Opportunities

Priority given to those who apply by February 15, 2020

Please send resume and cover letter to: personnel@nlgsf.org

Position Summary:

National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Chapter (NLGSF) is the largest chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, with over 600 members, and seeks a full time Executive Director (ED) to lead our work with great vision, dedication and leadership in these tumultuous political times. The ED will be responsible for working collaboratively with the board and membership to provide the organization with direction and a clear sense of mission and values. This will require the ED to practice broad discretion and judgment in working collaboratively with the board, committees and membership to define the organization’s goals and strategies, ensure the administrative, fiscal and programmatic health and effectiveness of the organization, assist the organization to raise the funds needed to operate effectively, manage the organization’s resources soundly and efficiently, and maintain the organization’s overall public image, reputation and key relationships. Salary commensurate with experience.

Finance and Fundraising:

• Attend mandatory monthly meetings of the Chapter’s finance committee and board of directors.
• Develop an annual budget for review and approval by the board.
• Ensure and prepare timely and accurate financial reports for the board, finance committee, and as required by funders.
• Administer accounts, financial records, and contracts on behalf of the Chapter.
• Manage and facilitate Chapter’s fundraising plan including fundraising events, sustainer program, legacy bequests, applying for and managing grants, and other fundraising programs.

Planning, Development and Programmatic Work:

• Facilitate and lead organizational planning and development, including strategic and operational planning, in conjunction with the board.
• Foster the growth and development of Chapter work and ensure that the work of staff, Guild volunteers and interns are consistent with the goals, mission, political resolutions and programmatic priorities of the Guild.

Communication Between Staff, Membership, Committees and Elected Leadership:

• Ensure effective communication and collaboration among staff, board, membership and Chapter committees.
• Participate in board development, including recruitment and training of new Board members.

Political and Organizational Leadership:

• Function as the chapter’s and the national organization’s local representative in coordination with the elected officers and other members.
• Exercise broad discretion and judgment in working with other progressive organizations.  This includes liaising with other organizations’ staff, and engaging in joint programmatic work with allied organizations.
• Speak at NLG and non-NLG events, demonstrations, etc.

Communication of Guild Work, Activities, Internally:

• Provide support and leadership for programmatic committees, including the demonstrations committee, the immigration committee, the police and prisons committee, labor and employment committee, military law panel, and support chapter members creating new committees.
• Develop programs and strategies to expand and grow membership and programmatic work.

Policy and Legislative Work:

• Recommend and lead NLG local and national policy and legislative work in conjunction with relevant chapter committees and community coalitions.
• Speak on behalf of the Guild at hearings of local government bodies, hearings on prospective legislation/regulations, and/or political appointees, that effect areas of NLG programmatic work or interest.

 Union Relations:

• Work with elected officers and designated personnel committee of the board to ensure that personnel management and policies are consistent with the union contract.Work with elected officers and designated personnel committee of the board to ensure that personnel management and policies are consistent with the union contract.
• Keep proper wages and payroll records, leave benefits and dates for all staff to ensure the proper and timely payment of hourly wages required by the Union Agreement and/or compliance with applicable federal or state labor and employment laws.

Commitment to Inclusivity & Diversity:

• Ensure the Guild’s policies, practices and programmatic work, as well as the recruitment of Board members and the activities of staff, volunteers and committees, are performed in a manner consistent with the Guild’s commitment to diversity including racial, ethnic, economic, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Experience working in a grassroots, membership-based organization.
• Knowledge of issues related to a progressive political and legal agenda, including support for civil liberties, opposition to government repression, workers’ rights, and social, racial, economic and gender justice.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills with diverse audiences and with the media.
• Ability to connect and communicate with cross-functional communities, including legal, activist, and policy.
• Strong relationships with diverse communities and colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise great patience, multi- task, set priorities and meet required deadlines.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and creative at problem-solving.
• Spanish and/or Arabic language a plus.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Undergraduate degree is required. California bar passage or significant other legal experience preferred but will consider person with other extraordinary strengths.
• 3-5 years of experience working in nonprofit sector as an executive director or program director.
• History of activism in sectors relevant to the work of NLGSF.

**The position involves supervising and directing the work of (at least) one other staff position, a position covered by an existing national labor agreement between the NLG nationally and the United Auto Workers, Local 2320. As of this date, this position requires the performance of the listed and other managerial duties as their primary work for the chapter, and is therefore considered a “managerial” position, excluded or exempt from the coverage of the NLG’s national agreement with the Union. But the inclusion or not of the position in the current staff bargaining unit is subject to possible change in the current contract negotiations and the position may end up being covered by the existing, or possibly a new union contract, in either case potentially requiring union membership and the payment of union dues to the UAW 2320. More information about the payment of union dues and the Union contract is available upon request.