Executive Director

Title: Executive Director

Status: Full-Time

Location: Remote, United States

Reports To: MAPS Board of Directors

Compensation: $200,000 - $250,000

Application Deadline: March 21, 2025

ABOUT MAPS

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to developing the medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from psychedelics and marijuana. Research shows that psychedelics hold promise as breakthrough treatments for PTSD, depression, addiction, and other conditions.

For over 38 years, MAPS has led efforts to educate and advocate for the legalization of these transformative therapies, with a commitment to ensuring they are accessible to communities in need. This shift could unlock new resources for investigating psychedelic-assisted treatments for critical mental health challenges.

POSITION OVERVIEW

MAPS is seeking an Executive Director (ED) to lead our mission of creating safe, legal, and equitable psychedelic access. Our impact strategy focuses on driving policy reform, expanding global access to psychedelic therapies, and combating stigma, all while strengthening the psychedelic ecosystem through collective action.

The ED will be a bold movement leader and visionary responsible for implementing MAPS' new strategic impact plan, ensuring programmatic excellence, advancing global expansion, and major donor cultivation. This role requires balancing strategic planning and execution with joining the MAPS President as the public face of MAPS, inspiring action, advocating for equitable access, and amplifying MAPS’ mission globally. The ED will lead MAPS’ staff, ensure long-term sustainability, and foster collaboration in the growing psychedelic movement.

The ED will work closely with leadership to ensure that MAPS’ organizational infrastructure supports its strategic goals and scaling efforts. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a courageous leader with integrity and a commitment to systemic change who is ready to unite stakeholders, lead the movement, and drive transformative, equitable access to psychedelic therapies.

IMPACT STATEMENT

The Executive Director leads the delivery of MAPS’ strategic impact plan, driving programmatic excellence and movement leadership, and major donor cultivation, while strengthening the psychedelic ecosystem through collective action.

OBJECTIVES

• Lead MAPS’ programs and movement-building initiatives, ensuring alignment with MAPS’ mission and impact goals
• Serve as a key public spokesperson for MAPS, alongside the MAPS President, to mobilize support and advocate for safe and equitable access to psychedelic healing
• Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of MAPS’ new strategic impact plan, ensuring visibility and alignment with MAPS’ mission and priorities
• Partner with leadership to ensure MAPS’ organizational infrastructure supports its programmatic and movement goals
• Cultivate partnerships and mobilize grassroots supporters to advance MAPS’ advocacy and education efforts

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Movement Building and Public Engagement
  • Act as MAPS’ spokesperson, in collaboration with the MAPS President, representing the organization to media, partners, and key stakeholders
  • Lead efforts to strengthen the psychedelic ecosystem by fostering partnerships, collaboration, and collective action across grassroots organizations, policymakers, thought leaders, and other stakeholders
  • Drive movement-building initiatives that promote public awareness and advocate for equitable access to psychedelic therapies, positioning MAPS as a pivotal force in ecosystem growth and transformation
  • Mobilize support for MAPS’ mission by engaging with key advocates, leaders, and the public to build momentum for policy reform and greater access
  • Uphold ethical standards and ensure MAPS leads as an example for integrity, transparency, and equitable access in the psychedelic space
• Impact Strategy & Programmatic Leadership
  • Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of MAPS’ Impact Strategy, ensuring alignment across all programs
  • Directly oversee Education & Advocacy and Conferences programs, ensuring they are executed effectively and aligned with MAPS' mission and impact goals
  • Collaborate with the MAPS President, who leads the Research & Training program, to ensure coordination and cohesion across all programs
  • Guide program managers in refining strategies, amplifying impact, and addressing community needs
  • Lead programmatic contributions to key events, including Psychedelic Science ensuring alignment with MAPS' strategic priorities
• Fundraising and Development
  • Partner with the Development team to identify and cultivate relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations
  • Represent MAPS at key fundraising events, mobilizing resources to advance programmatic and movement priorities
  • Ensure alignment between programmatic goals and fundraising strategies
• Engagement with the Board of Directors
  • Report to and collaborate with the Board to advance MAPS’ strategic vision and evaluate progress against organizational goals
  • Provide quarterly updates to the Board on programmatic impact, movement-building milestones, development milestones, and strategic priorities

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in nonprofit, advocacy, or social movement organizations
• Proven leader of lean but highly effective teams, with a demonstrated ability to drive impact through strategic leadership and execution
• Extensive experience as a public spokesperson or movement leader, effectively engaging diverse audiences and stakeholders
• Deep knowledge of the psychedelic ecosystem and a strong alignment with MAPS' mission and values
• Strong strategic planning and operational skills, with the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated success in mobilizing grassroots support and public advocacy
• Proven success in fundraising, donor relations, and stakeholder engagement at a leadership level

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree or equivalent professional experience in fields such as public health, mental health, policy, advocacy, movement-building, research, regulatory affairs, therapist training, healthcare protocol development, or public education
• A strong network within the psychedelic, healthcare, advocacy, policy, regulatory, or related sectors, with the ability to leverage these connections for MAPS’ initiatives