The Audre Lorde Project Seeks Executive Leasership (ALP)

Position Commitment Estimate: 3-5 years, 40 hours a week (Full-Time)

Potential Start Date: September 2021

(Both directorship models include a generous benefit package and biennial cost of living increase)

Directly Supervised by ALP Board of Directors

The Audre Lorde Project (ALP) is a Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non Conforming (LGBTSTGNC) People of Color (POC) center for community organizing, focusing on the NYC area. Through mobilization, education and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social & economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities. (To read more about ALP, please visit: https://alp.org/about)

ALP is hiring for an Executive Leadership role, a position that upholds the vision, organizational development, and day-to-day operations in the organization. With the completion of our 3-year strategic plan in 2019, our stakeholders uplifted a long-term goal of increased wellness, development, and accountability among ALP stakeholders. This Executive Leadership role builds and amplifies community-based practices of care, leadership, and community member investment. The role consolidates the work of community members, staff, and board to incorporate collectivism as we follow our values and strategic plan.

In its 25 year legacy, the Audre Lorde Project has used both a Co-Director and an Executive Director model. We acknowledge that the ideal candidate(s) may not see themselves reflected in a traditional Executive Director and that those roles are not always aligned with ALP’s values and culture. Therefore, we are open to continuing a Co-Director model. Co-Directors should apply as a team and will be considered together; ALP will not be matching individual applicants for co-directorship during the application review process.

What Does Executive Leadership Do?

Manage the staff to build the political and practical strategies for community care within a grassroots community-based praxis.
Lead the process of both long-term vision and day-to-day operational updates.
Help increase accountability and communication between ALP staff and our community.
Act as the intermediary between different stakeholders as it regards programming, movement building, and organizational development.
Role Commitments

Organizational Development (20%)

Ensure decision-making power is distributed throughout the organization and that members feel empowered, politicized, and engaged in organizational work.
Design and creatively implement programming to engage and support LGBTSTGNC POC member’s access to dignified and quality healthcare, housing, employment, and culturally competent providers/resources for sustainability.
Oversee planning, implementation, evaluation, documentation, and archiving of programs
Support development of and/or facilitate relevant curriculum for internal and external trainings
Fundraising and Finance (20%)
Work with staff to develop an income plan that incorporates grassroots, mid-level, and major donors.
Supervise Communications Coordinator to uplift ALP’s work on external communications channels, including the blog, social media, website, and newsletters.
Submit timely and accurate grant proposals and reports.
Represent ALP publicly at the local, state, national, and international levels; with funders and other relevant organizations, networks, organizing coalitions, and media
Steward ALP’s fiscal sustainability, managing the Manager of Finance and Operations to lead the annual participatory budgeting process, monitor income and expenses, and facilitate the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities.
Community Relations and Coalition Building (30%)
Oversee the development of grassroots community organizing campaigns and community actions. This includes the development of community analysis and the prioritization of strategic coalition-building.
Manage the organization’s program staff coordinators and work plans, prioritizing leadership development and participatory decision-making practices that reflect ALP’s mission and values.
Support sustainable and abundant culture amongst staff and member leadership.
Support a staff culture of feedback and accountability through regular evaluations of staff.
Coordinate and participate in deliberations and decisions of key organizational committees. Decisions are guided by ALP’s vision, political direction, work plan, and consensus process.
Utilize evaluation tools in ALP programming, member feedback, and overall campaign work.
Report programming work to our members, board, and community at large.
Contribute to ALP’s program work by assisting at events and member meetings.
Collaborate with program coordinators and directors for projects and events.
Support working with the Board of Directors and participate in deliberations and decisions of the Board in conjunction with program and administration.
Co-lead coordination of the organization’s strategic planning process in FY23
In conjunction with staff, ensure that program consultants and contracted employees provide services to ALP as stipulated.
Demonstrate strong work ethic in completing logistic and administrative tasks on time.

