Executive Director
National Employment Law Project
New York, NY

Overview:
The National Employment Law Project (NELP) delivers on the nation’s promise of economic opportunity, taking on the growing challenges now faced by most working people to support their families with good jobs and strong worker protections.  NELP works to address the increasing economic risk facing today’s workforce as middle class jobs deteriorate, and to confront increasingly substandard working conditions in the growing low-wage sectors left behind. NELP has played a leading role in promoting state and national networks where unions and community groups have successfully advocated for worker rights protections and a progressive economic security agenda.  NELP now seeks a new Executive Director to take this strong and stable nonprofit to the next level. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned, charismatic leader to take the helm of a strong and stable, nationally respected nonprofit, and chart its ever-expanding agenda to deepen and broaden its impact. 

About The National Employment Law Project: 
The National Employment Law Project has advocated for nearly 40 years on behalf of low-wage workers, the poor, the unemployed and other groups that face significant barriers to employment and government systems of support. NELP was created in 1969 in response to the flood of employment-related questions posed by legal services attorneys to a clinical program at Columbia Law School. Callers wanted ideas for helping people who were working full time but not earning enough to pull their families out of poverty; were being denied slots in education and job-training programs; or being denied unemployment benefits.

Today, an ever widening circle of advocates, policymakers and organizers approach NELP approach with similar questions and with newer concerns that reflect changes in the U.S. economy over the past quarter century, including the declining value of the minimum wage, the shift from a manufacturing- to a service-based economy, and the tremendous growth of the immigrant and contingent workforce.

Now, thanks in part to NELP's efforts, there are tools in place to help advocates protect worker’s rights: precedents set by legal victories by NELP and its allies; manuals that provide workers and advocates with step-by-step instructions on how to protect their rights; and research that documents proven policy models that improve the future for low-wage workers and the unemployed. Throughout its history, NELP has relied on proven strategies that have resulted in so much success over the years: litigation; policy advocacy; communications and media work; research, analysis, and technical assistance in support of organizing; and publications, training sessions, and other educational activities.

Specifically, NELP has:

• Played a lead role advocating for the 2002 federal extension of unemployment benefits, which generated more than $40 million in economic stimulus to communities and supported more than seven million workers.
• Conducted a federal lawsuit generated $6 million in back wages for over 1,000 immigrants employed as grocery delivery workers for grocery chains that subcontracted their work at sub-minimum wages.
• Responded to the mass layoffs in the auto industry by bringing special expertise to state officials in the Midwest that has significantly increased access to trade act and other benefits.

To continue impacting the lives of working Americans, NELP is committed to growth and expansion.  During this structured time of growth, NELP is committed to four major programmatic priorities:

• Turn bad jobs into good jobs:  Building on the state and federal minimum wage initiatives, maximize enforcement of labor laws in targeted low-wage and immigrant worker sectors in the economy and support organizing campaigns that can win lasting change in key sectors like home health care, domestic work and day labor.
• Modernize the nation’s economic security system:  Expand the nation’s economic security programs (including unemployment and Trade Adjustment Assistance) to address the growing gaps in income when today’s workers and their families are left jobless due to federal trade policies and limited job growth.
• Remove unfair barriers to employment:  Change federal, state and local policies that deny individuals with criminal records a second chance to succeed in life through employment.
• Fight for good job opportunities:  Help hard hit communities adjust through policies that avert layoffs and link workforce and economic development.

To accomplish all of this, NELP partners with policy makers, unions and organizers in the states and at the national level to expand these fundamental protections.  NELP is headquartered in New York City, with satellite offices located in Washington, DC, the Midwest and on the West Coast.  Its $1.5M budget supports a professional staff of eleven policy experts and experienced attorneys.  NELP’s diverse board of eleven, chaired by well-known author Beth Shulman, sustains and governs the organization.

