Executive Director

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Job location
20 West 20th Street
Suite 705
New York, NY 10011
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund
Street address: 
20 West 20th Street, Suite 705
City: 
New York
State: 
New York
ZIP: 
10011
Job type: 
Policy Development/Advocacy
Position Description: 

The Executive Director will assume responsibility for day-to-day leadership and operation of
TLDEF’s programs and services, fundraising, finance, and administration functions, as well as staff
supervision. In partnership with the Board of Directors, she/he/they will work to ensure that
TLDEF remains a visible, impactful, and sustainable nonprofit leader in the fight for full lived and
legal equality for trans and gender non-binary people.

The Executive Director will be tasked with developing and implementing a vision to cement,
communicate, and expand TLDEF’s unique place in the transgender advocacy movement with a
particular focus on the following strategic priorities:

- Elevate the TLDEF brand and visibility and increase public understanding of its work and
mission.
- Grow financial resources by means of a robust, diverse fundraising effort.
- Strengthen organizational structure and professionalize systems, policies, and procedures.
- Expand education and outreach efforts individually, as well as in collaboration with
movement partners (ACLU, Lambda, NCTE, etc.).
- In collaboration with Board and legal staff, refine litigation direction and strategy.
- Leverage and expand law firm partnerships and collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBLITIES:
While no single candidate is likely to have equal expertise in all of these categories, the following
are the Core Competencies for this Executive Director position. The successful candidate will
possess a compelling combination of strengths in some areas, and the self-awareness and
leadership skills to manage and/or leverage other resources in areas where she/he/they lack
personal depth of experience.

Organizational Leadership
- Lead the organization in evolving a strategic vision and advancing the work and mission of
TLDEF;
- Oversee and expand programmatic, education, and fundraising activities;
- Strengthen the overall organization structures, systems, and policies and procedures;
- Identify current and emerging issues affecting the transgender community and determine
where TLDEF’s participation and/or leadership will be most beneficial.

Staff Supervision
- Hire, train, supervise, and develop all full- and part-time staff;
- Develop and implement performance metrics with clear accountabilities and measures for
success;
- Recruit additional staff as appropriate/necessary;
- Encourage teamwork, coordination, and focus in the staff team.

Fundraising
- Identify and maximize potential fundraising opportunities;
- Manage and help to expand funding relationships with current and potential law firm
partners;
- With development staff and Board, design and implement development initiatives to ensure
success in individual giving, corporate and foundation support, and special events;
- Maintain positive, personal relationships with key individual and institutional donors.

Relationship Management
- Establish and maintain positive, productive, and transparent working relationship with TLDEF’s
Board of Directors;
- Proactively build collaborative relationships with partner organizations in transgender rights,
the broader LGBT and legal services communities, and allied civil rights movements;
- Act as a public advocate and spokesperson for the organization, raising awareness of its
mission and its work in the transgender community;
- Improve external communications, messaging, and connection to constituents to elevate
visibility.

Financial Management
- Act as fiscal steward, overseeing all financial activity to ensure the immediate and long-term
fiscal integrity of the organization;
- Insure transparency and provide the Board with regular information about the financial health
of the organization;
- Administer funds of the organization according to the budget approved by the Board;

Requirements: 

The new Executive Director of TLDEF will be an energetic, passionate, and mission-driven leader
with proven commitment to justice and equality for transgender individuals and the broader
transgender community. This person should have an inclusive and transparent management style and the ability and desire to lead an organization – and its staff, constituents, and stakeholders – through a dynamic time of transition and renewal. Successful candidates will also have the leadership and visioning skills to identify growth and change opportunities for TLDEF, particularly in the context of the increased visibility and the remarkable public conversation society is now having about the transgender community.

Desired skills, experience, and personal characteristics include:
- Minimum of 5 years’ management experience, preferably including nonprofit organization
leadership as an executive or Board member;
- Deep personal understanding and lived experience of the social and legal issues and challenges
facing individuals across the spectrum of the transgender community;
- Track record of involvement in advocating for, or activism in support of, the rights of
transgender and gender non-binary individuals;
- Fundraising knowledge and experience, including working with members, donors, and external
partners to bolster an organization’s development efforts, reputation, and reach;
- Financial and budget management experience;
- Combination of big picture, strategic visioning skills and hands-on, operational expertise;
- Attention to detail and highly organized without losing sight of larger objectives;
- Ability to build productive and collaborative working relationships across broad communities
of diverse people;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to make impactful connections
with a wide range of constituencies – including groups that may be hostile to the advance of
transgender rights;
- Ability to effectively representing the organization in all settings, including policy, programs,
advocacy, public education, development, and media;
- Experience working effectively and collaboratively with a volunteer Board of Directors or
similar governing body is strongly desired;
- Experience in a legal, direct service, or policy/advocacy context is also desired.

To apply: 

Kevin Chase Executive Search Group has been retained to lead this recruitment effort on behalf of Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund. We are pleased to answer any questions or supply further information. Inquiries, nominations, or applications (including a cover letter and
resume/curriculum vitae) should be directed electronically and in confidence, to:
Catie DiFelice, Senior Associate
[email protected]

Kevin Chase, Managing Partner
[email protected]

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Tuesday, June 19, 2018