Pros
Those doing the work at the entry and mid-management level have a heart for service and strong intellect. You will learn a lot from these individuals. As this organization is very well-connected within the Orange County community, you will have a lot of opportunity to network with high-powered individuals within successful public and private organizations. Additionally, because of the high turnover rate, there is a lot of opportunity to potentially advance.
Cons
If you are looking for a leader willing to listen to the data and the field-level team actually implementing the work, OCUW is not the organization for you. C-level leadership often acts on beliefs and whimsical ideas instead of leaning on best practices or proven statistics. Moreover, income goals that are expressed to the public are based on pledges that often do not come to fruition. There is no opportunity to express concerns without being met with defensive responses or complete ignoring of the proposed problem discussed. Without accountability applied equally across the portfolio of employees, those without the skills, proven track record or knowledge of the position are promoted prematurely or simply because of who they know. There have been several instances where complaints about the professionalism and work of an employee have simply led to that individual being moved around - at the same pay rate and title. In those same instances, C-level leadership have openly discussed in front of subordinates the negative feelings and distrust they had of those employees - thus leading to an environment of inappropriate conduct and tension. There is a strong reliance on third-party contractors, who charge exorbitant fees, that is a poor use of donor funds. Moreover, there are great conflicts of interests as a handful of OCUW employees have used their current positions as platforms for political gain and past Board members who have used their former status to gain a leadership role at OCUW.