The Audre Lorde Project

POSITION: Interim Executive Director

REPORTS TO: Board of Directors

START DATE:  April 2, 2022; Position open until filled

TERM: 18 month term, year, with possible 6–12-month extension at contract completion

STATUS: Full-Time, Exempt (40 hours per week)

COMPENSATION: $100,000 - $120,00 annually, plus generous benefits

LOCATION: New York City*

*COVID-19 SAFETY: The chosen candidate will be expected to propose a preferred method of engagement with staff, board, membership, donors, and stakeholders that prioritizes personal and public safety. Thus, this position may be primarily remote.

Position Scope

As a locally-focused and nationally recognized force in the struggle for racial, social and economic justice, ALP seeks an interim executive leader to guide the organization through a period of transition and ensure that the organization’s values, mission, and strategic plan are reflected in day-to-day operations, programs, and movement activities over the course of their term.  The Interim ED will be a manager, coach, thought-partner, and relationship building within ALP. They will model ALP’s principles by recognizing the full diversity of LGBTSTGNC people of color and their collective histories of struggle, work with across different to implement culturally specific and effective programs, uplift our coalitional partnerships, promote the work of our comrades, and ensure that ALP is truly a member-led organization.

With thoughtful consideration of and knowledge of staff, membership, and the Board, the Interim Executive Director will act as the key decision-maker of ALP, with specific priorities focused on 1) organizational development, 2) empathetic management and supervision, 3) fundraising and financial oversight, and 4) promoting organizational sustainability. More on the specific responsibilities associated with these priority areas is below:

 Organizational Development & Governance (30%)

• Recruit, Orient and Develop new leadership for the Board of Directors.  
• Facilitate effective and collaborative Board participation in business planning, financial oversight, community outreach, and fundraising.
• Provide guidance for the Board of Directors in selecting participatory and libratory governance, decision making models and conflict management. 
• Develop and Implement strategic communications plan with Communications Coordinator to uplift ALP’s work on external communications channels, including the blog, social media, website, and newsletters.
• Co-lead coordination of the organization’s strategic planning process in FY23.
•  Proactively identify potential resources needed to support senior leadership, staff development, and organizational capacity; make recommendations to the Board

Empathetic Management and Supervision (25%)

• Promote a staff culture of feedback and accountability, model multi-directional feedback, and uplift work-life balance, safety, healing, and wellness in working relationships.
• Work with the Deputy Director to revise and establish clear supervisory structures for all full-time employees and consultants/contractors, including guidance for working groups and program committees.
• Engage with the Administrative and Programmatic teams in support of fundraising, finance, organizational development, etc.

 Fundraising  and Financial Oversight (30%)

• Oversee implementation of strategies to build productive relationships and generate new streams of income from foundations, government and non-governmental sponsors, and individual donors.
• Report to and work with the Board of Directors to maintain the financial viability of the organization, through high-level financial review and reporting, proactive analysis of organizational expenses, and – with the support and wisdom of the Deputy Director and Manager of Finance and Operations – implementation and monitoring of resources allocated for program-related activities.
• Planning & Implementation. Work with the Board of Directors, Deputy Director, Grassroots Fundraising Coordinator, and Communications Coordinator to plan and sustain multi-tiered fundraising strategies (including grassroots fundraising, government and foundation fundraising/development strategies) to support long-term organizational mission and growth.

• Ensure the completion of grant deliverables, including taking ownership of grant/donor report completion.

Promoting Sustainability (15%)

• Sustaining Organizational Vision.  Understanding and representing the political positioning of ALP to uphold our mission, vision and organizing principles
• Sustaining Organizational Infrastructure: supporting the development, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of organizational priorities including communications, finance and administration, development and program.

QUALIFICATIONS – The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong commitment to ALP’s mission, vision, and guiding principles.

• • Previous Executive Leadership experience, including managing an organization (fundraising, strategy, board development, human resources, finances, and systems/infrastructure) with a preference for Interim Executive experience. 

• Proven ability working with multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-gendered, intergenerational communities and organizations – especially within LGBTSTGNC People of Color communities – and significant experience with coalition-building. Demonstrated experience with issues relating to Transgender, Youth & Immigrant LGBTSTGNC communities of color. 

• 7 years supervisory and managerial experience within a community-based organization, using consensus and other participatory decision-making models.

• Strategic thinker who is good at making decisions with an understanding of how they impact the big picture
• Team builder who is good at coaching staff to performance. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong strategic fiscal management, oversight and budgeting skills.
• Ability to maintain relationships with external stakeholders and funders
• Experience recruiting, onboarding and cultivating strong leadership within boards of directors
• Excellent interpersonal, writing and communication skills.  Comfort and experience with public speaking and communicating with community members, community leaders, funders and the media.

ABOUT THE AUDRE LORDE PROJECT

The Audre Lorde Project (ALP) is a Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming (LGBTSTGNC) People of Color (POC) center for community organizing, focusing on the NYC area. Through mobilization, education and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social & economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities. (To read more about ALP, please visit: https://alp.org/about)

Who Should Apply?

The Audre Lorde Project is committed to justice for LGBTSTGNC people, people of color, women and femmes, immigrants, poor and low-income people, people with disabilities, chronic health issues, and mental health concerns, formerly and currently incarcerated people, youth, elders,  parents, those living with HIV, and those practicing religion or faith. ALP offers equal opportunity employment to all of these groups and others required by law. 

We believe that our people have the tools and lived experiences to fight for their own liberation and must lead the movement for justice. Therefore, we prioritize our work being led by those most affected by our work. Applicants must be based in NYC.

What Benefits Does This Position Provide?

ALP pays for 100% of premiums for employee health, dental, and vision coverage; flex spending account and additional wellness programs; retirement account; commuter benefits; life insurance; and annual professional development stipend. Generous leave benefits provided, including vacation, wellness and sick days, personal days, holidays, and the first week of July, last week of November, and last two weeks of the year off.

How Do You Apply?

In addition to submitting an individual résumé, please provide a cover letter not exceeding 2 pages, and 3 references. (Note: references will not be contacted without notification of the candidate.) 

Please note that applicants who are being considered for second round interviews will also be asked to submit a sample meeting agenda and work plan.

ALP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender/ gender identity/ gender expression, age, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, HIV serostatus, disability, or marital status.