Executive Director

POSITION OVERVIEW

For the position of Executive Director, CLRJ is seeking an experienced, emotionally intelligent movement leader who cares deeply about advancing Reproductive Justice and is ready for the challenges that lie ahead post-Dobbs and the 2024 Presidential election. They will embody the chingona attitude that has characterized CLRJ’s work and organizational culture. They are unapologetic about centering the needs of vulnerable communities through the organization’s programmatic and movement work, and act as a collaborative leader who will help shape and lead impactful policy advocacy, research, and community organizing efforts. As CLRJ moves beyond its 20th year, the Executive Director will dedicate themself to their role as an advocate, a motivator, and a holder of space for the people of the organization. They will use their skills and experience and rely on CLRJ’s Reproductive Justice values to guide the organization into the next phase of its life cycle, protecting and building on the successes already achieved, and cultivating innovation and visionary thinking about strategies and solutions for the future. They have extensive personal understanding and experience in the California Reproductive Justice and/or social justice landscape, as well as connections to national networks that have direct and dynamic alignment with CLRJ’s values, vision, and goals. The Executive Director reports directly to CLRJ’s board of directors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administration & Human Resources

• Provides guidance and oversight to the administrative and human resources team
• Serves as the only organizational signer for contracts with vendors, consultants, and other legal entities as needed Board Relations
• Serves as the liaison between CLRJ board members and staff members
• Coordinates logistics of CLRJ board meetings and other events
• Participates in board recruitment and selection, as well as onboarding of new members
• Prepares organizational materials to share with board members on a monthly basis Communications
• Provides visibility for CLRJ’s priorities as the organization’s primary spokesperson
• Serves as a contact with members of the media for a range of issues
• Collaborates with the communications team to draft and edit organizational talking points, rapid response statements and other organizational collateral materials Financial Management
• Oversees financial operations and compliance of the organization, in collaboration with the Board of Directors and the Director of Finance & Operations
• Serves as part of the system of financial checks and balances to ensure the integrity of CLRJ’s financial systems
• Collaborates with the Director of Finance & Operations and senior program staff to compile, monitor, and revise the organization’s annual budget
• Works with the board finance committee to manage the organization’s investment portfolio, maintaining it annually as part of a diverse and sustainable revenue package
• Continues to work with the development and finance teams to build CLRJ’s operating reserves
• Supports the Finance team with the annual audit and filing of IRS form 990 Fundraising
• Guides CLRJ’s Development efforts in order to to meet and sustain the projected annual Organizational Operating Budgets, including securing resources to support the necessary staffing and programmatic work
• Serves as primary contact with foundation representatives with the Director of Development
• Cultivates and maintains respectful relationships with donors
• Co-creates annual appeals and other donor-specific messaging
• Supports the CLRJ Development team in the following work:
• Development and submission of all grant proposals
• Diversification of CLRJ’s funding base
• Development and implementation of expanded individual donor development program
• Contributes to planning and implementation of special fundraising events

Organizational Purpose & Strategy

• Leads long-range planning and visioning in close partnership with CLRJ’s staff and board
• Works closely with the Associate Director to ensure adherence with Strategic Plan and annual work plans, making appropriate adjustments when needed
• Implements the annual Program Plan & meets grant deliverables, in partnership with staff

Movement Work

• Cultivates and nurtures strong relationships with a diverse community of allies and stakeholders
• Maintains local, statewide, and national presence in key collaborations with Reproductive Justice and social justice movement allies Staff Oversight & Programmatic Leadership
• Creates and fosters an organizational climate of trust and mutual respect, where all employees are supported to show up authentically, to be productive and effective in their roles, and to feel welcome, valued, and motivated
• Supervises and evaluates senior staff, including the Director of Finance & Operations, Communications Director, Development Director and Associate Director
• Leads the selection and hiring of key staff positions
• Manages and mentors staff, both informally and in the periodic written evaluation process
• Develops and oversees work plans and processes that promote effective, cross-organizational collaboration

QUALIFICATIONS

All CLRJ employees are expected to fully support the organization’s mission in their work. Any positions or work that runs counter to LGBTQI+ rights or Reproductive Justice - including the right to access abortion and contraception, and the rights to gender and sexual identity are likely to create a conflict of interest disqualifying an employee from working at CLRJ. All employees regardless of their position are required to work at events, public speaking or disseminating information about people’s right to access legal and safe abortion care and contraception, and/or the rights of our LGBTQI+ relatives as assigned. It is also required that all employees use messaging that is developed by CLRJ's Communications Team and that it is factual, evidence-based, and free of judgment or discrimination when talking about all Reproductive Justice issues, including LGBTQI+ rights, and the right to access abortion or contraception when working or otherwise representing CLRJ.

Required:

• Demonstrated commitment to and advancement of CLRJ’s purpose and Reproductive Justice values
• Minimum of five years’ experience in a senior administrative position, including budget development and staff management
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills. Must be a skilled and respectful communicator with CLRJ’s key audiences and target constituencies
• At least three years supervising and working collaboratively and respectfully with staff of diverse generations and backgrounds
• At least three years working with a board of directors to ensure the growth and sustainability of the organization
• Evening and weekend work and travel as necessary

Preferred:

• Minimum of five years experience in reproductive justice, health and/or rights; social justice; human rights; or related work that demonstrates both breadth and depth in the advancement of a social justice framework and gender lens
• Strategic, solutions-oriented thinker
• Record of successful fundraising, from foundation and individual sources, to support nonprofit organizations
• Experience in facilitating and training in community, universities, with organizational partners, staff and other stakeholders
• Minimum two years experience with the California state and local, and federal policy landscapes in relation to Reproductive Justice issues
• Minimum two years experience engaging with communities in organizing, advocacy, education, or leadership development
• One to three years of experience with community-informed research projects
• Experience as an organizational spokesperson
• Bilingual English and Spanish fluency, both written and spoken

Desirable:

• History of having led organizational growth, facilitating higher levels of mission achievement. Skills include strategic planning and management of complex internal operations and external relations
• Experience and familiarity with the Reproductive Justice movement, organizational leaders, and existing collaborative relationships that may be leveraged for the benefit of the organization
• Bachelors to Advanced degree in law, public policy, public administration, public health, women’s and gender studies or other relevant field; or equivalent in demonstrated relevant experience.

CLASSIFICATION, LOCATION, HOURS, and WORK SCHEDULE

• This is an exempt, full-time position expected to work at least 40 hours per week
• This position is based in Los Angeles, CA
• Currently, CLRJ employees are working mostly remotely, with monthly in-person staff meetings in LA, but may at some point be expected to return to the office, upon notice