Title: Director of Development & Finance

Organization: The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity (The Center)

Reports to: Executive Director, Board of Directors

Location: In-Person; Kern County (Bakersfield), CA

To apply, email your resume/CV and cover letter to execdirector@thecenterbak.org.

We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

About The Center

The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity (The Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender community (LGBTQIA2S+) in Kern County, California.

Mission and Values

The Center is an easy access hub providing safe, supportive spaces and services to Kern County’s LGBTQIA2S+ community and allies. We welcome persons of all identities and strive toward a goal of creating a feeling of belonging for all persons while serving as a bridge connecting to the greater community in Kern County.

Location

The Director of Development & Finance should reside in Bakersfield or Kern County and expect to work out of our RISE Administrative Offices.

Reporting

The Director of Development & Finance reports directly to the Executive Direction under the supervision of the Board of Directors. This role does not manage other staff.

The Position

This role is for someone with technical skill who would like to apply their experience to make a positive impact in their community and for 2SLGBTQIA+ lives in Bakersfield and the Central Valley. In collaboration with The Center’s Boards of Directors and Executive Director, the Director of Development & Finance will provide strategic, administrative, and financial stewardship of the organization. The Director of Development & Finance will assume leadership responsibility for fundraising, donor development, budget management, and engaging community partners. This role will work collaboratively with internal and external partners and stakeholders to secure The Center’s sustainability in line with the organizational vision and mission.

Responsibilities

[NOTE: It is understood that no single candidate will have equal expertise across all of these areas of responsibility. Successful candidates will demonstrate a compelling combination of many of them and the self-awareness and professional maturity to leverage existing or new resources in the area(s) where they lack personal experience.]

Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the organization's goals.
Lead the finance team in day-to-day operations and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Collaborate with other departments to support strategic planning initiatives.
Prepare proposals and reports for stakeholders to communicate financial performance.
Utilize tools such as Salesforce for data management and reporting.
Engage in volunteer management activities related to finance initiatives.

Fundraising and Revenue Generation
- Serve as the chief fundraising officer for The Center, collaborating closely with the Board and staff to grow financial resources through grants, individual major giving, events, corporate giving, and fee for service offerings;
- Maintain positive, personal relationships with individual and institutional funders;
- Ensure effective grant acquisition, administration and management;
Grant Management:
- Under the direction of the Executive Director assist in managing and monitoring grant-funded programs and services, ensuring compliance with grantor guidelines and effective use of resources.
Community Engagement and Advocacy:
- Under the direction of the Executive Director, actively engage with the community to promote The Center’s programs and services.
- Under the direction of the Executive Director, identify, develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and allies to enhance service delivery and community support.
- Advocate for the rights and well-being of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community through public speaking, community events, and collaboration with other organizations.
- Represent The Center at public forums and media events to promote awareness of our vision and goals and increase the visibility of The Center.
Administrative Duties
- Oversee budgeting processes, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Conduct in-depth financial analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with financial regulations and standards.
- Manage relationships with external auditors, banks, and other financial institutions.
- Oversee and contribute to the preparation of regular reports on fund raising and grant procurement activities.
- In conjunction with the Treasurer and Executive Director assist with the creation of the annual budget.
- In conjunction with the Treasurer, track grant related expenses and use tracked expenses to create, and submit grant related invoicing.
- In conjunction with the Treasurer, compare and evaluate actual expenditures to budget and grant contract amounts.

Candidate Profile:

The new Director of Development & Finance of The Center will be an experienced, motivational, and equity-centered leader with a professional track record of improving and professionalizing financial systems and structures. They will bring transparent and dynamic solutions for Increasing revenue and diversifying income streams and sources. that support The Center’s people, programs, and organizational growth.

Candidates for this position should have a personal style that is authentic and engaging, along with the ability to set healthy boundaries, hold people accountable, and actively listen/respond to the needs of internal administration and external stakeholders. Regardless of professional background, a personal understanding of and commitment to intersectional issues/identities (race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, etc.) in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is essential.

