Equity Program Manager

Position: Equity Program Manager

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Chief Social Services Officer

Compensation: $81,890 Annually

Status: 100%, Full-Time, Exempt, Regular

Probation: 180 days

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; also including Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, and a 403(b) Retirement Plan

Center’s Mission:

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY: The Los Angeles LGBT Center is the world’s largest LGBT organization of any kind. In 10 locations across Los Angeles, the Center’s nearly 800 employees and hundreds of volunteers offers programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services, and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership, and Advocacy. The Center is an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Youth Services is anchored by the Youth Center which serves youth and young adults up to the age of 24 who are currently at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals, clothing, support groups, a charter high school, GED and college prep program, an employment preparation, training and placement program, case management, counseling, a crisis shelter, transitional living program (TLP), supportive housing and scattered site housing. Our community-based programs include services for youth at-home, in school or in systems of care including mentorship, special events, and foster care support. Programs and services are driven by practices of housing first, low barrier, trauma-informed, harm reduction, and equity principles.

STATEMENT ON EQUITY: Foundational to the work at the LGBT Center of Los Angeles is an acknowledgement of the interdependent systems, institutions, ideologies, practices, behaviors, and policies that both historically and presently operate to oppress people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, gender identity, gender expression, language/s, sexual orientation, (dis)ability status, health history, socioeconomic status and other elements of someone’s lived experience.

JOB SUMMARY: In collaboration with The Center’s Equity Office, the Equity Manager will steward Youth Services’ efforts towards fostering an equitable and restorative culture of learning and growth. The Equity Manager will be a new addition to the management team and will work in close partnership with system-impacted youth members as well as program staff to implement the Center’s existing Equity Framework of justice, intersectionality, praxis, and care across programs. The Manager is responsible for providing ongoing mentorship to programs in incorporating the Framework into their daily work and department leadership to evaluate program impact, centering the outcomes and experiences of youth.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Build capacity to implement restorative justice throughout department programs and services, facilitating spaces for staff and youth to learn and grow.

• Engage with staff and youth by actively listening and integrating feedback, providing regular opportunities for 360° communication loops, to provide positive spaces for engagement and dialogue.

• Participate in meetings with Center Equity Office and committees to align department level and organization-wide efforts.

• Provide leadership in youth member retention and equity efforts, focusing on youth who are most vulnerable to systemic oppressions and investigating disparate outcomes.

• Convene and facilitate the department’s Equity Task Force comprised of staff who are representative of the department’s program areas and demographics.

• Collaborate with the Equity Task Force and youth leadership bodies to implement and evaluate a department specific equity plan that seeks to address intersecting issues of systemic oppression and marginalization within youth and staff experience.

• Assist department leadership in providing capacity building and implementation support to individual program areas towards progress within the Center’s Equity Plan and incorporating past department audits and data.

• In partnership with the Center’s HR Department, support leadership in hiring and supervision processes, integrating equity principles and practices throughout drafting of job descriptions, recruitment, interview, onboarding, and retention efforts.

• Provide departmental project planning for Center-wide and department-specific events that honor cultural heritage and representation, collaborating with special events staff.

• Other duties assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.

• A passion for the Center’s work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.

• Minimum 2 years of experience conducting training and facilitating.

• Minimum 3 years of experience working to promote equity.

• Minimum 3 years of experience conducting project and people management.

• Minimum 4 years working within homeless services, youth education, youth social services, nonprofit, or similar setting.

• Current CPR Certificate.

• Effective communicator, including strong speaking, writing, and listening skills.

• Excellent leadership, critical thinking, organizational, detail, and interpersonal skills.

• Familiarity with implementing intersectional analyses and developing solutions to complex challenges.

• Demonstrated skills in de-escalation and conflict mediation.

• Knowledge of strengths-based, trauma-informed models.

• Bilingual skills, a plus (English/Spanish fluency and/or English/ASL preferred).

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, religion, disability, age, military or veteran status, including status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation or activities, medical or health conditions, and marital status.

The Center has implemented a policy requiring all staff to be up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations as a condition of employment, subject to applicable federal, state and local laws. For more information, please contact jobs@lalgbtcenter.org