Key Responsibilities
Leadership and Supervision
- Lead and supervise ON Community Initiative staff, Community Advocates and Program staff delivering onsite services at four affordable housing communities.
- Provide strategic direction, coaching, performance management, and professional development to a high-performing team responsible for collective impact, resident engagement, and service delivery.
- Lead the identification, onboarding, and support of Resident Advocates and Community Ambassadors who contribute to organizing efforts and strengthen resident voice and leadership.
- Serve as a leadership presence across sites and initiatives, ensuring mission alignment, consistency, and collaboration.
Collective Impact and Systems Change
- Direct ON efforts in Reston and Herndon, facilitating governance teams and working groups in implementing the ON shared agenda.
- Use an equity and systems-change lens to align community priorities with Fairfax County’s One Fairfax policy and broader strategies for racial and social equity.
- Coordinate Cornerstones’ internal cross-functional team (youth services, advocacy, social work, community organizing) to align services with community priorities and advance systemic solutions.
- Partner with Fairfax County and regional stakeholders to ensure alignment of ON efforts within broader County and community initiatives.
Community Organizing and Partnership Building
- Build and maintain strong, reciprocal relationships with residents, schools, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, and government agencies.
- Guide community-centered planning, engagement, and decision-making processes, ensuring resident voices shape policies and programs.
- Facilitate leadership development opportunities for youth and adults that elevate local talent, foster civic participation, and sustain change from within.
Strategic Planning and Coordination
- Develop and implement comprehensive annual workplans for ON Reston and ON Herndon that reflect shared goals, measurable outcomes, and strategic priorities.
- Facilitate regular coordination and communication across governance structures, partner workgroups, and internal Cornerstones teams.
- Serve as a neutral facilitator to resolve conflict, navigate complex systems, and keep efforts aligned and forward-moving.
Data, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Oversee data collection, indicator tracking, and evaluation strategies for ON initiatives in coordination with partners and Cornerstones’ internal data teams.
- Produce compelling reports and presentations on ON progress and impact for funders, the community, and public partners.
- Use data to drive decision-making, community learning, and policy advocacy.
Communications and Advocacy
- Collaborate with the Director of Advocacy and Public Policy to lift up resident-identified priorities, amplify community voice, and advocate for structural change.
- Represent ON and resident engagement efforts at County meetings, policy forums, and community events.
- Coordinate internal and external communications, including public messaging, event planning, and media engagement in partnership with Cornerstones’ Communications team.
Resource Development
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities to sustain and grow ON and resident engagement work.
- Contribute to grant writing, reporting, and partner coordination in collaboration with development staff.
- Monitor budgets and resource allocation to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and funder expectations.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, community development, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
Experience and Skills
- Minimum 7 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit or community-based settings, with at least 3 years in staff supervision and team leadership roles.
- Deep understanding of collective impact, community organizing, and equitable community engagement in historically disinvested communities.
- Demonstrated success in managing multi-stakeholder initiatives and building coalitions across sectors.
- Strong strategic planning, facilitation, and project management skills.
- Commitment to racial and social equity, with the cultural humility and authenticity to build trust in diverse communities.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience using data and community feedback to drive learning and improvement.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, collaboration platforms, and data tools.
- Flexibility to work evenings/weekends and travel between sites.
- Reliable transportation required.
Cornerstones Vision, Purpose and Values:
Cornerstones works to create communities of opportunity that strengthen families, neighborhoods and our region through advocacy and direct services that offer stability, empowerment and hope for Northern Virginia’s most vulnerable populations. Cornerstones’ employees build and sustain our culture through a commitment to these values:
- Serve and Lead with Passion for Mission Excellence
- Act with Integrity
- Champion Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Collaborate and Innovate for Impact
- Equip and Empower for Success
Work Environment:
While this position is sometimes performed in a traditional office environment, there are programming aspects that require active “hands-on” participation in the community center, in the surrounding areas of the apartment complex, county partner locations and in outdoor environments.
An Equal Opportunity Employer.
