ACLU of Nevada

Executive Director

The ACLU of Nevada is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader with a demonstrated commitment to broad community engagement and the issues impacting civil rights and civil liberties, equity, and diversity and inclusion to become its next Executive Director.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLU-NV) is the Silver State’s largest and most active nongovernmental organization dedicated to protecting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The affiliate prides itself on its non-partisan and non-ideological approach to policy, advocacy, legislation, and litigation, and often surprises the public with cases and clients that defy expectations. From its work on efforts to reform the criminal justice system by virtue of its involvement on the legislature’s Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice and Supreme Court’s Indigent Defense Commission, to pursuing more government transparency on the Open Meeting Law Task Force, and standing up for minority communities on the Clark County Sheriff's Metro Multicultural Affairs Committee, its dynamic litigation docket that covers the entire spectrum of constitutional and other important legal issues, to the central role we play in public policy and a host of advocacy arenas, including police abuse and accountability, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, voting rights, and reproductive freedom, the ACLU-NV continues to protect the rights of all Nevadans. The ACLU-NV is comprised of two separate corporate entities: the ACLU of Nevada, Inc., a 501(c)(4), and the ACLU of Nevada, Foundation, a 501(c)(3). The organization now has 10 staff members with fully staffed offices in both Reno and Las Vegas.

THE POSITION

The Executive Director (ED) will be responsible for providing direction and leadership toward achieving the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategies, and annual goals and objectives. The ACLU-NV seeks an experienced, strategic, and visionary leader with a demonstrated commitment to broad community engagement and the issues impacting civil rights and civil liberties, equity, and diversity and inclusion throughout the state of Nevada. Reporting to the ACLU-NV Board of Directors, the ED should be confident in their leadership and adept at balancing internal management with external visibility. The ED, in partnership with the talented staff, will lead the development of strategies on the organization’s core priority areas, ensuring that the national office and affiliates together achieve shared performance outcomes. The ED will champion the affiliate’s organization’s vision, mission, and values, and have a proven track-record of successfully working with racially and ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA groups.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Passion & Mission Alignment: A natural advocate of impeccable character committed to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission goals and programs with an understanding and ability to articulate the full range of civil liberties and their implications. This leader must inspire confidence and have a demonstrated track record of commitment to serving communities in need with a vision and passion for equity and inclusivity.
• Visionary Leadership: Experience as a thoughtful and progressive leader who leads with a bold vision, future-orientation and executive leadership in rapidly changing environments.
• Business & Financial Acumen: Demonstrated success with leveraging innovative models to sustainably grow and expand the organization, programs, and impact. A self-starter and creative problem solver who thinks and executes multi-dimensionally.
• Staff Leadership & Development: Experience developing diverse staff and teams. Knowledge of best practices employed for recruitment and retention of high performing teams. Has successfully implemented an organizational strategic plan.
• Fundraising & External Partnerships: Has played a key role in philanthropic engagement and fundraising. A skilled leader in managing institutional advancement activities and building trusted and productive partnerships with donors, coalition partners, and media.
• Multi-Strategy, Multifaceted Advocacy Experience: Experience in multiple areas of advocacy. ACLU-NV uses an integrated advocacy model, combining Legal Action, Policy Work, Strategic Communication and Grass Roots organizing.
• Board Management: Experience with Board governance and a demonstrated history of communication and relationship-building between a Board of directors.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership & Vision:
  • Serve as primary liaison with national organization to ensure a strong relationship and to advocate for resources to support the staff and partners of the Nevada affiliate.
  • Develop the affiliate’s priorities and positions on key issues in collaboration and consultation with the Board and staff, articulating the organization’s positions and communicating its mission to increase the organization’s visibility and the public’s understanding of the goals and work.
  • Develop and maintain a robust litigation department.
• Organizational Management:
  • Build, motivate, and maintain a cohesive staff, ensuring strong internal communication and collaboration. Foster a supportive team-oriented environment where both independent and innovative thinking and collaboration are encouraged.
  • Champion and value diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the organization to strive towards a culture of belonging.
  • Lead collaboratively with a Board of Directors to implement a model of strategic and generative governance.
  • Oversee the implementation of existing and new initiatives and work-flow to ensure the high-quality delivery of services, as well as managing future program enhancement and growth.
• Budget & Fund Development
  • Oversee a robust fundraising program to protect the affiliate’s long-term financial stability, steward key donor relationships, identify new major donor prospects, and solicit major donations.
  • Oversee a Director of Finance and Administration who leads fiscal planning and financial oversight, ensuring transparency and use of best practices that meet the highest standards.
• Public Representation:
  • Serve as the chief marketer, communicator, and spokesperson and maintain strong relationships with the media, guide organizational strategy, and work effectively with the national communications staff to maximize nationwide messaging and to amplify local priorities.
  • Grow and expand the ACLU-NV’s reputation, developing and maintaining key relationships of influence including decisionmakers, funders, clients, impacted communities, coalition partners, media representatives, and more.

Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest (cover letter and resume) should be directed electronically to ACLU-NV-ED@divsearch.com.

All inquiries and communications will be handled confidentially.