Human Resources (20%)

Maintain and update employee policies handbook and benefit programs by assessing needs and trends, ensuring consistency with organizational values of disability justice, racial justice, economic justice, trans justice, and accessibility; research, develop recommendations, and lead implementation of new systems, as needed.
Develop, update, and publicize job postings, offer letters, evaluation forms, and maintain employee files, as needed, with relevant input from administrative and program staff; manage new hire onboarding and orientation process.
Research and communicate opportunities for staff training and leadership development; coordinate internal training calendar for all staff.

Safety and Conflict Oversight (10%)

Respond and evaluate incidents of online, phone, and in-person harassment, abuse, discrimination, or other forms of violence against staff, members, and volunteers.
Oversee all internal and external conflicts within the organization, and documentation of the process.
Provide support and investment for ALP stakeholders holding mediation, accountability, or feedback processes.
Troubleshoot and develop strategies for creating safety at ALP and community events and actions using safety planning, security teams, and survivor support.
Serve as a resource to staff, members, and volunteers experiencing conflict.
Engage in safety and security on an organizational level.

Qualities We’d Love to See in an Applicant

Experience supervising staff and/or members and volunteers.
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
Strong peer-counseling, conflict-management, and crisis management skills.
Strong working knowledge of LGBTSTGNC & POC communities, resources, and services in the NYC area.
Knowledge of maintaining systems of info and referrals including: resource files; organizational materials and bulletin boards; and providing info, referrals, support and crisis intervention to callers and walk-ins, as needed.
Strong experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation with communities facing the greatest barriers to survival including activities such as: info and referrals, resource sharing, crisis and violence related resources and referrals, community building, holistic health/wellness, and skills training.
Solid interest/experience in movement-building strategies.
Strong understanding of social services and public assistance programs in NYC for LGBTSTGNC People of Color and experience working with service providers.
Able to use PC-based word processing and database programs.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, usually 2 evenings per week.
Experience developing and leading grassroots community organizing campaigns preferred.
Experience with supporting the development and implementation of annual fundraising plans and expense budgets.
Multilingual in English and another language preferred.

What You Don’t Need

A college degree. ALP recognizes that this is a common barrier to keep people of color and people from low-income backgrounds out of positions of power.
Non-Profit-centered experience.
Prior experience as an Executive Director.

Who Should Apply?

The Audre Lorde Project is committed to justice for LGBTSTGNC people, people of color, women and femmes, immigrants, poor and low-income people, people with disabilities, chronic health issues, and mental health concerns, formerly and currently incarcerated people, youth, elders, parents, those living with HIV, and those practicing religion or faith. ALP offers equal opportunity employment to all of these groups and others required by law.

We believe that our people have the tools and lived experiences to fight for their own liberation and must lead the movement for justice. Therefore, we prioritize our work being led by those most affected by our work. Applicants must be based in NYC.

What Benefits Does This Position Provide?

ALP pays for 100% of premiums for employee health, dental, and vision coverage; flex spending account and additional wellness programs; retirement account; commuter benefits; life insurance; and annual professional development stipend. Generous leave benefits provided, including vacation, wellness and sick days, personal days, holidays, and the first week of July, last week of November, and last two weeks of the year off.

How Do You Apply?

Nominations & inquiries should be submitted to hiring@alp.org

Please submit applications electronically via our BambooHR job postings page. Please include a résumé, three references, and a cover letter that addresses the following:

What are your political priorities for NYC and where did you develop that position?
Why are you interested in being an Executive Director here at ALP, a member-led organization?
Combine all documents into one PDF and upload in the resume section of our job posting.

Please note that applicants who are being considered for second round interviews will also be asked to submit a sample meeting agenda and work plan.

Instructions for Co-Director Applicants

In addition to submitting individual résumés, a cover letter, and references, candidates applying as Co-Directors are invited to submit a proposal (1-2 pages) detailing your shared vision for division of roles and responsibilities between the co-applicants.est/experience in movement-building strategies.

Strong understanding of social services and public assistance programs in NYC for LGBTSTGNC People of Color and experience working with service providers.
Able to use PC-based word processing and database programs.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, usually 2 evenings per week.
Experience developing and leading grassroots community organizing campaigns preferred.
Experience with supporting the development and implementation of annual fundraising plans and expense budgets.
Multilingual in English and another language preferred.