JOB DESCRIPTION: Posted July 10, 2024

Founding Executive Director

 

About the Freedom Economy:

The Freedom Economy Business Association (Freedom Economy) is a newly launched membership-based organization for justice and sustainability investors. This organization will push back against the simultaneous attacks on DEI, ESG, and impact investing, and will initially house a legal initiative designed to protect and affirm investors' right to pursue justice and sustainability by (1) resourcing investors by curating information on best practices and providing referrals to networked legal counsel; (2) resourcing legal actors by coordinating strategies across DEI, ESG, and impact investing legal cases; and (3) boldly representing investors in affirming our legal right to pursue justice and sustainability.

The Opportunity:

The Freedom Economy seeks a strategic and experienced Founding Executive Director (ED), to lead and scale the organization. Reporting to, and working in close collaboration with, the Board of Directors, the ED will be responsible for executing at fidelity the organization’s strategic priorities, including those related to fundraising and business development, operations, programs, and overall sustainable growth. The ED will also partner with the leadership of its sponsoring organization to develop messaging and policy priorities that advance key objectives. The ED is a collaborative leader with a commitment to building and aligning coalitions and moving stakeholders forward in the pursuit of justice and sustainability. The successful candidate will have a genuine passion for the mission of Freedom Economy and knowledge of legal strategy, civil rights/ civil rights law, business, finance, investing and DEI/ ESG. The Freedom Economy ED will serve as a galvanizing force, bringing together a diverse and strong group of members and investors around a shared vision and unified strategy. The ED will have the ability to coalesce and empower leaders to take action and amplify the mission of Freedom Economy in their own networks and spheres of impact.

ED Roles & Responsibilities:

     Strategy and Coalition Building:

• Collaborate with Board of Directors to develop, set and execute the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Define and generate momentum around clear outcomes and continually hold the organization and its members to actions that align and move us towards these outcomes.
• Hold and communicate vision, mission and strategy among members and the organization to ensure alignment of action, execution and external messaging.
• Identify and marshal resources in service of building strategic momentum
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors on developing and implementing an effective membership engagement strategy.
• Active, strategic and collaborative member engagement and management.
• Develop strong relationships and collaborative partnerships with—and among--key actors across the ecosystem to ensure the organization is well-positioned to inform solutions that are being contemplated to protect progressive investors’ rights, as legally appropriate.
• Manage distributed team of consultants with relevant subject matter expertise.

     Operations and Programs:

• Develop and implement a programmatic calendar.
• Ensure programs and services are delivered at fidelity. Key programs and services for members include legal advisory services, information hub, convenings, and communications support.
• Develop an impact and evaluation framework aligned with best practice and that enables regular assessments of organizational success.
• Ensure high-quality systems for the organization’s overall administration, including as it relates to data, accounting, and communications.
• Develop and track progress against measurable goals to inform the organization’s strategic priorities.

     Fundraising, Business Development, and Partnerships:

• Develop strong relationships with institutional philanthropy to grow the organization’s annual revenue and ensure a diversified revenue mix for long-term financial sustainability.
• Develop compelling pitch decks and other marketing collateral, as needed.
• Ensure strong engagement with the organization’s members, partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships that effectively and efficiently advance the organization’s mission.
• Draft and send recurring updates to members and other key stakeholders.

     Strategic Communications & Engagement:

• Serve as one of the primary voices representing Freedom Economy; this may, include but is not limited to, speaking engagements, panel participation, congressional briefs and speaking with the press, as requested by the Board. Prepare Board members for similar engagements.
• Partner with strategic communications consultants to develop and execute an effective strategy tailored to the organization’s evolving needs.

Desired Experience and Key Competencies:

• Passionate about empowering businesses and investors to take bold action to accelerate social progress and create a more just and sustainable economy, country, and world.
• Demonstrated experience launching, leading, and growing coalitions or organizations.
• Dynamic, resourceful, savvy, and highly organized leader who thrives in entrepreneurial environments.
• Demonstrated track record of bridging the gap between strategy and execution, and managing complex cross-functional projects.
• Excellent judgment and discretion, including as it relates to navigating high-profile politically sensitive issues.
• Knowledge of the intersection between civil rights, impact investing, business, and legal strategy.
• Established relationships within the justice and sustainability investor ecosystem.
• Experience building and/or leading progressive coalitions.
• A clear and persuasive communicator and storyteller.
• Experience building, coaching, and leading diverse teams.
• Experience fundraising across institutional philanthropy preferred.
• Experience working with or leading strategic communications teams preferred.
• Experience with public speaking and engaging with press preferred.
• J.D. degree preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this role is $150,000 to $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience. For the first six months, the role will be structured as a part-time position that will evolve into a full-time position dependent upon capacity and needs.

Start Date: September 2, 2024

Location Preference: Currently, this role is fully remote. To be considered, candidates must have authorization to work in the United States.

Travel: This role may require domestic travel up to 25% of each quarter.

To Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter (the latter to not exceed one page) to [email protected]

The Freedom Economy values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, other minorities, and veterans to apply. Freedom Economy is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.