Assistant Vice President of Community Infrastructure and System Alignment

Job Title: Assistant Vice President of Community Infrastructure and System Alignment

Company Name: Nebraska Children & Families Foundation

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Lincoln, Omaha, or remote within Nebraska

Nebraska Children And Families Foundation

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation (NCFF) is a nonprofit created to support children, young adults, and families with the overall goal of giving our state's children what they need to thrive. We do this by building strong communities that support families. Our mission is to create positive change for Nebraska’s children through community engagement and we believe in a Nebraska where all children will have the resources and support to thrive.

Summary

The AVP of Community Infrastructure and System Alignment role seeks to create a focused internal and external approach to assisting NCFF supported community collaboratives as they navigate collective impact and the implementation of new and existing initiatives. This position seeks to better understand the needed processes required, both internally and externally, to ensure communities have what they need to support a comprehensive community-based wellbeing system for children and families. The first responsibility is to the community collaborative partnerships, working toward a Nebraska where all children, youth, and families thrive.

The Key Functions Of This Role Are As Follows

• Ensuring seamless and consistent communication with communities and internally at NC 
• Supporting the alignment of efforts coming together for a community  
• Streamlining processes  
• Supporting community by being available for their questions and being able to triage to appropriate NC staff to meet their needs  
  
  

Bring Up Nebraska Internal Coordination

Role

The Bring Up Nebraska Intern Coordination team works in partnership with community collaboratives across Nebraska. This requires Nebraska Children staff to act in a servant leadership role with community partners, as well as our internal programmatic staff. To build internal and external trust in our unique model for community change, this position will focus on the following:

• Recognizing and respecting the unique characteristics of stakeholders, in both rural and urban settings
• Showing we are attuned to needs, internal and external
• Communicating in a clear and consistent manner that meets expectations
• Follow-through on needs and requests in a timely, attentive manner
• Sharing information with all partners within a group
• Developing and implementing systems that increase communication and project management
• Using data and information to influence processes and strategies to be implemented in community impact work
• Train, support and model to assigned communities on collective impact best practices
  
  

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as day-to-day contact and support for assigned community partners and triage community needs by resolving questions or navigating to correct NC staff.
• Backbone support to facilitate planning and coordinating the day-to-day programmatic and operational activities of the Bring Up Nebraska efforts across the state.
• Support BUN efforts through Community Response to enhance the overall quality of prevention system infrastructure in NE.
• Facilitate and assist with community conversations to support BUN local efforts to build sustainable collaboratives.
• Identify cross-functional TA needs of community partners and engage appropriate internal NC staff on a regular basis.
• Keep up with internal shared calendar of community meetings and events, continuously communicate with internal, cross-functional staff regarding community events or needs.
• Partner with internal staff on grant and/or proposal writing as appropriate to the objectives and funding nature of the Initiative.
• Understand community funding streams and work with collaboratives, and internally, to best blend and braid funding for efficient and non-duplicative budgeting.
• Analyze trends in the Bring Up Nebraska Internal Infrastructure team outcomes, identifying issues and developing and recommending solutions.
• Supports all BUN program development and integration with other NC programmatic initiatives.
• Work in partnership with internal evaluation team and external evaluators assigned to each community partner, supports and informs outcome evaluation efforts
• Participate on a team to streamline and manage contract compliance activities, including budgeting, contracting, and reporting.
• Coordinate with Contract Management team to facilitate TA to communities regarding ongoing reporting requirements.
• Willingness to travel state-wide to develop relationships and provide on-site TA as needed
• Effectively lead meetings both in person and via conference call or video conference platforms
• Support statewide peer learning networks among community partners
• Interweave the Youth & Families Thrive framework into community, and consistently and intentionally reinforce the concepts. Includes becoming a trainer and participating in a community of practice.
• Serves as a representative of the Foundation, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with funders, partnering organizations and the public.
  
