San Francisco – The Executive Director is a creative visionary who is fluent in progressive politics and models NCLR’s longstanding commitment to feminism, intersectionality, and racial and economic justice. The Executive Director’s role is predominantly outward facing and focused on public communication, movement-building, and fundraising. The Executive Director is also an important internal leader who works closely with the Management Team and Board to keep the organization strategically aligned to successfully advance NCLR’s mission.

NCLR is an established legal advocacy organization with leadership and management functions distributed across a number of Directors working in coordination with the Executive Director. The Executive Director leads a high-functioning senior team that includes the Legal Director (a long-tenured internal and external leader), Deputy Director (responsible for internal management), and Director of Development and Community Engagement (a strong fundraising partner to the Executive Director). The larger Management Team includes the Senior Team plus the Policy Director, Director of Finance and Operations, and Communications Director.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors. The Board has two co-chairs who partner closely with the Executive Director. The Executive Director directly supervises the Director of Development and Community Engagement, Deputy Director, Legal Director, and Communications Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing a budget of approximately $5 million.

The Executive Director is based in the national San Francisco office. NCLR also has a Washington, DC office. The position requires frequent domestic travel.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Fundraising Strategy & Ensure Financial Sustainability

Partner with the Development Director on the creation and implementation of a fundraising plan that leverages strengths of the development team, Board, and staff.
Actively engage in fund development with individual donors, foundations, and businesses.
Cultivate a portfolio of key donor relationships.

External Community-Building

Sustain existing external relationships and build new ones.
Develop NCLR’s external reputation and presence as a valued movement builder.
Promote NCLR at community events, conferences, and fundraising events, as well as on traditional and social media.
Elevate the voice of other NCLR staff externally.Contribute to shaping larger movement strategies, develop relationships with key partners, and support the development of allies and emerging leaders in the field.

Organizational Leadership

Provide strategic leadership for programs and financial sustainability.Maintain deep connection with an understanding of programmatic work and core content.
Ensure effective planning and evaluation practices that align staff and Board.
Partner with the Deputy Director and management team to ensure a healthy and positive workplace and strong infrastructure.
Support the Board of Directors to successfully carry out its roles and meet its goals.
Cultivate relationships with and among Board members, and between Board and staff.

NCLR is proud to be an affirmative action employer. All interested individuals, including people of color, women, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex are particularly urged to apply.

To apply, please provide a cover letter and resume expressing your interest in this position to search@blueridgeadvisorsllc.com with “NCLR – Executive Director” in the subject line.

We also invite nominations of qualified candidates. All applications and nominations will be held in the strictest confidence.

About NCLR

NCLR is a national nonprofit, public interest law firm that serves at the forefront of advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people and their families through precedent-setting litigation, legislation, policy, and public education across the country. Their legislative victories have been blazing trails in support of justice, fairness, and legal protections for all LGBTQ people for over 40 years.

NCLR advocates for more than 5,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families in all fifty states each year, including LGBTQ seniors, immigrants, athletes, and youth. Their impact litigation serves all LGBTQ people in the United States, their free legal assistance empowers individuals to assert their own legal rights, and their community and public education programs broaden public support for LGBTQ equality. NCLR’s program areas focus on employment, immigration, youth, elder law, transgender law, sports, marriage, relationship protections, reproductive rights, and family law to create safer homes, safer jobs, and a more just world.

Guided by core principals identified as End-Goals, NCLR values team, and community collaboration and fosters an engaged and dynamic work culture where the staff is valued and thrive.

For more information about NCLR, please visit www.nclrights.org.