EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Founded in 2013, YAMA has grown from a grassroots music program into a thriving youth development organization that has empowered more than a thousand young people through music education, mentorship, leadership development, and post-graduation scholarships. With a strong reputation, stable operations, committed staff, and an engaged and growing Board, YAMA has a strong foundation and is simultaneously heading into an exciting new phase of growth and evolution.

Each year, more than 100 students call YAMA “family” and eagerly participate in daily after-school music programming offered at Garfield Elementary School in the Yakima Valley. Through consistent mentorship, intentional trust-building, and daily ensemble instruction across four string orchestras, YAMA creates spaces where young musicians take creative risks, lead rehearsals, and see themselves as artists and decision-makers. The team includes a mix of full- and part-time administrators, Teaching Artists, high-school-aged Assistant Teachers, and a committed, values-aligned Board of Directors.

YAMA is a dynamic organization with emergent leadership from newer staff and Board, as well as active support and seasoned wisdom from returning team members, including program alumni on staff. YAMA invites fresh energy and strategic direction from its next ED. The ED will partner with YAMA’s Program Director, who leads the vision and operations of daily programming, special events, and teacher training, while the ED focuses on financial health, staffing continuity, and organizational sustainability to ensure maximum program impact.

Vision & Strategy: Co-lead YAMA's vision, strategy, and growth with the Program Director, seeking funding, partnerships, and organizational opportunities that are aligned with YAMA’s values of building youth power; prioritizing staff wellness and growth; and relational community-building.

Culture & Values Leadership: Model humility, radical welcome, and growth mindset while keeping student success at the center of decisions. Nurture a culture of care, reflection, and curiosity, strengthening YAMA as a workplace that promotes from within and supports long-term staff and alumni pathways.

Board Development & Management: Recruit and engage a vision-aligned Board that energizes YAMA’s team, mission, fundraising, and impact. Equip Board members to serve as effective advocates and proactive supporters of YAMA artists.

Team Management & Supervision: Build a collaborative, accountable staff through clear role design, strong communication, and close partnership with team members. Supervise, coach, and develop four direct reports through ongoing feedback and mentorship.

Fundraising & Partnerships: Partner with Development Manager to cultivate donors, secure funding, steward relationships, coordinate marketing efforts, and pursue values-aligned grant opportunities that advance YAMA's mission, sustainability, and community impact.

Human Resources: Lead annual hiring, on-boarding, retention, and off-boarding processes, ensuring clear roles and transparent staffing structures. Oversee equitable compensation practices, including pay policies, raises, role changes, performance management, and progressive discipline and termination when necessary.

Financial Oversight: Partner with the Administrative Manager, accountant, and Treasurer to develop and monitor YAMA’s budget, ensure accurate reporting, and communicate financial updates to the Board and staff. Coach staff account managers in responsible, mission-aligned financial stewardship.

Organizational Compliance: Oversee and manage contracts, leases, and licenses. Ensure organizational compliance and effective risk management with Administrative Manager, ensuring ethical and legal integrity across the organization.

Required qualifications: Leadership experience with direct supervision, coaching or mentorship; strong organizational, project management, and communication skills; experience in at least one of the following: HR, fundraising, or finance. Alignment with YAMA’s values, including belief in the power of youth and a relational, growth-oriented leadership style. Ability to balance detail and follow-through with big-picture impact.

Preferred qualifications: Strong facilitation skills, with ability to guide discussions, build consensus, and move groups toward action. Experience in collaborative teams with shared leadership and accountability. Bilingual English/Spanish a plus, or willingness to learn and grow.

Training & support: Structured support includes flexible ED transition with the outgoing ED; close partnership with Program Director; consistent Treasurer meetings; facilitated relational connections to parents, former staff and program alumni; and experienced alumni on program staff and administrative team.

Work environment & schedule: YAMA supports a flexible hybrid work environment, recognizing that effective leadership can happen in a variety of settings. At the same time, this role requires regular in-person presence and relationship-building with staff, students, families, donors, and community partners, with occasional evening and weekend commitments for Board meetings and events.

$70k- 85k annual salary (1.0 FTE), dependent on experience. $6k annual health stipend. 4 weeks of PTO and 2 weeks of paid office closures, as determined by ED. 11 paid federal holidays. Sick leave accrued at double the state minimum (~2 weeks annually). $900 annual professional development allotment. 3-month paid sabbatical after 6 years of full-time employment. Encouragement to shape policy and employee care benefits through ED role.

Submit the reflection + application form, including résumé and references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled.

What questions do you have? E-mail hiring@yamamusic.org! Our priority is to find the right fit and we welcome your curiosity and connection.