Corporate Ethics International : Civil Liberties Defense Center seeks Executive Director

Civil Liberties Defense Center seeks Executive Director

Position Title: Executive Director
Reports To: CLDC Board of Directors

Summary
The CLDC is seeking an experienced, dynamic leader for our growing organization as our founder and current Executive Director shifts her primary focus to litigation and program work. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, the executive director is responsible for overall management and operation of the Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) and protection of the organization’s financial assets while ensuring compliance with board directives and applicable grantor, federal and state requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative responsibilities:

Fundraising and Grants: Researching, applying for, and obtaining foundation grant support, monitor and provide required reports to funders; develop, maintain and expand membership funding, assist and oversee organizational benefit events. Develop and implement additional fundraising programs and mechanisms including honoraria.
Financial management: financial planning; operating budget; grants budget; accounting and audit; tax reporting, payroll, state and federal nonprofit reporting requirements, and an annual report to our membership.
External Relationships: affiliation relations with allied organizations, universities, and constituents; liaison with political/governmental representatives; cultivating and developing relationships with other groups, attorneys, individuals, and the public. Continue to develop and foster strong volunteers. Establish and maintain an effective system of communications throughout CLDC and the world at large, to build and maintain a positive image (e.g. newsletter, public outreach events, tabling, participation in conferences and movement related activities).
Board Relations: Provides advice and counsel to the Board to assist in setting policies and monitoring the performance of CLDC. Recommends new policies, programs, and action plans consonant with the vision of the organization; executes all policies/decisions of the Board. Prepare quarterly activity reports including measurable results.
Planning: Determining the feasibility and financing to expand the staff of the organization and its services.
Organizational Management: personnel; IT; benefits; insurance, and facilities.

Management responsibilities:

Works with other Directors to identify areas requiring planning; develops and recommends goals, objectives and action plans for the approval of the Board.
Monitors and evaluates all services provided to constituents, clients and communities, and reports progress to the Board and committees; makes recommendations for change as needed.
Coordinates CLDC’s outreach and education activities; acts as a primary contact for the CLDC.
Oversees the development of budgets for submission to the Board; ensures compliance with approved budgets; proposes revisions as necessary.
Provides for the appropriate control and accountability of all funds, physical assets and other property.
Protects CLDC’s legal interests and maintains its operations within the law. Work with Staff attorney to ensure legal compliance.
Oversees the human resources function to ensure optimum staffing and utilization of competent staff, recommending policy changes to benefits, compensation, employment, training and other areas as appropriate.
Performs managerial duties for staff including interviewing/hiring applicants for employment; assigning and reviewing progress of assignments to administrative staff; managing performance and recommending salary increases; and developing higher levels of expertise in staff members by encouraging further education, participation in work-related seminars and providing learning opportunities within the organization.
Reviews current practices and methods and initiates development of new ones as necessary to reduce costs, encourage growth and improve efficiency.

Traits and Characteristics:

The ED should be a visionary and strategic leader who can work effectively at the intersections of law, civil rights, and grassroots community activism. ED will bring an analytical, intellectual understanding of the progressive social change movements and current governmental encroachments upon those movements. Leading candidates will be broadly informed leaders with a high level of intellectual curiosity and the capacity to encourage others to explore new terrain. The ED needs to be a creative thinker who can be innovative as well as pragmatic. ED will be an open-minded, confident professional who enjoys exploring issues and empowering others to join our collaborative effort. The ED will be a facilitator who will have the strength of character and conviction to work with a strong, engaged Board and Staff that is dedicated to the mission of CLDC.

Strong written and oral communication skills are critical to insure that the ED will be effective and persuasive in representing CLDC and its mission to the public. The ED will be equally adept at developing relationships with activists, community organizations, schools and other institutions, as well as with leaders engaged in local and national conversations regarding threats to our civil rights and liberties.

Successful candidates will have strong organizational, administrative, and financial management skills. The ED will be comfortable in a hands-on role and willing to do the essential tasks required to meet the goals of CLDC.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
A career path that has provided opportunities for broad intellectual interests and transcends traditional boundaries is as important as the knowledge of the complex issues involved with federal civil rights and constitutional law pertaining to social change activists and at risk communities. CLDC also requires someone with solid fundraising and membership development experience and a desire to grow a small organization. Successful candidates will have experience that will demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, develop, and evaluate programs. Successful experience in general management, financial management, and strategic planning is required.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
An undergraduate degree is required, and the attainment of an advanced degree or nonprofit management certification is preferred. Approximately 3-5 years of nonprofit management experience required. Administrative experience in a nonprofit that involved lawyers and litigation, while not required, is deemed advantageous. Must be able to think strategically about CLDC’s priorities and help to translate these priorities into program, staff, membership recruitment and related fundraising activities. Proficiency with Mac computer systems and increased security measures advantageous as well. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.

Review of resumes will begin July 9, 2010 and candidates will be contacted if an interview is deemed appropriate. Please send a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples (at least one grant and/or LOI preferred), and at least 4 references, 2 of which should be supervisors or co-workers at prior nonprofit organizations. Materials should be sent electronically to lregan@cldc.org. Please no telephone calls.