Executive Director at Disability Rights Fund

Position Overview

• DRF/DRAF is seeking a strategic, thoughtful, proactive, collaborative and creative leader, ideally with human rights, philanthropic and program experience. From a growth perspective, the ED will lead a participatory and collaborative approach to governance, management, and grantmaking, centering accessibility within this approach. A successful candidate will collaborate with the Board to guide the organization's direction and execute the vision and goals of the new strategic plan.
• They will be motivated to maintain and grow external partnerships, and to dynamically communicate the value and impact of the organizations and the global disability rights movement to stakeholders, donors, and government entities.
• The ED will be at ease in leading and executing fundraising strategies in collaboration with the Board and Development teams.
• They will also be considerate and engaging as a leader, and promote a culture of collaboration, learning, and mutual accountability with a diverse, global staff in a remote environment. Lastly, they will have the flexibility and pro-active orientation to work at both the strategic and operations levels ensuring the organization functions effectively and efficiently.

Key Areas of Responsibility: 

• Strategic Implementation, Board Collaboration and Leadership
• Execute the Funds’ organizational vision and goals and lead the implementation of the Funds’ new strategic plan on behalf of the Board, translating the strategy into annual financial, programmatic and operational goals, evaluating progress and updating plans as necessary.
• Assess periodically and if necessary, revise the Funds’ strategic direction and priorities, in partnership with the Board and staff, in response to changing conditions or other factors.
• Partner with the Board to ensure a strong governance structure and to identify, recruit and onboard new board members.
• Provide regular communications and information to the Board.
• Ensure responsible financial and risk management and oversight with the support of the operational and financial team, including annual audits and budget planning with regular reporting to the Board.
• Oversee a robust participatory model encompassing the Board, staff leadership, and Grantmaking Committee, composed of donors and activists, to establish annual grantmaking guidelines, processes and approve grants in line with budget allocations.
• Foster and strengthen a high performing team through a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, learning, and mutual accountability. Promote accessible and inclusive practices to enable full participation of all stakeholders.
• Lead and strengthen the organization and programs by empowering the Funds’ executive team and staff. Demonstrate an engaging, transformational, and collaborative leadership style.
• Directly supervise the three division chiefs of the organization.
• Resource Cultivation, External Representation and Advocacy
• Communicate effectively and engage with the public and stakeholders, including donors, staff, governments and other organizations regarding the Funds’ goals and participatory grantmaking, the global disability rights movement, and intersections with other rights movements.
• In partnership with the Development team, secure and grow support from funders supportive of the Funds’ vision including individual donors, foundations, government, and corporate partners.
• Engage as a thought leader within philanthropy on disability-inclusive grantmaking and disability rights, including producing and publishing written thought pieces to enhance the Funds’ global visibility and credibility.
• Inform and influence other human rights communities to address disability inclusion, social inequality, and the intersectionality of disability with other rights.
• Grow, establish, and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including partner organizations, governments, donors, and communities, in alignment with the Funds’ vision, goals and strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• To fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal candidate will have/be:
• At least 15 years of relevant work experience, 8 or more years in human rights, philanthropic, or grantmaking roles of increasing leadership responsibility with director, c-suite or executive director level, supervisory experience.
• Global disability and human rights experience, including an understanding of intersectionality and gender justice. Deep knowledge of UN human rights systems, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and international development agendas.
• Experience working with OPDs and/or building cross-movement collaborations.
• Skilled in working across cultures and comfortable collaborating within a diverse workplace, ideally in a remote environment and within cross cultural work teams.
• Lived and/or professional experience with disability and diverse disability communities.
• Proven fundraising experience in attracting, maintaining, and growing major gifts from government donors and foundations.
• Effective and collaborative leader with experience in strategic and operational implementation, including financial and programmatic management. Inspiring and confident in their ability to coach, manage and develop staff.
• Be a movement builder and connect with others to advance disability rights/human rights and in growing networks to develop partnerships and collaborations with organizations, governments, and other stakeholders.
• Experience with or knowledge of board development and governance.
• Able to communicate effectively and persuasively when engaging a diverse set of stakeholders, partners, and those with various levels of expertise.
• Curious and committed to knowledge sharing with conceptual and critical thinking abilities. Open to new information or approaches to advance proposals or solutions.
• Demonstrated sound and reasoned judgment. Ability to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive and clear with staff and stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel– approximately 10-30% of the time under safe conditions.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required; an advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• Highly proficient in spoken and written English.

Other preferred qualifications include:

• Experience working at a collaborative fund/pooled fund or organization that manages multiple donor funds.
• Professional proficiency in French, Spanish, International Sign or languages other than English.
• Experience in advocacy linked to CRPD implementation.
• Knowledge of global fiscal regulations and compliance.
• Knowledge of grantmaking.
• Experience working for or with organizations in Global South.