Director of Youth & Family Services

TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY WITH YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO JOBS

@KARA-GRIEF.ORG.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31.

The Opportunity Kara provides a compassionate space for those navigating the journey of grief. We are seeking a Director of Youth & Family Services to lead our Youth & Family Services (YFS) bereavement program, which provides peer-based support services for children, teens, and their families. This is a dynamic leadership role designed for a professional who combines strategic program management with a "people-first" mindset. You will lead a dedicated team and a corps of volunteers, ensuring that every operational task serves our ultimate goal: providing a high-quality, empathetic environment for bereaved youth and their families.

Core Leadership Values Mission-Driven Commitment:

You possess a keen understanding of Kara's mission and a genuine personal commitment to our guiding values of empathy and compassion.

Compassionate Professionalism:

You blend a "can-do" operational approach with high EQ, ensuring staff, volunteers, and grieving families feel heard and supported.

Service Excellence & Alignment:

You lead with humility and curiosity, balancing the nuances of bereavement work with the practical needs of a nonprofit organization.

Adaptive Composure:

You possess the organizational skill to manage high-volume service periods with poise. You balance a "big picture" strategic mindset with the tactical agility required to solve real-time problems and maintain program excellence.

Key Responsibilities Program Leadership & Oversight Strategic Service Delivery:

Direct the planning and implementation of Kara-based peer offerings, including support groups, workshops, special activities, and annual grief camp.

Client Consultations:

Conduct intakes and consultations, utilizing professional discernment to recommend internal peer support, internal therapy services, or external referrals.

Program Evaluation & Feedback:

Lead the systematic analysis of client surveys and feedback loops to ensure services remain effective and responsive to client needs.

Outcome Management:

Generate relevant program reports and service statistics to communicate the program's impact to the Executive Director and the Board.

Program Innovation:

Direct program development to meet emerging community needs, ensuring services remain culturally attuned and accessible.

Staff Supervision & Leadership Development Direct Supervision:

Manage and mentor the YFS Assistant Director and YFS Program Manager, fostering a high-performance, supportive, and collaborative team culture.

Leadership Mentorship:

Support your team in daily operations, helping them navigate complex volunteer or client situations with a "service-leadership" mindset.

Volunteer Management & Engagement The Volunteer Lifecycle:

Lead the recruitment, screening, and assessment of new volunteers; collaborate with agency leadership in the planning and implementation of intensive annual new volunteer training.

Active Supervision & Care:

Provide direct service guidance and reflective support for a dedicated volunteer corps of 50-75 individuals.

Placement & Monitoring:

Assign volunteers to facilitation roles and monitor service fit through direct observation and ongoing feedback.

Appreciation & Gratitude:

Foster a culture of appreciation, developing meaningful ways to show gratitude and ensure volunteers feel valued and sustained in their work.

Ongoing Education:

Plan and implement annual "Advanced Training" workshops to keep volunteers informed on evolving best practices in grief and loss.

Integrated Service & Agency Collaboration Internal Program Synergy:

Work cross-functionally with the other service programs at Kara (Adult, Spanish, Community Outreach, and Therapy) to ensure a seamless "one-agency" experience and whole-family care.

Agency-Wide Support:

Act as a collaborative member of the leadership team, supporting signature community events and agency-wide volunteer initiatives.

Operational Systems & Team Readiness Data Integrity:

Serve as the primary steward for program records in Kara's database (Outcome Tracker), ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all client and volunteer data.

Feedback Systems:

Manage the logistical administration of client surveys to track service quality and mission impact.

Technical Literacy:

Ensure the YFS team is proficient in using core digital tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Outcome Tracker, Zoom, and Adobe) to maintain operational efficiency.

Administrative Systems:

Manage the documentation of program-related policies and procedures to ensure organizational continuity.

Qualifications Essential Requirements Mission Alignment:

A deep commitment to Kara's mission and a clear alignment with our values of empathy and compassion.

Presence:

A high degree of compassionate presence and a culturally attuned appreciation for individuals and families navigating loss.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

Proven Leadership:

3 or more years of management experience within a nonprofit or social service environment.

Supervisory Scope:

A track record of managing professional staff and leading a mid-to-large scale volunteer corps (50+ individuals).

Field Expertise:

Direct experience in group facilitation and peer-based support models.

Technical Proficiency:

Expertise in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and cloud-based database applications.

Availability:

Daily onsite presence in Palo Alto; requires a flexible 40-hour weekly schedule to accommodate up to four evenings per month and occasional weekends (with hours adjusted accordingly).

Preferred Qualifications Academic Focus:

Advanced degree in a social service or counseling-related field.

Clinical Credentials:

Mental health clinical experience or professional licensure (LCSW, MFT, etc.).

Language Skills:

Bilingual in English/Spanish.

TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY WITH YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO JOBS

@KARA-GRIEF.ORG.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 31.

Pay:

$80,000.00 - $86,500.00 per year

Benefits:

403(b) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance Application Question(s): Please email your cover letter and resume to jobs@kara-grief.org

Work Location:

In person