Desired Skills and Experience (Should Have):

Minimum of two to five years of organizational leadership experience
Previous financial oversight and budget management responsibility for an organization (or department) of comparable – or larger – size and complexity; Strong candidate experience would include one or more of the following detailed grant accounting, familiarity with writing profit & loss reports, management of the annual audit
Proven track record of nonprofit fundraising , including individual giving, corporate and foundation support, grants and contracts, fee-for-service/earned revenue, and/or special events. Strong candidate experience would include one or more of the following- maintaining and growing a donor program, establishing and growing corporate donor programs, successful grant writing for 15K-100K
Excellent people and team management skills to positively collaborate across departments and functions while also ensuring accountability for results and outcomes;
Exceptional written and oral communication skills including media relations, marketing, and messaging;
Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build and work in coalitions and to grow and maintain individual and institutional relationships;
Understanding and commitment to social justice, equity, and 2SLGBTQIA+ issues;
Strong diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) lens

Supplemental Skills and Experience (Nice to Have):

Knowledge of developing and implementing financial practices, policies, and protocols.
Existing knowledge of/connections to The Center’s partners, funders, and allied organizations;
Organizational leadership experience in a progressive nonprofit environment
Familiarity with local, state, regional, 2SLGBTQIA+, social, and racial justice advocacy movements and leaders;
Experience working with a Board of Directors or similar volunteer leadership group.

Desired Personal Qualities and Characteristics:

Strong interpersonal skills and high level of self-awareness;
Demonstrated commitment to centering the needs of the most marginalized 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and operating within a broader social justice framework;
Ability to connect authentically with people at all levels of power, privilege, ability, socio-economic status, and ideologies across the political spectrum;
Open and collaborative by nature but can be decisive when necessary
Bridge builder, collaborator, and reliable partner – internally and externally;
Able to set and respect personal and organizational boundaries (for self and others), practiced in self-care;
Flexible, adaptable, and rooted in compassion and empathy;

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

The Center is offering a comprehensive compensation package including a salary in the range of $72,000 to $82,000 and benefits. Benefits include individual health coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, 10 days PTO in 1st year and employee-funded retirement plan.

To apply, email your resume/CV and cover letter to execdirector@thecenterbak.org.

Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Interviews will be on a rolling basis with applications submitted.

More about The Center:

Organizational History

The Center opened as a downtown community outreach center in 2011 and operated as volunteer-run organization until the first paid staff position was filled in 2016. Currently, there is a paid staff of six. A second location, The RISE Annex, houses administrative offices and counseling services. The 2023-24 Budget is $750,000., funded by local donors and multiple grants.

Organizational Impact

The Center provides services to support Kern County LGBTQ+ residents in living happy, productive, fulfilling lives in a safe and supportive community. Our efforts are focused on individual support services such as counseling and activities to help build self-esteem, and community transformation activities including cultural competency trainings. By conservative estimates, 66,000 Kern residents identify as LGBTQ+ (7.1% of the population, as estimated by Gallup, 2022); many have struggled for self-acceptance as well as acceptance and understanding from family, friends, and community. The Center provides that acceptance and educates the wider community in how to provide affirming services. Since opening, The Center has welcomed over 13,000 visitors into its Safe Space as it serves the needs of Kern County’s LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Programs & Offerings Include:

Transcend 4-week Workshop for Trans & Gender Nonconforming folks
Radiant 4-week Workshop for folks in the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
Teen & Young Adult Discord Server & Hangouts
Mindfulness Meditation
Aro/Ace Space
Pride Pages Book Club
LGBTQ+ A.A. Meetings
Youth & Young Adult Gatherings (game nights, picnics, crafting)
Open Hours at the Center (Community &
Social, Games, Gathering)
1-1 Counseling Services
Resource Connection
Corporate Cultural Competency Trainings

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