Sr. Manager, Homelessness Initiatives

WHO WE ARE

United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, education equity, and economic mobility. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.

WHAT WE DO

Our Community Impact department advances UWGLA’s mission by generating advocacy, awareness, and accessibility in support of LA’s most vulnerable populations. We’re equally as passionate as we are efficient – tackling poverty at its root and leveraging our collective creative talents to innovate impactful solutions where others see insurmountable odds. We’re the people’s ‘people’, building influential coalitions across communities, industries, and political parties that allow us to expand the realm of possibilities for those who have historically been deprived. Here we don’t do it for the glory, we do it for the good, and every step taken forward is worth celebrating.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

Homelessness Strategy Implementation

o Lead United Way’s homelessness initiatives by centralizing efforts across specialized teams through coordination of goals, grant deliverables, resources, and operations.

o Ensure successful management, spend down, and renewals of core operating grants from the Hilton Foundation and Cedars-Sinai

Systems Change Leadership

o Drive systems change and improved performance by identifying the most critical barriers and opportunities to ensure our work is aligned to a clear vision and actionable strategies especially as it relates to Older Adults or the Street Strategy.

o Build and foster trusted relationships with key stakeholders critical to driving systems change and understanding the impacts of those changes on people in LA who are struggling to find support in the short term and prosperity in the long term, so that each person feels a deep sense of belonging in their community of choice, with the resources to live, work, and thrive together.

o Continuously leverage and expand your expertise in special populations experiencing homelessness to democratize access to knowledge that will facilitate positive change at scale.

o Facilitate high-level meetings using influence to drive results and diplomatically negotiating difference to make most

Process & Performance Improvement:

o Drive improved performance in our homeless service delivery system by coordinating the implementation pilots, programs, and investments based on the Street Strategy for LA County, our strategic plan for addressing unsheltered homelessness, the Older Adults pilot investments and our overall efforts to end homelessness, with a particular focus on racial equity.

o Help ensure the impact of Home For Good’s stakeholder tables by coordinating preparation and follow-up for stakeholder engagement meetings (virtual or in-person).

Relationship Management:

o Act as a Crisis Solution liaison to key public and private agencies in the homeless services space (e.g., LA County, LAHSA, nonprofit service providers) working with program staff to suggest and improve policies that are critical to improving performance measures and ending homelessness.

o Cultivate necessary relationships with staff at leading service providers, public agency staff, and community stakeholders to understand the context of policy recommendations and identify new hurdles and opportunities to the achievement of our strategic planning goals.

o Engage the general public at United Way sponsored events or those held by partners to promote, shape and strengthen the narrative for support towards policy reform around key topics like housing affordability, homeless services,

Team Management

o Mentor and coach a diverse team of impact professionals to grow skillsets, support individual professional development goals, and inspire team members to both lead and follow

o Provide direct but respectful constructive feedback in real-time and during formal review.

WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Oversee operations needed to host 25+ meetings and convenings that bring together partners and policy makers in ending homelessness

Work with the Manager of Impact Data to develop an outcome and data tracking system and the Strategic Partnership Team to create a process to report outcomes

Develop a structure to provide advisory services (25+ time/year) to elected offices and administrative offices in their work to end homelessness

Oversee outreach and support to County Homeless Prevention Unit to ensure prevention assistance expands to 2,000 persons

Contribute to the launch resident-centered Community Care Networks that reconstruct a community-based social safety net by distributing emergency resources and vital upstream supports in targeted communities across LA County

Identify collaborative community organizations in key neighborhoods to create safe and welcoming spaces for people experiencing homelessness so that they have a respite to connect to services during the day.

SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED (The Must-Haves)

Education & Experience

o Bachelor’s degree required; Graduate degree in Public Policy, Social Work, or a related field is a plus

o Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in homelessness services, systems change, affordable housing, crisis response, or public policy is required

o Minimum 3 years of experience supervising and developing direct reports

Personal Qualities

o You enjoy a hybrid environment that includes both in-person and remote work styles and are able to work from our DTLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays

o You are able to provide documentation of your status as fully vaccinated with primary series of COVID-19 vaccine upon being hired.

o You understand the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and are committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE A FIT (The Nice-to-Haves)

You can communicate the complexities of impact work in an authentic and engaging manner that solidifies commitment from prospective donors.

You understand the power of forming coalitions to address complex issues and - most importantly - know how to build a collaborative unit that possesses the skills to advocate, articulate and persuade key stakeholders on important causes that affect the community.

You work well with others - stakeholders and colleagues alike would agree that you are the quintessential “Team Player”

When placed at a crossroads, you can be decisive and can choose the best option after taking into consideration multiple key factors.

You manage relationships with direct reports in a way that's respectful, supportive, and committed to their long-term success.

You can be persuasive when getting someone to see the glass as half full vs. half empty and focus on the outcome vs. the obstacles they may face to get there.

Logic and reasoning come naturally to you, making you an efficient problem solver to common challenges.

Your strong work ethic gets going when the going gets tough during late nights, early mornings or weekend assignments.

You stay calm under pressure and can meet tight deadlines when necessary.

You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all it's essential programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Hiring Salary Range: $90,000-$95,500 dependent on internal equity and a variety of job-related factors including, but not limited to, experience, training, education, and market demands.

The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Please Note: This position is grant funded for two-years with the possibility of extension.