The Opportunity:
The Hidden Genius Project, a national nonprofit organization founded in Oakland in 2012, is dedicated to training and mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities. The Hidden Genius Project is seeking a dynamic and visionary Los Angeles Site Director to lead the expansion of their transformative programs into the greater Los Angeles area, with a competitive salary of $86,000–$100,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
In this pivotal role, you will uphold and embody The Hidden Genius Project’s mission, culture, and values, ensuring that our programs resonate with and effectively serve the local community. You will be instrumental in fostering meaningful relationships with participants, their families, and key stakeholders while overseeing the delivery of innovative, youth-centered programming that uplifts, educates, and transforms.
This is more than a position—it’s an opportunity to lead, innovate, and shape the future of engagement within a network of emerging technologists, entrepreneurs, and leaders. If you are a strategic thinker with a proven track record in community leadership and a passion for empowering Black male youth, we invite you to join The Hidden Genius Project and contribute to our mission of transforming lives and communities.
What You’ll Do: Lead, Empower, Transform 🌟- Deliver Impactful Programming: You will design and oversee dynamic, youth-centered initiatives that align with The Hidden Genius Project’s mission, ensuring every participant thrives in a supportive and inspiring environment.
- Mentor with Purpose: You will build meaningful, one-on-one relationships with program participants, addressing their holistic needs while fostering their growth as leaders and innovators.
- Strengthen Community Partnerships: You will develop and maintain strategic relationships with families, stakeholders, and local organizations to expand the reach and impact of programming.
- Drive Operational Excellence: You will oversee daily operations, including preparing spaces, coordinating meals, and organizing participant travel, ensuring seamless program delivery.
- Steward Financial Resources: You will create and manage the site’s annual budget, allocating resources responsibly to achieve organizational goals and maximize impact.
- Lead Fundraising Efforts: You will secure philanthropic funding through grants, donor engagement, and cultivating partnerships that sustain and grow The Hidden Genius Project’s presence in Los Angeles.
- Empower Your Team: You will coordinate and develop site staff, interns, and volunteers to align with organizational objectives, providing regular training and feedback to support their growth.
- Track Progress and Measure Success: You will collect, analyze, and report data to support organizational learning, ensure quality assurance, and inform program improvements.
What You’ll Bring: Leadership, Vision, Commitment 🎯- Proven Leadership Excellence: You have successfully led youth-focused programs or initiatives, achieving measurable outcomes through mentoring, technology, or community development.
- A Deep Commitment to Black Male Youth: You bring a profound understanding of and dedication to empowering Black males, addressing their holistic needs through thoughtful programming and mentorship.
- Strategic Partnership Builder: You excel at fostering relationships with families, local organizations, and stakeholders to cultivate collaborations that amplify impact.
- Exceptional Operational Skills: You thrive in dynamic environments by effectively prioritizing, delegating, and managing logistics, budgets, and resources with precision.
- Adaptability in Complex Settings: You navigate changing circumstances with confidence and resilience, maintaining focus on delivering measurable outcomes.
- Technological Proficiency: You leverage technology to enhance program delivery and communication, ensuring seamless coordination across teams and stakeholders.
- Commitment to Continuous Learning: You embrace feedback and consistently seek opportunities for growth, modeling an ethos of lifelong learning.
What Sets You Apart: Innovation, Expertise, and Differentiators 🌍- Deep Understanding of Youth Development: You have a demonstrated ability to create transformative experiences for underserved youth, with a particular emphasis on addressing the holistic needs of Black male participants.
- Fundraising and Partnership Expertise: You have proven success in securing philanthropic funding, cultivating donor relationships, and forging partnerships with mission-aligned organizations.
- Experience in Launching New Initiatives: You bring a track record of starting and scaling impactful programs or sites, particularly in startup or growth-oriented environments.
- Technological Savvy and Vision: You are familiar with using technology to innovate within youth programs, enhance operations, and deliver effective virtual and hybrid experiences.
- Commitment to Data-Driven Impact: You have experience implementing systems to track, measure, and report programmatic outcomes, ensuring continual improvement and accountability.
- Los Angeles Community Insight: You have an established network within the Los Angeles region and a keen understanding of the unique opportunities and challenges in the community.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: You are a forward-thinker who adapts quickly, leveraging innovative approaches to overcome challenges, strengthen programs, and achieve mission-aligned goals.
The Hiring Process: Your Journey to Empowering Los Angeles’ Youth 📝- Stage 1 (Initial Connect): Start the process with a 30-minute virtual conversation with a member of the hiring team. This discussion will explore your career journey, aspirations, and how your experiences align with the Los Angeles Site Director role and The Hidden Genius Project’s mission.
- Stage 2 (Work Sample Assignment): Complete a take-home project designed to reflect the key responsibilities of the Site Director role. This assignment will give you an opportunity to showcase your strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and vision for creating impactful community programs.
- Stage 3 (Panel Interview): Engage in a virtual panel discussion with key leaders at The Hidden Genius Project. This stage will delve into your work sample, leadership philosophy, and strategies for advancing the organization’s mission in the Los Angeles area.
- Stage 4 (Site Visit and Interaction): Visit the Los Angeles site for an in-person meeting with stakeholders, staff, and volunteers. During this visit, you’ll engage in interactive discussions, experience the program environment firsthand, and deepen your understanding of our culture and community impact.
- Stage 5 (Final Review & Offer): If we identify strong alignment, we’ll extend a competitive offer to join The Hidden Genius Project as the Los Angeles Site Director. This is your opportunity to make a transformative impact on the lives of young leaders and their communities.
What’s In It For You: Impact, Growth, and Fulfillment 🚀- Competitive Compensation: Earn a salary that reflects your expertise and dedication to the mission, with a range of $86,000–$100,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive Health Benefits: Enjoy employer contributions toward medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your dependents, ensuring comprehensive health and wellness support.
- Retirement Savings Plan: Build your financial future with a 401(k) plan, including company matching to help achieve your long-term goals.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Balance your professional and personal life with generous PTO, including holidays, floating holidays, and self-care reading days.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Receive annual funding for professional growth initiatives, empowering you to expand your skills and leadership capacity.
- Inclusive and Mission-Driven Culture: Join a Black-led organization that prioritizes equity, diversity, and the empowerment of underserved youth, creating a workplace rooted in purpose and impact.
- Additional Employee Perks: Access voluntary benefits such as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), legal and pet insurance, commuter benefits, and discounts through TriNet’s Marketplace.
- Meaningful Impact: Contribute to an organization that transforms lives, communities, and futures through innovative mentorship, leadership, and technology programming.
About The Hidden Genius Project
The Hidden Genius Project, established in Oakland in 2012, is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to training and mentoring Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills. By bridging the gap between high unemployment rates among Black male youth and abundant opportunities in the tech sector, The Hidden Genius Project empowers young men to transform their lives, their futures, and their communities.
Founded by five Black male entrepreneurs and technologists, The Hidden Genius Project offers impactful programs, including the 15-month Intensive Immersion Program. This initiative provides high school-aged Black males with holistic mentorship and rigorous training, equipping them with the skills to become leaders and innovators. Now operating in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, the organization continues to expand, with plans to launch new initiatives in 2025.
Rooted in community and learning, The Hidden Genius Project empowers young Black men to pursue their dreams, achieve their goals, and leverage technology to create meaningful change.
Research shows that many candidates apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, while women and other marginalized folks tend only to apply when they check every box. If you have what it takes but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch. We'd love to chat and learn more about what you want to do next in your career.
The Hidden Genius Project is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer – All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual’s age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.