The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) seeks an Executive Director to lead this nonprofit foundation whose mission is to promote racial, social, and economic justice through litigation, education, and social services for low income persons least able to defend themselves. TCRP strives to foster equality, secure justice, ensure diversity, and strengthen low income communities in Texas.
TCRP was founded in 1990 as part of Oficina Legal del Pueblo Unido. In addition to its statewide office in Austin, it has regional offices in South Texas, El Paso, Houston, and Midland/Odessa, and Dallas.
Since its beginning, TCRP has secured justice for low income Texans using education and litigation to make systemic change in areas such as voting rights, police and border patrol misconduct, sex discrimination, employment bias, privacy, disability rights, grand jury discrimination, traditional civil liberties (i.e., free speech), and Title IX in secondary education. TCRP’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) program provides social and legal services to low income victims of domestic violence. TCRP’s legal program consistently draws praise and respect as it reacts promptly to civil rights issues as they arise and produces outstanding results for clients and communities.
About the Position
The next Executive Director will lead a strong TCRP which has been a tireless advocate for racial, social and economic justice in Texas for over 25 years, and which has an effective and successful advocacy staff, a solid management team, a dedicated Board, and excellent relationships with legal aid partners, cooperating attorneys, state and local bar associations and community organizations.
High Priority Roles and Responsibilities for the New Executive Director:
Serving as an effective ambassador for TCRP’s client communities and key stakeholders
Holding the organization accountable to its mission, clients, Board and funders
Securing the organization’s stability through sound financial planning and management
Developing relationships to build additional public and private financial support
Recruiting and retaining high-quality staff
Expanding pro bono resources available to clients
Maintaining TCRP’s leadership role among civil rights organizations in Texas and nationally.
Qualifications of the New Executive Director:
Passion for the mission of TCRP
Demonstrated commitment to complex civil rights advocacy
Management experience involving staff supervision, financial oversight, budget development, and compliance with grant, contract and legal requirements
Excellent communication skills and a positive leadership style
Enthusiasm for developing relationships and for resource development and fundraising
Demonstrated track record of securing major gifts
Commitment to the use of technology to improve and extend services
Skill in developing an active board of directors
Experience in a multi-million dollar, multi-office legal advocacy or similar nonprofit organization
Possession of integrity, courage, intelligence, creativity, energy and humor equal to the challenges of this demanding position
Working knowledge of Texas
JD, a minimum of seven years in the practice of law, and a state law license required.
How to apply
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, please submit application materials by October 30, 2015. Please include a letter expressing in detail your interest in the position, your qualifications, and what you hope to contribute to the organization’s future; a current resume; and the names and contact information for three professional references.
Materials should be emailed to ppap@m-i-e.org in Microsoft Word format.
TCRP is being assisted in the search by Patricia Pap, Executive Director, Management Information Exchange, 99 Chauncy St., Suite 716, Boston, MA 02111, 617-556-0288, ppap@m-i-e.org, www.mielegalaid.org. Candidates with questions about the position or process are encouraged to contact Patricia.
TCRP is an equal opportunity employer and highly encourages candidates with disabilities, women, persons of color, LGBTQ and others who represent distinct linguistic or cultural communities to apply. Salary depends on experience based on a competitive public interest salary scale. Benefits are excellent.