Become RJC’s Executive Director

Racial Justice Coalition Executive Director 

Job Description 

Position: Executive Director

Location: Asheville, NC (Relocation stipend negotiable)

Reports to: RJC Board of Directors

Status: Full-Time Salaried ($90k-$110k)

Our Mission

The Racial Justice Coalition (RJC) is a broad-based alliance of individuals and organizations committed to addressing systemic racism and state-sanctioned violence against Black people and those most impacted by poverty, criminalization, and mass incarceration. Through grassroots-led organizing and community collaborations, the RJC seeks to achieve and sustain deep equity by building power with those historically underrepresented, dismantling policies and institutions that uphold racism, and reimagining a community where justice exists for all people.

Position Objectives:

  1. Oversee daily operations of the organization; providing executive direction for program strategies, financial management, compliance, and quality assurance. 
  2. Build, manage, and lead an effective team that’s dedicated to fulfilling the organization’s mission through highly successful programs, community engagement, and fundraising.
  3. Strategic communications with media outlets to increase awareness of RJC’s work among Coalition Supporters, black stakeholders, the general public, etc.
  4. Implement a vision and strategy to impact the five Impact Focus Areas (IFA’s – Social Drivers of Health-SDoH):
    • Education
    • Economic Development
    • Criminal justice
    • Health and wellness
    • Housing 
  5. Ensure the organization complies with all applicable laws, regulations, administrative and regulatory filings, and contractual agreements.
  6. Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with all stakeholders (Coalition Supporters, donors, foundations, black-led community organizations, local and regional nonprofits, local government, and justice movement leaders).

Roles and Responsibilities:

  1. Work closely with the board of directors, paid personnel, and volunteers to assess and address issues affecting the organization and its mission. 
  2. Identify and address staffing requirements for efficient operations and maintain a robust and dynamic work culture. Manage all paid personnel (hourly, salaried, and independent consultants).
  3. Serve as the face of the organization and participate in external events to increase visibility and credibility. Develop strategic partnerships to increase community awareness of RJC and expand RJC programs and community collaborations.
  4. Create leadership opportunities for the development and advancement of all personnel.
  5. Develop a multi-year strategic plan to meet fundraising, sustainability, and organizational goals and priorities.
  6. Implement efficient, transparent finance, fundraising, marketing, social media, and communications systems.
  7. Secure financial support from foundations, corporations, individual donors, and government funding sources, in collaboration with the board of directors, staff and other stakeholders, to meet annual fundraising goals.
  8. Connect and cultivate relationships with appropriate partners, beginning with the Asheville Community Reparations Commission, to support and advocate for the five IFAs.

Required Skills and Qualifications

  1. Extensive experience in executive leadership roles, preferably in the racial justice-centered nonprofit sector. A bachelor’s degree is preferred; lived/work experience is considered.
  2. Proven success working with a board of directors and managing budgets,
  3. Strong experience in public relations, strategic planning, and fundraising,
  4. Excellent managerial capacity and leadership skills that fit with RJC’s culture of inclusive decision-making (including but not limited to team building, conflict management, and consensus-based decision-making),
  5. Strong self-awareness and empathy, with the capacity to build authentic relationships.
    • Ability to build and maintain partnerships with a broad range of strategic partners.
    • Ability to build and sustain networks.
    • Ability to communicate and work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, including communities where English is spoken as an additional language.
    • Ability to actively and reflectively listen.
  6. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and Zoom, easily adapts to various digital media, has grant writing skills, and has strong written and oral communication skills,
  7. Strong decision-making skills, proven integrity, ethics, servant leadership, and commitment to mutual liberation are required.
  8. Strong writing and communication skills, including clear and compelling oral presentation skills and the ability to engage in challenging, candid conversations.

The salary range for this position is $90K-110K.  This position will be a full-time, exempt position and is eligible for a complete package of benefits, including generous paid time off (PTO) and holiday leave,  parental leave, health insurance stipend, and more. 

RJC is an equal-opportunity employer. As an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups. Further, RJC values candidates with lived experience that is relevant to our mission.  Reasonable accommodations are available on request. 

For more information about RJC, go to https://www.rjcavl.org/