The New Economy Coalition (NEC) seeks a facilitative and innovative leader to guide the organization at this unique and formative moment. The leader of NEC will build, inspire, and manage a talented staff team as well as a vibrant coalition; keep the board strong and engaged; be a primary public face of the organization; further develop a strong and innovative fundraising capacity; and build collaborative relationships with the donor community and other stakeholders.
The Ideal Candidate
The New Economy Coalition’s new executive director will be passionate about, committed to, and have a history of demonstrated leadership related to NEC’s mission. The executive director should be able to articulate NEC’s vision in a way that inspires and motivates staff, board, diverse coalition members, funders and stakeholders of all stripes.
The ideal candidate will be a facilitative leader, committed to building and supporting both the staff and board as highly collaborative teams. The new executive director will be invested in nurturing the leadership of staff, while also able to commit to decisions, delegate, and maintain accountability across the organization. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have experience and skills in organizational structure development, and will be open to the potential of innovative new models.
The new executive director must strike a delicate balance between being a key public face of the organization –out front, comfortable and articulate in the spotlight– and working behind the scenes as an ally to support and amplify the work of a diverse range of coalition members and social movements. Above all, the new leader must be both informed by and accountable to these movements.
The ideal candidate will have creative fundraising experience that has shown concrete results. The new executive director must be able to fundraise for NEC while maintaining sensitivity to the resource needs of coalition members.
Specifically, the ideal candidate must have skill and experience in the following areas:
- Facilitative leadership and management that is inclusive, participatory, empowering, consistent, and supports staff and other stakeholders’ growth, efficacy, and ownership of their work;
- Articulating a vision, inspiring others to share in that vision, and assessing the appropriate risks to take in achieving it;
- Managing and supporting a diverse and vibrant coalition;
- Developing, engaging, and maintaining healthy relationships with a high-powered board of directors;
- Being an ally to –or member of– the broad set of movements engaged in new economy work, with a prioritization of those grounded in frontline communities;
- Being comfortable and poised in the spotlight, while also helping to shine that spotlight on others – especially traditionally marginalized voices;
- Developing and managing a multi-faceted, innovative fundraising plan – including experience cultivating donors, soliciting major gifts and writing grants;
- Thinking systemically, innovating, and working as a creative problem solver;
- Leading organizational development – especially as related to organizational structure and individual roles;
- Balancing on-the-ground organizational management, leadership, and program work, with bigger picture thinking and strategy.
- Desired professional background
- Has successfully led, co-led, and/or been in a leadership role in related organizations and/or movements;
- Has successfully been in partnership in related organizations and/or movements;
- Experienced and comfortable with sometimes sophisticated economic materials.
- Desired personal characteristics and qualities
- A demonstrated passion and commitment to New Economy Coalition’s mission;
- An empathetic and supportive style of leadership;
- The ability to remain calm under fire and to both hold and be held accountable.
Please note that NEC is considering adding an internally focused executive level staff, whose position will be shaped by the new executive director in consultation with the staff leadership team and contingent on funding and board approval. In light of this, the Search Committee is open to creative proposals from co-applicants, job sharing, etc.
