Director of Strategic Partnerships

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

For more information about us, visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Under the direction and leadership of the Division Director of Government Relations, the primary responsibility of the Director of Strategic Partnerships is to increase attention and resources to ending youth homelessness with a focus on growing Larkin Street’s presence beyond San Francisco. This role will develop and nurture relationships with a variety of stakeholders to support sound public policies and durable partnerships that increase Larkin Street’s ability to fulfill our mission.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities:

• Under the leadership and direction of the Division Director of Government Relations, support policies and partnerships that direct attention and resources to ending youth homelessness.
• Initiate, build, and maintain relationships with partners, advocates, elected officials, providers, and other stakeholders in Bay Area counties to support Larkin Street’s growing presence beyond San Francisco.
• Support Larkin Street’s program teams by building partnerships to create and sustain employment, education, and other service opportunities for young people.
• Track and analyze legislation in Greater Bay Area communities related to housing and homelessness.
• Monitor and advise on State legislative priorities.
• Collaborate with the Youth Leadership team to ensure youth voices are included in Larkin Street’s policy and advocacy priorities and decisions.
• Assist Division Director with research and development of policy stances and policy-related publications including Larkin Street’s annual Policy Brief.
• Represent Larkin Street at relevant municipal and county commission meetings, advisory groups, hearings, etc.
• Support with coordination of Larkin Street’s internal Policy & Advocacy working group, including coordinating public comment, generating talking points, etc.
• Manage/coordinate letters of support for local, State, and Federal legislation and advocacy action items.
• Identify and support the Public Funding team with government funding opportunities aligned with Larkin Street’s mission.
• Support with media relations related to policy and advocacy, including managing relationships with reporters, generating story ideas, writing op-eds and press releases, and placing quotes.
• Identify, lead, organize and promote events and virtual spaces that foster connections to elevate and advance efforts that support housing for youth experiencing homelessness.
• Participate in the overall management of the agency related to special projects, including those related to the agency’s strategic plan and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.
• This role provides direct support to the Division Director and may perform additional duties as required.

WHO YOU ARE:

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness and embody the social change goals we strive to achieve. 
• You hold a BA in Social Sciences, public policy, or related field. We will consider equivalent experience in policy, advocacy, government relations and/or homelessness/housing. 
• You have a working knowledge and/or lived experience of issues facing homelessness, disconnected youth, poverty, or social justice work with sufficient experience to understand the field and politics.
• You are an exceptional communicator, with the ability to translate sophisticated technical data into meaningful, actionable insights for a wide variety of audiences.
• You have demonstrated leadership experience.
• You thrive in a multi-cultural, divers