions confidently and transparently to all LAJF stakeholders.
Work closely with the Board, providing regular updates on organizational performance and strategic initiatives.
Assist in the recruitment, development, and evaluation of Board members, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for the Executive Director position at LAJF will have a proven track record of strategic and operational execution and personal qualities that align with the Foundation’s mission and immediate priorities. Key qualifications include:

Experience: At least 3 years of executive and/or senior leadership experience preferably in nonprofit management, youth development, or related fields. Proven track record of cultivating relationships across all donor levels, from grassroots to major gifts, to build long-term donor engagement is a plus.
Passion for Mission: A deep commitment to youth development and experience leading a mission-driven team to deliver high quality programming.
Strategic Mindset: Strong strategic skills, ideally having successfully executed on long-term strategic initiatives.
Leadership Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with experience creating a nurturing and inclusive internal culture and leading diverse teams.
Community Builder: Ability to work effectively with a board of directors, staff, and external stakeholders, demonstrating a high level of transparency and accountability.
Operational Acumen: Experience in managing organizational budgets with the goal of creating organizational sustainability.
Innovation and Inclusion: Intellectual curiosity and the ability to make decisions with deliberation and creativity, and experience cultivating and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

LAJF is committed to ensuring it has a diverse staff and leadership, providing an equitable and inclusive work environment for all, and building upon its existing work in pursuit of ever-greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.

INCLUSION STATEMENT

Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and members of other minority or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. LAJF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against candidates on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or veteran status.

LAJF is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the interview and employment process.

EDUCATION

We welcome all candidates with the passion, professional experiences, values, and skills outlined in this position specification to apply.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/TRAVEL

Option to work from our Rhinebeck, NY office location or hybrid, with more frequent in office visits during peak season (Summer) and org-hosted events. Some travel for fundraising and alumni events, estimated at 10-15%.Strong preference will be given to candidates in the NYC metro/Tri-State region.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

LAJF offers competitive compensation, a generous benefits package including Paid Time Off/Federal Holidays, medical, dental, & vision insurance, 401K Retirement Plan, and a supportive and collaborative workplace culture. The salary range for this position is $130,000-$150,000.

Executive Director housing opportunity. ED will have the option of utilizing a 3 bed/1 bath residence in Red Hook, NY. Details to be shared with interested final candidates.

APPLICATIONS/NOMINATIONS

LAJF invites all nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director. To apply please send a concise, thoughtful cover letter and resume that speaks to how your experience and skillset meet the qualifications for this role to search@lajf.org by 11:59pm EST Friday, February 21, 2025.