Executive Director

Description

Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) protects and advocates for the human and legal rights of people with disabilities of all ages across Louisiana. DRLA works to empower the disability community to live an integrated life, free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Building on recent successes with impactful litigation and innovative programming, DRLA now seeks its next Executive Director (ED).

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the new ED will lead a highly qualified team of approximately 50 dedicated staff delivering free legal services, educating policymakers, advocating for clients, and delivering trainings throughout the state. The ED will oversee organizational development, supervise senior staff, and manage a roughly $5M annual budget. They will also ensure compliance with legal and funder requirements, safeguarding the short- and long-term fiscal and programmatic health of the organization.

DRLA seeks a compassionate manager who will foster a strong internal culture and lead strategic growth in service of greater impact for the disability community across Louisiana.

The ideal candidate will have significant nonprofit leadership and management experience within disability rights, legal advocacy, or a closely related field. Strong candidates will demonstrate commitment to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, motivating teams and fostering alignment, and mobilizing public and private support and partnership for the systems change and direct service work DRLA does.

The ED will exhibit humble servant leadership and will have a strong ability to build relationships and gain the trust of the Board and staff at all levels of the organization. The ED will represent DRLA publicly and will continue to elevate the organization’s profile as a critical, impactful agency, both across the state and nationwide.

• Provide strategic leadership and effective management of the agency including program planning, compliance, development, budget, performance management, and financial oversight.
• Build a robust, collaborative culture of transparency, active communication, and trust, working to envision and implement a cohesive organization where the Board and staff are clear on the important roles they play in advancing DRLA’s mission and vision. Work in partnership with the staff union to ensure organizational needs are met and staff are supported through fostering a positive relationship with union and non-union staff alike.
• Prioritize areas in which DRLA can optimize operations and support staff development by reviewing existing Human Resources systems and policies and identifying opportunities for advancement.
• Cultivate a strong working relationship with the Board of Directors through effective and responsive engagement with all members, both at and between Board meetings, and ensuring healthy exchange of information between the Board and staff.
• Partner with the Finance Director to lead overall budget and financial management with a particular focus on compliance and reporting for federal and other funding streams.
• Along with development staff, explore cultivation of potential grant funding as well as new donors and stewardship opportunities, identifying and pursuing the potential to broaden and diversify the funding base beyond the current revenue streams.
• Foster a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, ensuring that those values drive key decisions about organizational goals, practices, and priorities.
• In partnership with the Board of Directors and staff, develop, implement, and communicate DLRA’s strategic vision among legislators, key partners, and stakeholders in ways that…