The Executive Director will assume executive leadership responsibility for Equality Ohio, Equality Ohio Education Fund, and Equality Ohio Action Fund. In partnership with Equality Ohio’s Boards of Directors, the E.D. will provide strategic, administrative, and financial stewardship of the organization. They will direct organizational development, fundraising/resource development, policy/advocacy, organizing, and external relations, and will partner with internal and external stakeholders to advance Equality Ohio’s mission.
The new Executive Director of Equality Ohio will be an experienced, creative, and visionary leader with an established track record of creating inclusive, trusting, and values-driven cultures. They will bring a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative leadership style and be committed to building an organization that represents the people and the communities Equality Ohio seeks to serve. They should have a healing and trauma-informed approach to management, along with the ability to support and empower staff at all levels of experience and professional development. They should be empathetic, compassionate, and people-centered, and also bring the professional skills and knowledge to lead Equality Ohio to new levels of success and impact.
Candidates for this position should have a personal style that is empathetic, warm, and engaging, along with the ability to actively listen/respond to the needs of a wide range of internal and external constituents. Key to success in this role will be passion for, and expertise in, building and leveraging political power to affect positive social change for the most vulnerable individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Regardless of professional background, a deep understanding of intersectional identities and issues (race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, etc.) in the LGBTQ+ community is essential.
Desired Skills and Experience (Should Have):
• Strongly developed, cross-functional leadership experience (ideally as Executive Director/CEO or Deputy Director/COO, VP, Senior Director or similar) in a progressive nonprofit environment;
• Professional background and expertise in policy/advocacy, lobbying, electoral politics, capacity building, and/or community organizing;
• Leadership and fiscal oversight responsibility for an organization (or department) of comparable – or larger – size and complexity;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and work in coalitions and to grow and maintain effective individual and institutional relationships;
• Proven track record of nonprofit fundraising, including individual giving, corporate and foundation support, grants and contracts, fee-for-service/earned revenue, and/or special events;
• Excellent people and team management skills to positively coach and mentor staff across departments and functions while also ensuring accountability for results and outcomes;
• Strong diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) lens, with the experience to lead by example in centering racial, sexual, and gender equity, as well as disability justice, in all facets of an organization;
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills including media relations, marketing, and messaging, and comfortable and credible in on-camera and print interviews;
• Organizational leadership abilities including strategic planning, systems improvement, policy development and implementation, budgeting and contract management, employee relations/conflict resolution, and project management/delegation;
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time – mostly within, but some outside, the state of Ohio.