Job Opportunities:
Executive Director

TITLE:Executive Director
SUPERVISOR:President, Board of Directors
LOCATION:Headquarters office in Silver Spring, Md., with satellite office in Baltimore; frequent travel to Annapolis, Md. and around the state
SALARY STATUS:Exempt

Equality Maryland seeks a dynamic and proven leader for the position of Executive Director. The successful candidate will work with an engaged and active board of directors and staff to implement the mission, goals and objectives of the organization. The successful candidate will represent the organization – and by extension, Maryland's LGBT community – and advocate for full inclusion of LGBT Marylanders in the state's civic life.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest LGBT civil rights group, with thousands of members across the state. Equality Maryland includes:

  • a 501(c)(3) educational foundation, called the Equality Maryland Foundation, that works to eliminate prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through outreach, education, research, community organizing, training and coalition building; and
  • a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that lobbies in Annapolis and across the state to create equal protection under the law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Marylanders and their families; and
  • Equality Maryland PAC, which works for change through the electoral process.

As a non-partisan organization, Equality Maryland believes that equal protection under the law for LGBT Marylanders and families headed by same-sex couples is not and should not be a partisan issue. While few of us under the LGBT umbrella are single-issue voters, most of us do attach significant weight to the rhetoric and votes that surround the question of our civil rights. Therefore, it is vital to reach out to all fair-minded elected and appointed officials, as well as other community leaders, to seek understanding and advocacy on behalf of our civil rights.

  • We act as an advocate for LGBT Marylanders.
  • We aim to empower ordinary citizens to become extraordinary activists.
  • We work to provide a strong and unified voice for LGBT concerns in the media.
  • We will tirelessly toil until equal protection under the law has been achieved for all members of our diverse community.

JOB SUMMARY/QUALIFICATIONS

The Executive Director is employed by Equality Maryland, Inc. (c4) and reports jointly to the board of directors of both Equality Maryland Foundation (c3) and Equality Maryland, Inc. (c4) and is supervised jointly by the Presidents of both those respective boards. The Executive Director sits on the Executive Committee of both organizations and attends all board meetings. The Executive Director is accountable for both organizations' fundraising, fiscal management, human resources, donor and member relations, public and press relations, community outreach and program development and implementation.

We are looking for an executive director who is an effective leader and who is smart, optimistic, visionary, committed, hard-working, genial, collaborative and experienced.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Commitment to justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, including the right for LGBT Marylanders to marry.
  • Demonstrated ability to take leadership in high-stress and/or ambiguous environments.
  • Ability to mobilize the LGBT community.
    • Demonstrated ability to communicate and speak publicly.
    • Demonstrated ability to motivate, energize and empower a core constituency.
    • Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively.
    • Demonstrated ability to resolve conflicts while remaining on mission.
  • Ability to fundraise.
    • Demonstrated ability to fundraise, including the development and maintenance of effective fundraising campaigns, donor relationships and member programs.
    • Demonstrated ability to maintain, utilize and grow major donors.
    • Demonstrated ability to identify and access appropriate financial, intellectual and human resources in Maryland and nationally.
  • Ability to build coalitions and educate the public on LGBT equality.
    • A commitment to broad public education and outreach activities, reaching out to all Marylanders on issues of LGBT equality.
    • Working knowledge of community organizing, especially in diverse communities.
    • Experience, creativity with, and commitment to building coalitions with other organizations and social movements in order to advance the goals and objectives of Equality Maryland.
    • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with allied organizations in Maryland and nationally.
    • Demonstrated ability to create and effectively communicate messages, including the development of working relationships with local, state, national and LGBT press.
  • Ability to generate legislative results.
      Excellent working knowledge of LGBT political advocacy issues, particularly in Maryland.
    • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in lobbying.
    • Demonstrated ability to work with elected and appointed officials, and community and faith leaders in a respectful way that creates an environment for positive change for LGBT Marylanders.
  • Ability to shift the electoral landscape.
    • Preference for at least three years working with and/or directing grassroots political or organizing programs or other transferable experience.
    • Experience with PACs, "527s" or similar organizations preferred.
    • Ability to craft and implement short-, mid- and long-term strategic plans around electoral activities to further the mission of Equality Maryland.
    • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in political campaigns preferred.
  • Organizational Management.
    • A minimum of five years experience in non-profit management with increasing responsibility.
    • Ability to plan, create and implement programs that fulfill the vision and mission of the Equality Maryland Foundation, Equality Maryland and Equality Maryland PAC.
    • Working knowledge of lawful relationships between 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and PAC organizations.
    • Effective leadership with ability to create a team-based operating environment and motivate staff through visionary direction.
    • Demonstrated ability to supervise, manage and delegate to staff, including staff that may be working in other offices or in outreach settings.
    • Demonstrated commitment to diversity in all areas of the organization including, but not limited to, programs, outreach, staff, board and communications.
    • Working knowledge of board management, development and relationships.
    • Demonstrated ability to create, implement, and evaluate fiscal, organizational, and human resource systems.
    • Proficiency in office software, incl. MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and experience with GetActive or similar program.

A master's degree in an applicable field (political science, business or public administration) preferred; bachelor's degree required.

Salary is competitive and based on experience and total compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualified applicants may email application materials (current resume, at least three references and cover letter) to Scott Davenport, Chair, Executive Director Search Committee at EDSearch@equalitymaryland.org with "ED Application" in the subject line.

Application review will begin on September 2, 2008. We hope to have our new executive director in place by December.

Equality Maryland Non-Discrimination Policy

Equality Maryland provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws, without regard to race, sex, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, family relationships, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political party affiliation or other protected category. This policy covers all personnel actions including hiring, tenure, or conditions of employment.