Challenges Facing the Next Executive Director:
NELP’s outgoing Executive Director, Bruce Herman, served on New York Governor Elliot Spitzer’s Labor transition team.  Having been tasked by Governor Spitzer to be his Deputy Commissioner of Labor for Federal Programs and after three years of service to the organization, NELP is in a much strong financial position and with a deeper array of programs.  The core challenge facing the next Executive Director is to continue to diversify and expand this funding base, balancing NELP’s mission and programmatic initiatives, while maintaining the quality of the work for which NELP is known nationwide.  The Executive Director serves as NELP’s chief executive officer, is responsible to the Board of Directors, and has overall responsibility for the strategic, programmatic, financial, and management operations of the organization.  Specifically, the next Executive Director will have the following responsibilities and priorities:

        Strategic Planning

• Engage the Board in setting the policy and strategic direction for NELP; inform and educate the Board on relevant issues; and collaborate with the Board in making key operating decisions.
• Assure that NELP’s future vision evolves to meet the challenges facing today’s low-wage workforce, with programmatic strategies responsive to the policy and advocacy issues facing NELP’s constituency. 

        Organizational Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day administrative and programmatic operations while setting clear and motivational priorities for staff and providing timely recommendations to the Board.
• Supervise and support the staff, assure that NELP’s programmatic goals are achieved.  Create a stimulating professional work environment that develops staff capabilities and thoroughly evaluates their performances with adequate feedback and opportunities for professional development. 

        External Relations

• Serve as national spokesperson.  Articulate NELP’s direction and goals effectively to key constituents, including the media, and develop pivotal relationships essential to achieving NELP’s vision.

        Fundraising

• Set fundraising goals with attention paid to diversifying revenue streams.  Cultivate effective relationships with current and prospective supporters.  Work with staff to ensure annual fundraising goals are set, managed and achieved. 
• Expand on and leverage key relationships to identify additional revenue streams.

         Financial Management

• Oversee all aspects of the $1.5M budget including managing cash flow and supervising the work of the financial manager and auditor to balance the books and prepare reports and budgets for review by the Board and foundations. 
• Maintain effective financial reporting, controls, and procedures.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will be a collaborative leader and an outstanding manager who has demonstrated commitment to issues facing the working people.  Seasoned and enterprising, the individual will have a track record managing an operation of similar size and complexity and of directing successful growth in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. S/he will be a strategic thinker who can foster the collaborative translation of an ambitious vision into realistic and diversely-funded strategies and programs understandable by all partners and community members.  S/he must possess the savvy, courage, humor, sophisticated interpersonal skills, and commitment to social justice and social change necessary to navigate the challenging opportunities inherent to managing an advocacy nonprofit, combined with truly exceptional writing, speaking, and listening skills. 

While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Strong advocacy skills with a proven track record for developing and implementing effective policy and/or legal advocacy strategies, preferably with a focus on labor and employment issues. 
• A Bachelor’s degree is required but a law degree is not required.  Candidates with a strong background in employment policy, applied research or other related fields of work are encouraged to apply.
• At least five years of experience managing project teams of professionals, preferably including managing a staff in a non-profit organization. Experience in a unionized environment is preferred.
• Successes raising funds and managing the net positive cash flow operations for a division or organization with a sizeable annual operating budget, preferably with experience developing financial plans for a non-profit organization.  A passion for nonprofit fundraising, a commitment to maintaining current funders and the ability to cultivate new contributors and new revenue streams.
• Enthusiasm for the hands-on management of an effective, responsive finance operation.  Strong leadership experience in budgeting, financial planning and analysis and proven management skills. 
• Leadership gravitas to collaborate with an experienced senior staff, synthesize options, and authoritatively and respectfully make decisions and implement changes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the sophistication to cultivate relationships and develop partnerships.   A recognized dynamic leader with expertise in developing key strategic relationships.
• Superb oral and written communication skills including a public speaking presence. 
• Strong commitment to the mission of ensuring that economic opportunity is secured for all workers.

Applications and Nominations:
Applications are due by October 19, 2007, but will be reviewed as received.  Interviews will begin and an offer may be extended before the deadline.  Please send a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word or PDF format), salary history and how you learned about the position to: nelp-ed@nonprofitprofessionals.com.  In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please write your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

More information about National Employment Law Center may be found at:  http://www.nelp.org/

NELP is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.  Women, people of color, people of immigrant backgrounds, and members of the GLBT community are encouraged to apply.