Executive Director

Executive Director Job Description

Founded 25 years ago, Diversity Richmond's
mission
is to be a catalyst, a voice, a place, and a resource that enriches and champions a diverse community, aspiring for a vibrant, inclusive community that is safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies. We strive to provide programming that is both affirming and advances our mission to hold our systems accountable in promoting full human and civil rights for all Virginians. Our programs seek to enhance the lives of and reinforce community for  LGBTQ+ people by focusing on four key areas of Life, Health, Wellness, and Stability. This model aims to create a resilient and empowered community through increased connections to support, resources, and a community network. 

We produce the annual
Pridefest
that brings thousands of people together and we operate the only non-profit
LGBTQ+ art gallery in the South
. Our facility and event space is used for recovery groups, community meetings, parties and community celebrations. Our work is often known in the broader community through Diversity Thrift, Richmond's favorite thrift store.  

Diversity Richmond
's work has provided leadership for and contributed to moving  our city in a direction where there are pride month celebrations by the mayor and city hall, specific LGBTQ+ tourism campaigns, local business associations, businesses and Richmond institutions that partner with us such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Richmond Ballet, Virginia Opera among others. 

Over the past 25 years,  Diversity Richmond has become an integral part of the fabric of Richmond.  We are committed to shaping our future over the next 25 years, driving organizational advancement while fostering strong community ties. 

In aligning with this commitment to growth, Diversity Richmond is putting forth a search for executive leadership. The executive leadership reports directly to the Board. We are seeking a professional, thoughtful, talented and engaged leadership that can move this organization forward to its next level of growth.
The Board is open to a co-leadership or single leadership model, obtained through either joint applications or through recommendations from the search committee based on the assessed and indicated skills and experience of individual applications.

Diversity Richmond seeks transformational executive leadership who can meet the current national/global moment, especially as it impacts our local communities, with grace, compassion, resilience and humility. The next executive leadership must be capable of furthering and reinforcing operations, building and sustaining trust, and advancing the organization's mission. The ideal leadership will demonstrate exceptional LGBTQ+ movements and social justice competencies, crisis management skills, strategic vision, impeccable self-awareness, and the ability to earn stakeholder confidence and respect while driving sustainable organizational growth from the perspectives and praxis of queer theory (for examples, please go
here
and
here
), intersections of oppression, institutionalized injustice, decolonization, ableism, class systems, casteism, anti-racism and antiblackness.

The Executive Leadership, with the support of the Board of Directors, is responsible for: 

Vision and Organizational Leadership:

• Working closely with the Board of Directors to:
• Develop and refine the organizational mission, vision, and goals such that they reflect the ongoing dynamic needs and nature of the LGBTQIA+ communities
• Develop and execute implementation plans to accomplish identified goals
• Provide full transparency of these goals and implementation plans to ensure the Board can successfully meet its fiduciary and strategic responsibilities
• Developing and implementing strategic planning initiatives that will operationalize the organization's mission and strategically strengthen the organization's offerings in the community
• Leading the continued development and preservation of an organizational culture across staff and board that honors and upholds Diversity Richmond's core values
• Assessing and conducting ongoing reviews of the organizational structure and developing a sustainable, evolved organizational structure
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders promoting the mission, vision and values of Diversity Richmond

Financial Leadership:

• Developing and directing operational budgets to reflect current initiatives and organizational priorities
• Leading all organizational fundraising and development initiatives
• Overseeing the fiscal performance of Diversity Thrift, a dynamic upcycling retail operation with more than $1 million in annual sales
• Working with internal and external accounting professionals to prepare comprehensive budgets, revenue and expense reports; audits and required filings;
• Overseeing all financial accounts and operations for the organization

Operations/Management Leadership:

• Creating and implementing organizational policies, practices and procedures
• Streamlining organizational operations
• Providing oversight for Diversity Richmond's program initiatives
• Managing a senior staff of direct reports using performance management methods and tools
• Training staff to assure efficient, professional and values driven day to day operations both for the organization and for Diversity Thrift
• Overseeing Diversity Thrift retail operations and staff management processes

The following qualities and experience requirements can be shared if there are to be co-executive directors. The co-directors should have complementary skills. If co-nominees opt to submit a team application, they should clearly identify their proposed division of responsibilities and strengths.

Qualities

The Executive Leadership must possess a strong commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and the advancement of inclusion initiatives. 

The Executive Leadership must have 

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including an
• exceptional ability to develop and manage both internal and external, multiple audience communication strategies and practices
• The ability to build rapport and relationships by utilizing strong leadership and managerial skills
• Exceptional fiscal stewardship and strategic planning skills
• Excellent positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organizational goals
• The ability to be in person consistently during the work week and at organizational events

Experience

• The executive leadership position requires that there is at  least seven years of professional experience in at least three of the following areas:
• Transformative leadership
• Non-profit organizational development and management,
• Financial operations and management
• Fundraising
• Grant writing and management
• Strategic communication, including digital and mediated communication
• Retail industry management experience
• Real estate asset management
• Large scale event team management
• Crisis management
• The position requires experience working with LGBTQIA+ communities
• The position requires a Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, social sciences, related fields or commensurate experience;
• A graduate degree in nonprofit management, business, social sciences or related fields is strongly preferred

Submission Materials

• A resume
• A cover letter
• References upon request
• Candidates who wish to apply as a team should submit a statement articulating their approach to co-leadership, specifically focusing on the responsibilities listed above.

The Executive Leadership reports directly to the Board. This job description is not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of responsibilities and the requirements of the position may evolve over time.

It is the policy of Diversity Richmond to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, HIV/AIDS status, political affiliation, veteran status, familial status, disability status, or a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, or other legally protected status in accordance with state or federal law. The policy applies to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion,