Senior Vice President Chief of Program and Innovation

About the Organization

Since 1971, the Southern Poverty Law Center has pursued racial justice and human rights for all people. From a small law office in Montgomery to a multi-state organization known nationwide for championing equity, the SPLC owes our 52 years of growth, change and triumph to the communities we serve, our dedicated staff, and committed supporters. We are guided by a deep commitment to building a future where white supremacy, poverty, and mass incarceration are relics of the past.

We work across four issue areas:

• Fighting White Supremacy: The SPLC works to expose the influence of hate and extremist groups and dismantle white supremacy. We investigate extremists and hold their leaders accountable for their attempts to sow division and destroy our nation. We promote anti-racist, anti-bias action that prevents radicalization and moves us closer to our vision of safe, resilient communities celebrating diversity and inclusion.
• Reducing Incarceration: The SPLC is committed to ending the inequities of the criminal legal and immigration systems while helping safeguard the rights of those trapped within them. We focus on disrupting mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline, fighting the criminalization of Black and Brown communities, and investigating the human rights abuses of detained and incarcerated people.
• Eradicating Poverty: The SPLC seeks justice alongside people living in poverty. We challenge entrenched systems, fight for equitable access to public services and advocate for the human right to housing, education, health care, and economic opportunity in the Deep South and beyond. We envision a nation where all Americans have access to the resources they need to thrive, no matter their circumstances or identity.
• Strengthening Democracy: The SPLC works to protect, expand and uplift the voting and civic engagement rights of communities of color across the nation. Through legal action, policy, education and partnerships with local groups and organizers, we help strengthen the political power of those targeted by voting restrictions and structural barriers to fair representation. We envision a thriving, multiracial democracy for all Americans — a nation where every voice counts.

We’re based in Montgomery, Alabama and have offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Miami and Tallahassee, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and Washington, DC.

About the Position

What You’ll Do

Serving as a member of the SPLC’s leadership team, you will have oversight of our program areas, serving as an executive responsible for ensuring collaboration, coordination, and impact. The EVP, Chief of Programs and Innovation will be a critical leader working to transform our vision, and related strategic plan, into reality, overseeing the leaders managing the SPLC’s substantive program areas. They will also serve as a culture carrier and exemplar for the SPLC’s mission, vision, and values, and enabling the SPLC to increase power and capacity for a multi-racial, inclusive democracy in the South.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic counsel to the President/CEO and executive leadership team; fostering organization-wide collaboration and serving as a thought partner by helping to set and enable strategic priorities
• Lead cross-functional efforts by connecting teams and program areas to ensure ongoing communication, collaboration, and innovation, while embedding our commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) across all work streams
• Lead interdisciplinary task forces, as needed; manage the execution of projects and initiatives that require multi-team participation, where decision-making spans across departments
• Represent program team interests in strategic planning and problem solving processes, while acting as a steward for overall organizational health and sustainability
• Ensure leadership meetings align with strategic priorities, and that there is clear ownership and follow through on projects and initiatives

Executive Management and Organizational Leadership

• Lead the organization’s efforts to create a positive working environment reflecting organizational values; implement initiatives to develop leadership skills and establish accountability mechanisms for leadership
• Oversee a high-performing executive team, providing mentoring, coaching, and accountability to the leaders managing our litigation, policy advocacy, communications, and community organizing departments, ensuring integration across all departments and teams
• Support the EVP, Chief of Operations in preparing and managing weekly Executive Team and Leadership Team meetings, bi-monthly joint ET/LT meetings, quarterly meetings between the JEDI team and the leadership teams, and all leadership retreats
• Design, develop, and implement structures, processes, initiatives to support organizational goals and priorities; support the prioritization of strategies and tactics to advance organizational goals
• Drive innovation across the organization, identifying opportunities for increasing impact and encouraging the team to look at ways to reimagine structures and processes to deliver results
• Facilitate and enable timely decision-making, removing roadblocks and enabling teams to work effectively toward strategic objectives

Internal and External Relations

• Work closely with partners, donors, and other external stakeholders, representing the SPLC with strategic partners and building lasting, trusting relationships to advance mutual goals
• Represent the SPLC among critical external constituencies, including but not limited to coalition partners, donors, and the media
• Support organization-wide initiatives and strategies that enable all staff to effectively share the SPLC’s narrative and engage communities in its work
• Support the communications team’s ongoing efforts to embed SPLC practices, principles, and brand throughout the organization

Who You’ll Work With

You will report to the SPLC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Huang.

You will manage the Chief Legal Officer, Chief Policy Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Communications Officer, and will oversee a total team of roughly 260.

You will collaborate closely with the full leadership team, staff at all levels, the Board, and key external stakeholders.

Hiring Organization

Souther Poverty Law Center

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Related work experience:

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years in leadership roles with a track record of success managing executives, leading organizational change, and fostering innovation, with at least seven (7) years managing, developing, mentoring and supporting a diverse and high-performing executive team
• Significant experience in centering JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) values in your approach to leadership, and working with organizations to manifest these values in the workplace
• Exceptional relationship building skills with a track record of cultivating strong working relationships across staff and stakeholders at all levels of an organization, with a range of beliefs and identities
• Demonstrated success developing culture, systems, and processes to enhance high levels of collaboration
• Expertise in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and tracking program quality, performance, outcomes, and impact
• Professional maturity, with the ability to manage conflict, sensitive information, and complex / divergent interests

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to inspire and motivate staff, the board, and allies to advance a shared vision and communicate that vision to all audiences
• Commitment to ideals of justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity (JEDI)
• Connection to the South, with a deep understanding of the culture, strengths, challenges, and unique attributes of the region
• An entrepreneurial, proactive attitude with strong organizational skills
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to change and work within an impact-oriented organizational environment
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing tasks and demands
• Enthusiasm, initiative, and grace under pressure

Industry/Service Area

Human Services

Level

Executive

Benefits

Compensation

Salary for this position begins at $300,000.

Location

This role is based in the South with a preference for candidates located in one of the regions where we have our largest presence: Montgomery, AL; Atlanta, Georgia; or Washington, DC.

Benefits

As a nonprofit, you might think we are limited in what benefits we can offer. Well, think again. These benefits and perks are available to those who join the Southern Poverty Law Center's dynamic staff.

• Comprehensive medical and prescription drug benefits with the majority of the healthcare premium paid by SPLC. Trans-inclusive and transition-related services covered under healthcare benefits. Assisted reproductive treatment also covered.
• Comprehensive dental plan that is fully paid by SPLC. Low out-of-pocket cost for vision benefits, including eye exams, glasses or contacts. Premiums are pre-taxed to save you money.
• Generous time off, including 4, 5, and 6 weeks per year depending on tenure, and additional time off for 18 paid days per year including the week of July 4th.
• Free online, unlimited telehealth visits with board-certified doctors
• As a regular employee, you are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Retirement Plan on your date of hire. SPLC matches dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of your annual salary and adds a 6% discretionary contribution to your account.
• SPLC is committed to supporting the professional development of their staff through training programs, seminars, conferences, certifications, and workshops. Each employee will be allotted an allowance of $1,500-$2,000 per fiscal year depending on their years of service.
• Tuition reimbursement is provided for employer-approved courses up to a lifetime maximum of $15,000. Employees may request 50% of their tuition reimbursement to be paid at the beginning of the course.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave upon birth, fostering, or adoption of a child. For employees with less than one year of service, parental leave is prorated in the amount of one week for each month or partial month of service.

Learn more about the SPLC’s comprehensive benefits here.

Equal Opportunity Employment

The SPLC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, on the basis of genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.

Application Instructions

Accessibility Language

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