Executive Director, Responsible Endowments Coalition, Philadelphia (Posted March 31)

The Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC) seeks an Executive Director. This position will provide a unique opportunity to lead a growing non-profit organization of student activists committed to creating social change.

REC works for social change and corporate accountability through university endowments. Colleges and universities control over $340 billion in capital; they also lay claim to strong social missions. Yet few have embraced responsible investment policies. By introducing students, alumni, faculty and staff to the tools of active ownership, and providing a national network for collective action, REC fills a unique niche in the corporate responsibility movement. Working with their institutions to invest responsibly and proactively, students and other university members have the power to support corporate reform in areas such as human rights, environmental justice, and equal opportunity, and to encourage accountability to the communities in which they live and learn by supporting community development and participation. For more information on REC, visit www.endowmentethics.org.

BASIC FUNCTION

The Executive Director will provide leadership toward the achievement of REC’s vision and mission, striving to meet the strategic aims of REC through the planning and implementation of annual and long-term goals and objectives.

Reports to: Board of Directors

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Leads strategic development of the organization, guiding collaborative processes with the staff and board to shape the long-term vision of REC.
2. Oversees the implementation of REC’s annual goals and objectives.
3. Assures the organization and its mission and programs are consistently presented with a strong, positive image to relevant stakeholders, funders and the media.
4. Networking and relationship building. Identifies funding and ally opportunities, and works to connect contacts to the board, staff, and students. Attends and presents at conferences. Develops close relationships with major players in movements such as responsible investment, corporate reform and student organizing in order to better position REC campaigns.
5. Oversees fundraising efforts. With support and collaboration of Development Associate, maintains and develops relationships with funders, identifies resource requirements, researches funding sources, establishes strategies to approach donors, and submits grants.
6. Supports campaigns in collaboration with Organizing Director. Works with responsible investment contacts. Keeps abreast of new directions in the responsible investment movement.
7. Financial management. Works with Deputy Director to recommend yearly budget for Board approval and prudently manages organization’s resources within those budget guidelines.
8. Provides supervision to staff and approves staff plans.
9. Serves as primary link between Board and staff.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Social justice orientation with deep commitment to and enthusiasm for REC’s mission.
• Organizing experience.
• Identification with and ability to communicate effectively with student activists. Open to guidance and direction from student steering committee as key inputs to organizational mission and strategy.
• Orientation to corporate accountability movement. Familiarity with responsible investment, shareholder activism, campus endowments and/or community development is desired and a definite plus, although demonstrable analytic skills to learn content quickly may be acceptable.
• Exceptional organizational skills for effective project management.
• Able to lead team via consensus building and empower staff to lead in their areas.
• Able to provide leadership within a virtual work environment.
• Can effectively represent REC to a variety of audiences. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Comfortable with networking.
• Self-starter, highly-motivated, willingness and ability to take initiative and follow-through.
• Experience with non-profit management desirable, especially for an organization of REC’s size (currently four staff members plus student organizers and interns).
• Fundraising skills and grant writing experience. Ability to fundraise beyond current budget to the next level of organizational development.
• Able to work with organizational consultant, outgoing ED and Board of Directors to effect a smooth succession.

Education: The successful candidate should have a bachelor’s degree combined with experience in the field of student activism, responsible investment, or corporate accountability. A master’s degree in a related field is helpful but not necessary.
Compensation: Salary range starting at $50,000 depending on experience; benefits package including health insurance.

Location: Applicants must be accessible to both Philadelphia and New York, and if based elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic, be able to travel to and work from those cities regularly.
How to Apply:

TO APPLY: Please email a resume and cover letter, including salary requirements, to:
Rose Levine, Board Chair, HR Committee
Responsible Endowments Coalition
Subject: Executive Director Search
Email: apply@endowmentethics.org
The position is open until filled.

The Responsible Endowments Coalition is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, low-income persons, LGBT persons, differently-abled people, and other people from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other traditionally marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.