ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York seeks an Executive Director to lead the state’s most impactful alliance of community and labor organizations. ALIGN is searching for a visionary leader to take the organization to the next level of economic and environmental justice advocacy.
ALIGN’s model addresses root causes of economic injustice by forging strategic coalitions, shaping the public debate through strategic communications, and developing policy solutions that make an impact. ALIGN’s movement role of bridging labor and community by developing coalitions and partnerships is fundamental to building a broad and powerful movement for economic justice.
ALIGN’s partner organizations are at the forefront of championing economic, environmental, and racial justice and are some of New York’s most impactful member advocacy organizations including: RWDSU, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, AFSCME DC 37, Make the Road New York, Teamsters Local 210, New York Communities for Change, New York City Central Labor Council, and Community Voices Heard.
ALIGN was one of the first labor and climate coalitions in the nation. Among many wins, ALIGN established the Climate Works for All and Transform Don’t Trash coalitions that led to policy reform in New York City. ALIGN helped pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, requiring the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. They led the coalition winning a Wal-Mart Free NYC and helping defeat Amazon’s HQ2 bid. ALIGN advanced passage of the first-of-its-kind NY HERO Act during the pandemic to create health and safety standards in the workplace. Last year, ALIGN won the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, exposing harmful productivity quotas in the warehousing industry.
Position Overview
The Executive Director will lead a dynamic and powerful coalition of partner organizations working to advance economic and environmental justice across New York. They will be a strategic campaigner with the vision to identify and lead effective coalition campaigns aligned with partner objectives. They will bring substantial experience developing partnerships and connections with nonprofit community organizations and union leaders.
The Executive Director will lead ALIGN’s strategic engagement with external stakeholders in community and government and will be confident in lobbying at the city and state level for ALIGN initiatives. They will be a strategic communicator who is comfortable speaking on the record with the media and will be a persuasive spokesperson representing the organization at key events and coalition tables statewide.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be the chief executive of the organization and will oversee the budget, ensuring ALIGN has needed resources to execute targeted campaigns. The ideal leader will have familiarity with fundraising and grants and will work with the board to nurture long-standing donor relationships and cultivate new funding sources.
The Executive Director will oversee a skilled team of proudly unionized staff members and will mentor and build a team that is passionate, committed to equity, and focused on ALIGN’s mission.
The ideal candidate will be an exceptional organizer with a proven track record in advocacy campaigns, a demonstrated commitment to racial and economic equity, and the ability to bring alignment around bold ideas.
Key Responsibilities
External Leadership
- Build and foster powerful and long-standing alliances with partner organizations
- Engage key allies, elected officials, and stakeholders to win precedent-setting policies
- Design ALIGN strategic campaigns with a unified community and labor table
- Represent ALIGN as chief spokesperson with media outlets and reporters, while elevating ALIGN’s influence and shaping the public debate
Organizational Management
- Build a mission-driven strategy synced with a unifying vision of ALIGN, holding staff and board accountable to consistent and timely progress on campaign goals
- Direct all programs, fundraising, and operations to be aligned with the mission and organizational strategy
- Lead an annual strategic planning process and be responsible for overseeing, interpreting, and implementing organizational policies
- Ensure the organizational, operational, legal, financial health, and effectiveness of the organization
Fundraising
- Manage a diverse and sustainable funding base while cultivating new funding sources
- Build and meet fundraising goals for the entire organization
- Establish and maintain relationships with funders and individual donors
Staff and Board of Directors
- Manage, mentor and motivate a diverse, highly skilled staff
- Lead an organizational culture that is innovative, effective, positive, and supportive as it advances coalition campaigns
- Recruit, retain, and support a diverse and skilled Board of Directors, and partner with the board in governance and its support of the organization
Key Attributes and Qualifications
All candidates should embrace ALIGN’s mission and model of building power through community and labor partnerships. They should bring a demonstrated commitment to economic, racial, and social justice and respect and willingness to learn from differing perspectives, voices, and backgrounds. Candidates should be bold, big picture thinkers who are energetic, inspiring, and passionate about ALIGN’s continued leadership in the economic and environmental change movements.
We recognize people from marginalized groups may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the following qualifications.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in campaigns, social justice advocacy organizations, labor unions or community organizations
- Meaningful experience in leading teams, programs or organizations with a proven track record of setting, supporting, and achieving impactful goals
- Superb interpersonal skills, with an impressive history of forging strong relationships with stakeholders and allies
- Staff management expertise with a talent for empowering and supporting staff
- Ability to demonstrate political savviness and judgment
- Familiarity with fundraising and grants and an excitement to engage funders on a regular basis
- Experience in base building and capacity building initiatives with membership organizations
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge and experience in policy and legislative work in city and state government is a plus
- Has worked in electoral or issue-based campaigns and understands the pace and structure of campaigns
Location, Compensation and Benefits
This position is in New York City and may include occasional travel. Salary range is $130,000 – $140,000. ALIGN offers comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k plan, and paid time off.
To Apply
Submit a cover letter and resume here.
The cover letter should be concise, compelling, and outline why you are the right person for this position. Only applications submitted through the Grossman Solutions website will be considered. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
ALIGN is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. The organization encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction.
ALIGN takes the health of our employees, families, and communities very seriously. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required as a condition of employment.