Managing Director, Culture & Operations

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) is a national nonprofit that puts children — especially those pushed to society’s margins — at the center of every fight for justice. For more than 50 years, we have partnered with young people, families, and communities in efforts to dismantle racism, discrimination, and inequity wherever they appear. We recognize that harmful policies don’t affect children in isolation. Each young person’s well-being depends on their family’s stability, their community’s resources, and the opportunities they can access. By working across all systems that shape young people’s lives in a rapidly evolving society, we advance solutions that are holistic, intersectional, and transformative.

Position

The Managing Director, Culture & Operations will lead the development of an inclusive, equitable, positive, and adaptive culture at the NCYL, while ensuring that operations, systems, and infrastructure are efficient and aligned with NCYL’s mission and values.

They will guide all operational functions—not just the operations team—and work across leadership and staff to ensure people, systems, and resources support NCYL’s impact. The role requires a deep understanding of organizational change, restorative practices, and the value of lived expertise. This is a time-limited position; the position and its scope of responsibilities will be evaluated for continuation at the end of year one of employment. The role will report to the Executive Director.

The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader who values both structure and care. They will embed wellbeing, belonging, and equity into everyday policies, practices, and decisions. They understand that efficient operations and a thriving culture are deeply connected; they love systems that make teams more effective, are fluent in complex HR and financial matters, and take joy in planning meaningful staff interactions. They thrive on building strong, supportive infrastructure that will allow NCYL’s staff and mission to flourish.

Essential Functions

Culture, Wellbeing, and Staff Experience

• Lead internal initiatives that nurture a positive, connected, and adaptive culture through both formal and informal approaches that promote joy, trust, and collaboration.
• Design and facilitate inclusive meetings, retreats, and gatherings that foster open communication, creativity, and psychological safety.
• Develop and implement an internal plan that advances staff wellbeing, connection, and belonging and ensures organizational systems support these goals.
• Cultivate restorative and healing-centered approaches to conflict, promoting understanding, accountability, and growth.
• Embed restorative practices and equity-minded approaches in all policies, systems, and leadership practices.
• Lead the planning and facilitation of staff retreats, internal operational communications, and organization-wide initiatives that strengthen connection and performance.

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

Organizational Effectiveness and Operations

Learning, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

Qualifications

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires the ability to travel.

Salary, Benefits and Location

This is a two-year, full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary range of $181,600.00 to $267,000.00 annually.

Thecontinuationofthisrolewillbeevaluatedattheendofthefirstyearofemployment.

Once an offer is made, the salary is not open to negotiation. A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Boston, MA, New York City, Washington, DC or equivalent metro areas. This means that the salary would be reduced if the candidate resides in an area where the cost of labor is less than that of the San Francisco Bay Area.

NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, generous vacation and sick benefits, flexible spending account, commuter benefits, employer contribution to a retirement plan and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

NCYL is registered to do business in the following 14 locations : California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, or Wisconsin . If a candidate is hired but lives in a state where NCYL is not currently registered to do business, their start date may need to be delayed until registration can be completed in the new state. This process may take as many as three months to complete.

All positions at NCYL are at-will and paid for by grants and donations, thus employment with NCYL will be contingent upon continued receipt of funding. Nothing in the statement changes the at-will employment relationship.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume at the link below. Please, no emails or calls.

We welcome applications from individuals with different ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experiences within any of our practice areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

It is the policy of NCYL to provide equal employment opportunities to all Applicants (including Employees) regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, breastfeeding, national origin, age, abilities / disabilities, neurotypicality, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, prior convictions, or any other protected classifications under federal, state, or local law. NCYL makes all employment decisions based on job-related factors.

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