We’re Hiring!

Deputy Director, LA Más *updated 11.19.2024

Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Los Angeles, CA


Role

LA Más has exciting things happening - we have a new space, just purchased our first community owned property, and are moving forward our community economies programming with more resources than ever before, all while staying deeply committed to community.

As we expand our work, we are looking for a Deputy Director to join our team and play a central role in our organization. We’re looking for a person of all trades that makes sure all the pieces in all the places are happening, embraces and supports our culture, and takes full accountability to ensure we are meeting community, donor and partner expectations. This role will focus heavily on driving revenue for LA Más both directly and via support and leverage for the Executive Director, while helping to strengthen and solidify our organization.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who can take an idea and follow through to make sure it happens, who thrives from wearing all the hats and playing all the roles, and someone who is willing to throw down! A human who is excited about a day that starts with building a project plan side by side with our Director of Community Economies for an upcoming Mercado, takes a quick break, and then shifts to writing a grant for the donor meeting they had the week before. Then, after lunch, facilitating a meeting with the team, Board to plan the annual fundraiser before finishing the day reviewing all project plans and meeting agendas to ensure things are tightened up and ready to go! We are a small and mighty team, so will also want a colleague who vibes with the existing LA Más team and eager to add their own flavor into the way we work.

This is an incredible opportunity for someone looking to grow their skills and experience in leading a community based non-profit, willing to fill in gaps as needed, and someone who’s imagining their next role as a Chief of Staff or Executive Director.


Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Development

  • Collaborate with the Executive Director to create and execute a strategic fundraising plan.

  • Manage the full fundraising pipeline, ensuring timely follow-ups and advancing donor relationships.

  • Oversee grants management, including writing proposals, meeting reporting requirements, and maintaining communication with funders.

  • Cultivate relationships with institutional funders, individual donors, and allies in the ecosystem.

  • Lead the planning and execution of fundraising events, including the annual Rooted fundraiser.

  • Identify and explore opportunities for earned revenue streams to support organizational sustainability.

Sales, Marketing & Communications

  • Shape and refine LA Más’ brand identity to reflect its mission and values.

  • Develop compelling narratives for funders, partners, and community engagement efforts.

  • Represent LA Más at meetings, events, public speaking engagements, and advisory groups to build visibility and support.

  • Lead communication efforts, including newsletters, annual reports, and media opportunities.

Organizational Program & Project Management

  • Ensure smooth operations and alignment across organizational priorities, supporting the team in meeting shared objectives.

  • Track and oversee organizational project plans, metrics, and impact reporting to meet funder and community accountability requirements, including helping to evaluate all new project possibilities.

  • Step into program gaps or resource additional capacity as needed while preparing for future hires.

Leadership & Organizational Support

  • Serve as a key partner to the Executive Director, team, and board, ensuring they are set up for success.

  • Act as a resourceful problem-solver, stepping into various roles to address challenges and streamline operations.

  • Foster a culture of shared decision-making, care, and accountability throughout the organization.

Requirements

We value lived experiences and encourage candidates to apply if they don’t meet all the requirements. This list gives you a sense of relevant expertise we’re looking for.

  • 5+ years experience fundraising, grants administration, or business development

  • Understanding of LA’s community development and/or institutional/individual funder landscape

  • Experience in communications, grant writing, or storytelling

  • Master’s degree in public policy, urban planning, business, or related field

  • Excellent writing skills that could summarize complexity and technical details into something succinct and compelling

  • Detailed project management skills - being able to transform an idea into reality while working with partners, maintaining a budget, and keeping a timeline


What we expect from you

  • Shared Values | Belief in our mission, vision, and values - and desire to help realize!

  • Co-Creation | To co-create with the team the processes, practices, and systems that will help LA Más become a sustainable org led by community

  • Trust | A commitment to building, sustaining, and honoring trust with the team and community.

  • Clear Communications | As a small and mighty team, our work requires clear communications so we can effectively collaborate.

  • Collaboration | This role is meant to provide areas of focus, but not to limit team contribution in other areas where skills or an extra hand may be needed.

What to expect from the team

  • Change + Iteration | Our existing systems and structures are not set in stone, but rather an interim proposal as we deepen our work. As a result, we may be revisiting prior decisions and making room for emergent strategy.

  • Conflict Resolution | As we aspire to have a healing-inspired practice in our community work, we are committed to making sure any conflict as a team is addressed explicitly, appropriately, and with care and empathy.

  • Agreeing to Disagree | We may not always agree and that’s okay. We create space to respectfully disagree and opportunities to safely share.

  • Honoring Your Full Self | At a baseline, we want to avoid burnout and as an aspiration, we envision a working culture that honors that each of us have lives outside of work and that it’s encouraged to challenge norms of keeping our personal lives separate - especially when it undermines how we can authentically show up at in our roles.

Decision-making + Agency

  • Values-based | Although there is a ED ultimately responsible for the direction of the org, there is an ethos of collective decision-making on all major decisions. We expect that all decisions clearly reflect the mission, vision, and values.

  • Honoring Collective Wisdom | Each team member has work they are leading, which will require collaboration from at least one or two other team members. Rather than having to run a program by yourself, there is always room for team discussion.

  • Confidence in You | However, there is a lot of autonomy because we recognize each person has specific roles because of expertise and leadership ability - and there is a level of trust the team places in following that person’s direction.


Why Join LA Más?
This is an opportunity to be part of a values-driven organization deeply rooted in community. The Deputy Director will play a key role in advancing LA Más’ mission and vision, helping to create lasting, meaningful change alongside a dedicated and passionate team.  Our values include:

  • Grounding our work in the historical resistance from BIPOC & local communities and movements;

  • Honoring a relationship to land that uplifts Indigenous practices and stewardship;

  • Practicing mutuality + interdependence as part of an ecosystem of residents, organizations and coalitions;

  • Celebrating cultural + language diversity by making our spaces accessible and inclusive;

  • Creating spaces of restoration + healing that sustain and support our community’s well-being;

  • Expanding traditional notions of value, knowledge and skills to honor our community’s unique contributions.

Compensation

  • This is a full-time salaried position at 40 hrs/week with a salary range from $95-$115K depending on experience.

  • Benefits

  • 100% medical, dental and vision insurance employee coverage by employer

  • Access to a FSA account

  • Paid leave (sick, mental health, bereavement, parental)

  • Unlimited vacation w/ 10 days minimum usage per year

  • $1K professional development stipend per year


How to apply

If you’re interested in this position or have questions, please submit your resume and cover letter to Helen Leung at helen@mas.la.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with an ideal start date of early 2025.