Los Angeles Children's Planning Council
Position Description
Title: American Indian Children's Council Coordinator
Location: Countywide
Reports To: Regional Director
Summary: One of nine field-level managers, the Service Planning Area (SPA) Coordinator is responsible for mobilizing local leaders, residents, public and private sector institutions to work together to carry out the Children's Planning Council's vision for child-well being at the regional level. This is done through the development and support of a democratically elected community action council. This position requires experience in organizing public-private sector collaboration and the ability to build community capacity to improve outcomes for American Indian children and families.
The American Indian Children's Council (AICC) is a community council that utilizes an asset-based community development framework to address the needs of children and families within the region and develops resident, institutional, and local government capacity to be in relationship to create community, systems, and policy change for improved outcomes for children and families. It is one of nine councils of the countywide Children's Planning Council (CPC) and advises Los Angeles County Health and Human Service Departments on issues and policy decisions affecting American Indian children, youth and families.
Major Responsibilities:
- SPA Management: Works with local leaders and institutions to develop and implement goals, activity components and overall strategies required to impact the five outcomes of child well-being at the regional (SPA) level. Working in collaboration with a Regional Director, develops and revises strategies necessary to ensure an effective and high-functioning regional council that works in partnership with the countywide Children's Planning Council. Maintains depth and expertise in the area of children's services and major policy reform efforts and initiatives that impact children's well-being in Los Angeles County.
- Community Building and Organizing: Partners with Council leadership to direct the Council's overall community organizing and community building strategies, including building local American Indian coalitions, partnerships, and community improvement projects; facilitating youth and parent leadership development; and utilizing asset-based community development as a means to achieve better outcomes for American Indian children and families in Los Angeles County.
- Community Engagement and Partner Relations: Works directly with local leaders, non-profit organizations, public entities and various constituency groups, including policy and advocacy organizations, local elected and appointed officials and business leaders to influence their support of a coordinated effort to address innovative strategies to improve American Indian children and family well-being in Los Angeles County. May represent the CPC on different committees and task forces, as appropriate.
- Planning and Coordination: Supports results-based planning in the AIC Council, assists in gathering data at the local level on issues impacting children and families of importance to CPC and local communities, and works in partnership with local leaders to set goals, manage programmatic activities and develop systems for the effective collaboration of groups within the SPA.
- Volunteer Management: Supports volunteers and AIC-Council participants to strengthen their ability to create stronger community networks, improved systems, and favorable policies for American Indian children's well-being. Also facilitates development and implementation of a regional workplan. Partners with volunteer leaders to manage special countywide and/or local initiatives, provide community feedback on county-related proposals or policy and ensures timely and ongoing communication with council leaders.
- Administration and Budget Management: Provides oversight for council operations; is responsible for monitoring SPA-level budgets and preparing monthly reports; manages implementation of CPC grant agreements at the regional level and the preparation of related progress reports.
- Personnel Supervision: Supervises community organizing and/or project coordination-level staff and interns, as appropriate and has the ability to support the professional development of subordinates.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 3 - 5 years of practical experience working within a social change-oriented organization or project, as well as some knowledge of public-private partnerships or collaborative efforts. Considerable experience working within a volunteer structure, ensuring contract compliance, and managing budgets.
- Education: A Bachelor's level degree in public administration, urban planning, public health, sociology, social work, or related field. Master's level degree preferred.
- Technical Knowledge: Knowledge of results-based planning, community building and organizing, volunteer and community engagement methodologies, public policy development processes, and familiarity with the public and private health, education and human service systems in Los Angeles County related to children, youth and families. Knowledge of position of American Indian Children's Council as Service Planning Area 9.
- Relational Skills: Ability to build relationships with people across generational, faith, socio-economic, and tribal backgrounds, Commitment to building trust with stakeholders. Ability to follow through on commitments and meet deadlines.
- Community Knowledge: Knowledge of American Indian history, policy, and current social issues. Demonstrated relationships and involvement in local, state, or national American Indian community networks. Strong understanding of tribal sovereignty, and local, state, and national policy affecting urban American Indian children and families. Strong commitment to community-based planning, decision-making, and leadership.
- Convening and Facilitation Skills: Strong skills in group facilitation and consensus building, familiarity with community building approaches, ability to facilitate meetings and group processes for the purposes of collaboration, peer learning, problem solving and policy advocacy.
- Writing and Analytical Skills: Excellent writing and analytical skills.
- Public Speaking Skills: Ability to prepare and give presentations, and to comfortably interact with diverse audiences including community youth, elders, parents, and leaders, elected and appointed officials, managers of public entities including schools, as well as nonprofit and business groups.
- Technology Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office 2000 applications.
- Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to prioritize work effectively, work well under pressure and adjust to multiple and competing demands.
- General: Highly motivated, with the ability to work independently, take initiative, participate as an effective team member and follow tasks through to completion.
Salary & Benefits
Range: $45,000 to $55,000 per year plus health and dental benefits and a 403b deferred compensation plan.
Submit resume & cover letter to Ernesto De Guzman, Operations Manager @ edeguzman@laccpc.org by June 11, 2008. Position open until filled. No phone calls please.
The Los Angeles County Children's Planning Council is committed to diversity. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.