Managing Director (San Diego)

Managing Director

Location: San Diego, CA

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Application Deadline : June 30, 2025

Outside The Lens (OTL) seeks a collaborative and results-oriented leader to join our team as Managing Director, with a focus on learning, impact and strategy. In this key role, you'll drive continuous improvement of our media arts programs, bringing both creativity and operational excellence to amplify and elevate youth voice. The ideal candidate leads with empathy, adaptability, and a focus on follow-through, ensuring that our programs are effective, equitable, and responsive to the communities we serve.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Managing Director is a senior leader and thought partner to the Executive Director, responsible for advancing organizational effectiveness, cross-functional alignment, and measurable impact. This role is perfect for an action-driven implementer who thrives on turning strategic vision into measurable outcomes while building the systems necessary for organizational excellence.

With a focus on learning, impact, and strategy, the Managing Director helps translate vision into day-to-day execution, mentors emerging leaders, and develops the systems that support OTL’s next chapter of growth. When the Executive Director is externally focused, the Managing Director ensures internal operations remain strong, integrated, and aligned.

OUR CULTURE

At Outside The Lens, young people are empowered to drive social change through media arts. Our team thrives on creativity, purpose, and the belief that youth perspectives matter deeply. You'll join colleagues who collaborate openly, embrace new ideas, and adapt quickly to serve our diverse San Diego communities. We value your unique contributions and create space for everyone to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact. Here, your work directly supports our mission to cultivate confidence in the next generation of changemakers—helping them discover their creative potential and voice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership & Team Integration

• Drive the implementation of strategic initiatives with a focus on measurable results and continuous improvement.
• Create accountability systems that track progress against goals and celebrate team achievements.
• Identify cross-functional needs, challenges, and opportunities, and design solutions that support long-term sustainability.
• Mentor mid-level leaders and build structures that support collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Support the Executive Director in board communications and meeting preparation, and contribute to board engagement around impact, learning, and strategy.

Learning & Evaluation

• Create systems for tracking program impact and team performance
• Support Program Directors in embedding reflection, feedback, and evaluation into program design and delivery
• Facilitate regular knowledge-sharing across departments
• Develop sustainable data practices rooted in OTL's values that respect youth and community needs

Strategic Innovation & Systems Building

• Take ownership of translating strategic plans into detailed action steps with clear metrics for success.
• Build efficient operational systems that ensure consistent quality and measurable impact across all programs
• Design workflows and internal systems that streamline operations while supporting creativity and collaboration
• Pilot and assess partnerships or programs with attention to mission fit, feasibility, and measurable outcomes.

Impact Storytelling & Funder Support

• Identify opportunities for revenue-aligned program innovation and support funding strategies for new initiatives.
• Ensure that data, images and stories of impact are made available for funders, partners, and the broader community.
• Represent OTL in select funder or donor meetings to communicate program impact and strategic direction

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Within the first 12–18 months, success in this role will include:

• Taking satisfaction in completing projects that advance organizational goals on time and with excellence.
• Creating sustainable systems that measurably improve program quality and operational efficiency.
• Implementing clear systems for tracking program impact and organizational goals, and staff are using them consistently.
• Providing the board with timely, relevant updates on impact and key performance indicators.
• Creating at least two new internal workflows, planning tools, or cross-team systems that have been implemented and are functioning well.
• Supporting Program Directors through regular coaching who report increased clarity and confidence in their roles.
• Ensuring strategic priorities are progressing on schedule, with milestones tracked and communicated.
• Translating program data and stories so they are consistently used in board materials, funder reports, and external communications.
• Enabling the Executive Director to spend more time externally due to increased internal leadership capacity.
• Improving staff clarity around roles, expectations, and decision-making across teams.

Over time, additional indicators of success may include:

• Emerging leaders are promoted from within, with clear pathways for growth
• New initiatives are launched with strong alignment to mission and measurable early impact
• Cross-functional collaboration becomes a consistent organizational practice

QUALIFICATIONS

Core Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in arts education, youth development, or a mission-aligned nonprofit
• Proven experience in organizational strategy, team development, and systems-level thinking
• Skilled in program evaluation and using data to inform decision-making and storytelling
• Demonstrated ability to mentor diverse teams and build shared leadership practices
• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
• Lived or professional experience working in culturally responsive, equity-centered environments

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in media arts, creative education, or community storytelling.
• Spanish language proficiency or other relevant language skills
• Advanced degree in a related field (e.g., nonprofit management, public administration, education, arts); equivalent professional experience will also be considered
• Familiarity with digital media tools, impact measurement platforms, or community-based evaluation methods

Additional Qualifications:

• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally as needed
• Ability to lift and move items up to 25 pounds
• Flexibility to support occasional evening/weekend programs or events

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

• The ideal candidate finds deep satisfaction in bringing order to complexity and seeing tangible results from their efforts.
• The ideal candidate combines process excellence with relationship intelligence, understanding that strong systems rely on engaged people.
• The ideal candidate has worked in nonprofits or social impact spaces where equity, innovation, and accountability are core values.
• The ideal candidate thrives when implementing strategic vision through practical, systematic approaches and takes pride in measurable accomplishments.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary range $93,000-110,000, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• Medical insurance (100% of base plan covered by employer)
• Dental and vision insurance (50% covered by employer)
• PTO accrual starting at 10 days annually, increasing with tenure
• 13 paid holidays annually
• Sick leave benefits
• Professional development opportunities

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Outside The Lens is a team of around 30 dedicated professionals. The Managing Director will directly supervise the Grants Manager and Communications Specialist, while overseeing the Directors of Operations, Media Makers, and Education Teams. This position plays a critical role in the organization's leadership team, helping to shape OTL's future direction and growth.

WORK ARRANGEMENT

This position is based in San Diego at our headquarters in the East Village, with some remote work flexibility possible.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY