GARE Director

Job Title:
GARE Director
Reports to:
VP of Institutional and Sectoral Change
FLSA Status:
Exempt
Salary Range:
$115,106 - $130,208
Location:
Remote
Tentative Start Date:
As Soon As Possible
Date Updated:
March 19, 2024
About Race Forward
Race Forward's mission is to build awareness, solutions, and leadership for racial justice by generating transformative ideas, information, and experiences. We define racial justice as the systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable opportunities and outcomes for all and we work to advance racial justice through media, research, and leadership development.
Position Summary
The GARE Director is accountable for leading and supervising a 22-person team. The Director is accountable to the VP of ISC, Race Forward Senior Leadership Team and the greater GARE Movement for ensuring that it is vibrant and effective. Effectiveness for the GARE program is defined as ways that create institutional change in government writ large by supporting thousands of racial equity practitioners in the membership and transforming their own agencies and jurisdictions towards change in material conditions for communities of color. The Director is responsible for building a principle-based work culture that supports a multidisciplinary team of professionals as they coordinate their efforts to build a powerful social impact network. The Director builds a team structure that supports regular team check-ins, coordination with other Race Forward program areas, and defines a strategic direction for the program. The role supports fundraising, in coordination with the Vice-President of ISC and the Development and Partnership Department.
Essential Job Functions
The GARE Director leads the GARE team by:

• promoting a GARE team culture defined by mutual respect, cooperation, trust - and guided by achieving its health and wellness metrics
• working with the GARE Steering Committee, GARE team members and the VP of ISC to articulate and implement strategic vision and direction for the GARE network
• deepen and formalize existing program relationships that have proven useful in strengthening the GARE Network,
• Work with the GARE Steering Committee, GARE Members, GARE team to identify and broadly share examples of how the GARE approach and tools are advancing racial equity and improving government for all
• Developing and formalizing new program relationships that advance the GARE strategy
• Seek out opportunities to build trust, cooperation, and coordination with other departments to leverage the full power of Race Forward in building the movement for racial equity in government

The GARE Director fulfills these leadership accountabilities by:

• Implementing policy objectives, strategies, and strategic plan that supports the strengthening of the GARE network;
• Ensuring delivery, management, and direction of activities of the network,
• Leading specific GARE priorities, including the development and implementation of strategic partnerships,
• Build and nurture relationships with partners and provide organizational visibility through speaking engagements and media presence;
• Supports exploration and implementation of government - community collaborations for racial equity
• Supports budget development and fundraising, in collaboration with the Vice-President of Institutional and Sectoral Change, Senior Vice-President of Programs, and Race Forward Development and Partnerships Team,
• Coordinates and supports high level organizational networking and alliance-building to support the effectiveness of the organization and to stretch the impact of partner organizations;
• Supports internal program coordination and evaluation to support the GARE strategic plan and to strengthen the learning culture of the organization; and
• Supports staff training and development of GARE team members.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises the Deputy Director of Network Strategies, the Deputy Director of Transformative Strategies and the Deputy of Director of Operations as well as the Strategic Partnership Director.
Required Education and Experience

• Education or experience commensurate to 10+ years of work in the fields of community development, public policy, social justice, and public administration;
• Ability to provide management direction and professional support to a fast-moving team executing a complex strategic work plan;
• Capacity to articulate a strategic vision that can move an institutional change, public policy, or philanthropic investment initiative;
• Comfort level with discussing institutional racial equity and the role race plays in determining one's success in our society;
• Ability to establish rapport and trust with leaders in government to help them incorporate racial equity into their work; and to ably negotiate multiple sectors in the advancement of these principles (e.g. community-based organizations, intermediaries, philanthropy, etc.)
• Ability to comfortably facilitate or keynote large groups in sessions about racial equity;
• Ability and willingness to travel nationally.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
To perform successfully in this role, incumbent should possess skills identified below:

• Superb management skills
• Strong writing and oral communication
• Ability to shepherd and implement strategic plans
• Skills in knowledge in alliance building and organizing a field
• Knowledge of GARE's VNOO approach
• Understanding of institutional change strategies and theories.
• Ability to work with social movements outside of government
• Knowledge of community level organizing and its relationship to government.
• Knowledge and understanding of social impact networks

Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Race Forward is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Race Forward will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at HRSupport@RaceForward.org.
EEO Statement
Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.