Director of Programs – Harness

Apply by 31st Jan 24

HARNESS Founded by America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, and Ryan Piers Williams following the 2016 presidential election, HARNESS is a community of activists, artists, and entertainment and media industry leaders who believe that storytelling shapes our world. We convene to envision and amplify the stories that define a more just future. We create that future through our art, influence, and actions. Learn more at www.iwillharness.com.

Title: Director of Programs
Position: Full Time
Reports To: President
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $115K-$132.5K
Start Date: As soon as filled, by March 2024
Work Location: Remote with option to work out of L.A. office. Candidates based in California or New York are preferred
Required Travel: Approximately 20% for programs and staff retreats

Our work is guided by the following beliefs:

• Stories shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world.
• A just society requires a redistribution of power to the communities whose stories have been silenced and marginalized.
• Community is medicine. Community supports and sustains leaders, and unlocks the most innovative, creative and boldest solutions to our collective problems.
• Large cultural shifts happen when our communities are coordinated.
• Intentional storytelling and interdependent community will lead us to a liberated future.

OVERVIEW OF ROLE
The Director of Programs (“Director”) is a new position that will lead the planning, management, and evaluation of all programs and initiatives to build community and educate, inspire, activate and care for our community members. The HARNESS community is intersectional, diverse, and multidisciplinary – representing a wide range of perspectives, social justice movements, creative practices, and industries. The Director will support our community by stewarding existing programs and developing new strategies to evolve our approach:

• Build community between influential leaders from communities whose stories are underrepresented and misrepresented, and people with the power to tell those stories.
• Educate and activate leaders who shape the culture and conversation in their communities.
• Host convenings that unlock innovative collaborations between people who are traditionally siloed or not in authentic relationship with each other.
• Sustain and support leaders through nourishing communal experiences.
• Curate spaces with the conditions to share and dream up stories with collective impact
• Amplify timely stories and actions through influential audiences and platforms.
• This is an exciting leadership opportunity for a creative and strategic individual who thrives on community building and is passionate about the power of culture change, narrative and advocacy to shape a more just and inclusive world. You will be joining a small, multidisciplinary, collaborative, and fun-loving remote team with office space available to work from in Downtown LA.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Design, Development, and Management

• Ensure programs are in alignment with the overall organizational strategy, and deliver consistency, excellence, and strategic impact
• Produce programs ranging from multi-day retreats to intimate educational salons and community building gatherings
• Oversee and develop community membership model, including design, and test community building and leadership development initiatives
• Oversee all aspects of the programs, including work plans, budget management, accountability structures, partnership opportunities, and impact measurement
• Develop program management standards, guidelines, and templates and train staff and contractors on their use
• Set expectations and priorities for program partners, with supporting goals, milestones, and KPIs tied to the Theory of Change

Team Management and Development 

• Supervise a minimum of one Program Manager and oversee relationships with consultants and vendors
• Provide leadership, training, and guidance to program staff to help them carry out their responsibilities
• Onboard and offboard program consultants and serve as primary liaison to ensure program deliverables are completed satisfactorily, on time, and within budget
• Manage up to President, and other senior leadership as needed, to ensure effective collaboration that achieves program goals

Financial Management and Fundraising

• Assist with the development and oversight of budgets for HARNESS programs
• Facilitate the timely submission of all vendor and contractor invoices
• Support fundraising through providing fundraising staff with program updates and representing HARNESS in meetings with donors and at fundraising events

Learning and Evaluation

• Manage systems to track impact impact across programs in alignment with HARNESS’ strategic vision and Theory of Change
• Create mechanisms to solicit and respond to feedback from internal and external stakeholders

Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of related experience in program management and implementation roles in the ​nonprofit sector, social justice movements, politics and/or media and entertainment industry, with proven track record of implementing high-quality programs
• Demonstrates alignment with HARNESS mission
• Proficiency in culture change and narrative change strategy
• Experience in community building / community organizing, preferably through in-person or virtual programs and experiences
• Highly organized with a meticulous attention to detail
• Translates strategic thinking into action plans and output
• At least 3 years of people management skills
• Excels at forming and managing collaborative relationships across diverse teams and partners
• Comfortable with evolving and emergent work
• Excellent and versatile verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient with Salesforce, G-Suite, Asana, and Slack

WHAT WE OFFER YOU IN RETURN AND WHY YOU WOULD LOVE BEING A PART OF OUR TEAM!

• Generous virtual office budget which includes support for home office equipment, cell phone, and internet monthly stipend
• Office space available in Downtown Los Angeles
• Competitive paid time-off and benefits, including 100% paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance and 401k match
• Learning and growth opportunities
• Fun and collaborative team environment

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time, exempt position. The annual salary will be $115,000-$132,500. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within a relevant role, industry, and education.

Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their families) will be offered medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees also will be able to enroll in our company’s 401k plan, provided they meet plan requirements. Employees will also accrue 1.25 days of vacation leave every month, as well as three days of paid sick leave per year. Employees will also enjoy ten (10) paid holidays throughout the calendar year plus annual summer and winter office closures.  Eligibility requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents and organization policies.

This is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies.

HARNESS is committed to fostering and maintaining a work environment where diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are fully integrated into everything we do. HARNESS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

HOW TO APPLY 
Please send a resumé and cover letter to talent@iwillharness.com.

Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis until it is filled, but preference will be given to those who apply by January 31, 2024.