Overview
Executive Director Jobs in New York, NY at Community Craft Works
Title: Executive Director
Company: Community Craft Works
Location: New York, NY
ABOUT COMMUNITY CRAFT WORKS
Community Craft Works (CCW) is a Harlem-based nonprofit launching a pilot youth workforce development program in September 2026 at Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem. CCW delivers free, hands-on woodworking, digital fabrication, and design programming for teens ages 13 to 18, pairing craftsmanship with modern digital tools and a commitment to career-connected learning. Every student earns an OSHA 10 safety credential, completes a professional portfolio, and has access to paid apprenticeship opportunities. CCW is committed to equity, access, and long-term economic opportunity for Harlem youth.
THE OPPORTUNITY
CCW is seeking a founding Executive Director to lead the organization into its launch year and beyond. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new institution from the ground up, working alongside a deeply committed founding team and a community that is ready for what CCW offers.
The ED will hold full executive authority over organizational management, operations, finance, fundraising, and external partnerships. CCW's Co-Founders, Director of Workshop Operations & Co-Founder Stefano Biaggioni and Board Chair & Co-Founder Lian Valera, operate in a cooperative relationship with the ED. Both founders bring deep program and governance expertise and remain active in CCW's mission, and the ED is expected to lead with confidence alongside — not over — them.
****THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT ON FUNDING CONFIRMATION****
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership
- Lead day-to-day operations and organizational management, ensuring CCW launches on time in September 2026 and delivers on its commitments to students, partners, and funders
- Work in close collaboration with the Director of Workshop Operations and Board Chair, maintaining a culture of transparency, trust, and shared ownership
- Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, reporting on organizational health, risk, and strategy
- Build and maintain CCW's internal systems, policies, and procedures to support responsible growth
Fundraising & Development
- Lead CCW's fundraising strategy across foundation grants, government funding, corporate partnerships, and individual donors
- Manage the full grant cycle: prospect identification, proposal writing, budget preparation, and compliance reporting
- Cultivate relationships with major donors and institutional funders aligned with CCW's workforce and equity mission
- Coordinate with CCW’s fiscal sponsor during the transition to full 501(c)(3) status
Finance & Compliance
- Oversee budgeting, financial management, and expense authorization in accordance with nonprofit best practices
- Manage grant compliance, reimbursement documentation, and funder reporting requirements
- Coordinate with legal counsel (Gibson Dunn & Crutcher) and accountants on 501(c)(3) compliance, Form 990, and regulatory filings
- Ensure robust internal controls and maintain financial records for Board and funder review
Partnerships & Community Presence
- Represent CCW externally with government agencies, community boards, elected officials, and institutional partners
- Support and coordinate outreach to Community Boards 9, 10, and 11, as well as relationships with local elected officials
- Negotiate and manage MOUs, vendor contracts, and partnership agreements
- Support employer outreach for the apprenticeship program and the annual Community Showcase
Staff & Program Operations
- Supervise operational and administrative staff; support hiring, onboarding, and performance management
- Coordinate with the Director of Workshop Operations on program scheduling, student supports, certification logistics, and OSHA compliance
- Oversee student stipend administration, apprenticeship wage disbursement, and vendor payments
- Ensure CCW meets all NYC DOE, NYSED CDOS, and youth-serving compliance requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Minimum 5 years of senior nonprofit leadership experience, including direct responsibility for fundraising and organizational management
- Demonstrated success securing foundation, government, and/or corporate funding
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing nonprofit budgets and grant compliance
- Experience working in or alongside community-based organizations in historically underserved communities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable representing an organization publicly
- Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust across a founding team, a board, and external partners
Preferred
- Experience in youth workforce development, career and technical education (CTE), or trades-adjacent programming
- Existing relationships with NYC and NYS funders, government agencies, or community boards
- Familiarity with NYC DOE partnership processes or NYSED compliance frameworks
- Experience launching or scaling an early-stage nonprofit organization
- Connections to Harlem or Upper Manhattan's civic and philanthropic ecosystem
- Personal experience living or working in disenfranchised communities, with a deep understanding of the barriers facing the youth CCW serves
WHAT WE OFFER
- A founding leadership role with real authority to shape a new institution
- A mission-driven, values-aligned founding team committed to equity and long-term impact
- Compensation: $80,000 – $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience
- A September 2026 launch date with infrastructure, curriculum, partnerships, and legal work already underway
- The opportunity to build something lasting for Harlem youth
- This position is contingent on funding confirmation.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Community Craft Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who reflect the communities we serve.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please send a resume and a brief cover letter describing your interest in CCW and your relevant experience to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Community Craft Works is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.