  

Role Requirements

• Complete ownership of smooth operations of the Bring Up Nebraska areas described above, directly related to the management or general business operations of community partners and Contractors
• Resourcefulness and problem-solving in a pinch
• Attention to smallest details, knowing those impact the quality of our relationships
• Proactive check-ins, follow up and follow through without prompting
• Project management of short- and long-term projects and timelines for communities
• Communicate, work well within a team, with minimal day-to-day supervision of tasks
• Approach difficult conversations with confidence and empathy
• Exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
  
  

Personal Characteristics

• Innovative Mindset: Look for new and creative ways to address issues and apply an entrepreneurial mindset when problem-solving.
• Take initiative: When problems arise, be focused on solutions and motivated to take action.
• Outcome driven: Understanding the outcome and big picture, complete small and large tasks to achieve outcomes. See efforts through to the finish and be willing to do the work at all levels.
• Willingness to learn: Always act with a servant leader mindset, willing to listen, learn, and pivot course to respect unique needs and situational context. Decisions are not made in a “top-down” manner, but in partnership with stakeholders.
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, diplomatic, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
  
  

Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

WORK DIRECTION RECEIVED: Works with minimal direction.

SCOPE/NATURE OF DISCRETION: Delegated discretion; authority to initiate and carry out actions that are deemed essential.

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY: Commit to and actively work toward equity, diversity, and inclusivity in all aspects of duties related to staff, internal and external stakeholders, contractors, consultants, trainers, and external agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Required

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in related field and/or minimum of 5 years combined education, lived, and professional experience in community building, primary prevention, and/or collective impact.
• A minimum of one year employment with Nebraska Children, working within the community-based, collective impact approach.
• Applicable, demonstrated experience in management, operations, collaborative leadership, and successful implementation of new processes.
• Experience working in highly collaborative environments including public and private sector partnerships.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to consistently manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
  
  

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience with Microsoft productivity suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management systems.
• Knowledge and experience working with core organizational operations functions.
• Knowledge of collaborative leadership, consensus building, and change management.
• Demonstrated knowledge and mindset of collective impact and servant leadership
  
  

Abilities

• Experience working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to conform to shifting priorities, demands, and timeliness utilizing effective analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to generate cooperation from various sources, including academic, commercial, government, partners, management, and other NC staff and departments.
• Ability to maintain a working knowledge of research-based best practices in primary prevention
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships, specifically with marginalized populations
• Facilitation skills to help staff and partners develop and clarify communications goals and objectives
  
  

Preferred

• Background in development of collaborative infrastructures.
• Previous experience within Nebraska Children specific initiatives or community collaborative work, either internally or as an external partner.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
  
  

Equivalency Statement

Applicants who do not meet the qualifications stated above are encouraged to write precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to use their hands.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to drive.
  
  

Working Conditions

• Flexible schedule may include some evenings and weekends; willingness to travel within the state, as well as outside the state. May include overnight stays.
• Access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to home office, including designated work and storage space, and telecommuting capacities, such as reliable internet connection and cell phone. A laptop and printer/scanner will be provided.
  
  

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation 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.

Summary: The Assistant Vice President of Community Infrastructure and System Alignment at Nebraska Children & Families Foundation is responsible for supporting community collaboratives in their collective impact efforts and ensuring they have the resources and support needed to create a comprehensive community-based wellbeing system for children and families. This role involves coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, streamlining processes, and providing technical assistance to community partners. The ideal candidate will have a background in community building, primary prevention, and collective impact, as well as experience in management and operations. This is a full-time, exempt position that may require some evening and weekend work, as well as travel within and outside of Nebraska. Nebraska Children & Families Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. #AVP #CommunityInfrastructure #SystemAlignment #CollectiveImpact #CommunityBuilding #PrimaryPrevention #NebraskaChildren #FamiliesFoundation #Nonprofit #FullTime #Exempt #Omaha #RemoteWork #Nebraska #CommunityEngagement #Children #Families #Thrive #Equity #Diversity #Inclusivity #CollaborativeLeadership #ChangeManagement #ProjectManagement #TechnicalAssistance #FlexibleSchedule #EqualOpportunityEmployer