Position Overview
BISC's Executive Director serves as the chief strategic officer and public spokesperson for BISC's mission, vision, values, and programs. The Executive Director provides vision, leadership, and direction to ensure the organization is financially sustainable and leads the progressive community in ballot-measure strategy and innovation. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing fiscal management, fund development, and fundraising efforts.
BISC's Executive Director develops and guides the people, strategies, plans, and programs that enable BISC to thrive in a changing environment. As such, they recognize emerging issues, common opportunities, and potential hazards across states; support state and national collaboration; and encourage best practices. The Executive Director will promote savvy and cost-effective use of public opinion and opposition research, identifying and marshaling resources for community-wide use.
Working collaboratively with its Boards and staff, the Executive Director will influence the strategy and planning that determines BISC's priorities and agenda. BISC's Executive Director also serves as a Movement Leader — connecting national organizations, funders, and state-based organizations; educating progressive political leadership about the ballot-initiative process; and identifying ways to use ballot initiatives to drive progressive gains and defend against conservative threats. They will direct research and resources which protect and promote the integrity of the ballot-measure process and challenge laws that make progressive results harder to achieve.
The Executive Director is the chief fundraiser for BISC and the BISC Foundation and its programs, and works with staff leadership to strategically allocate organizational resources. The Executive Director advises donors and funders considering significant contributions to ballot-measure campaigns. Finally, the Executive Director manages key staff, sets the tone for the organization, promotes excellence in the workplace and adherence to BISC's values, and implements BISC's racial equity stance.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic, Visionary, and Organizational Leadership
- Serves as thought leader in developing the vision and strategy for the progressive ballot measure space, both defensive and proactive, especially in these uniquely fast-changing times
- Embodies BISC's values and racial equity stance externally and internally
- Sets appropriate standards and provides feedback and final approval on planning, programs, financial operations, communications, marketing, and public relations
- Serves as the primary public face and ambassador of the organization with movement partners, donors, the Boards, media and more, and serves as a leader in the progressive movement as a whole
- Confidently represents BISC and the BISC Foundation as on-the record spokesperson
Fund Development
- Raises the funds necessary for BISC and BISC Foundation organizational budgets and programs via individual, major donor, foundation, and institutional donors
- Identifies and follows up on new funding streams and opportunities for BISC and the BISC Foundation
- Develops ongoing relationships with both current and prospective donors
- Oversees organizational fundraising and engages key partners, Board members, staff, and allies to accomplish aggressive fundraising goals to build the organization and progressive ballot-measure capacity across the country
- Maintains an active, national presence through travel and outreach to ensure sufficient levels of fund development
Staff and Financial Management
- Works with the staff and the board to prepare and operate within a budget and maintain sound financial, operational, and compliance control practices
- Advocates for staff's professional growth and development
- Maintains a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of committed professionals who contribute to a team-oriented culture
- Commits to effectively engaging a geographically dispersed staff. Maintains an active presence with staff, Boards, and partners through travel and outreach
Board Relations
- Engages and works collaboratively with the Boards of Directors for BISC and the BISC Foundation and their respective committees as well as contributing to their ongoing development
- Advises and reports on the status of the organization's activities, particularly on issues of strategic importance
- Cultivates positive relationships between the Boards and staff
- Assures support for the operations and development of the Boards
You Are Someone Who
BISC is looking for a visionary Movement Leader with a track record of successful leadership and management. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven capability of generating diverse financial support for ambitious, strategic, and innovative programs. The BISC Executive Director is responsible for setting the strategy and vision of the organization and defining their strategic direction while putting in place the resources necessary to accomplish important mission goals, recruit and retain staff, and build an organizational culture that keeps teams motivated and capable of exceeding expectations and goals.
We are looking for someone who is:
- Comfortable and confident in a role with high movement visibility;
- A strong and practiced leader with a strategic vision of how ballot initiatives will and should be used in the progressive movement, and what kind of role BISC will play in that context;
- Rooted in racial and equity analysis, commitment, and leadership, both internally and externally;
- Committed to building a strong and positive workplace culture and willing to do the hard work to maintain it;
- Committed to progressive change and long-term movement building;
- A confident and proven fundraiser in 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) environments who can bring in new and grow existing relationships with individuals, foundations, and institutional donors;
- Dedicated to developing and growing teams through collaborative leadership, authentic feedback, recognition, and innovation;
- Practiced in building, growing, nurturing, and working in coalitions of diverse partners and stakeholders;
- Experienced in campaigns, advocacy and organizational management and development;
- 5 to 7 years, or a minimum of 2 election cycles, working in state-based political campaigns including ballot-initiative campaigns
- 5 to 7 years' experience with campaigns (electoral, advocacy, or organizing) strategic planning, budgeting, staff management, work planning, and evaluation
Position Reports To:
The Executive Director reports to the Boards of Directors of BISC and the BISC Foundation.
Position's Direct Reports:
The Executive Director directly supervises the BISC Managing Director and BISC Director of Programs.
Salary & Benefits
This full-time exempt position has Washington, DC as the preferred location, but ideal candidates located elsewhere will be considered if committed to a regular travel schedule as needed. BISC and the BISC Foundation are at-will employers.
- 100% medical insurance for family
- Dental insurance
- Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage
- Generous vacation leave
- Sick leave
- Generous 401(k) plan with employer contribution
- Salary range of $165,000 to $185,000, commensurate with experience
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2018. Please send your resume and five references, including at least one individual you personally supervised/managed. In addition, please send a cover letter that outlines your strategic vision around ballot measures in the Resistance Age and what your experiences bring to that work.
About BISC
Ballot-measure campaigns affect everything progressives fight for. But for the past forty years, the Right has dominated the ballot-measure process, harming our communities and forcing us to fight costly and diversionary defensive campaigns.
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) is changing this dynamic. BISC strengthens democracy by building a national progressive strategy for ballot measures.
We recognize that ballot measures are a permanent part of the political process and that strategic, well-crafted measures can be powerful tools for progressive change--to advance good policies, turn out key voters, frame the issues in elections, and build our movement's infrastructure in states.
As the only national progressive organization focused exclusively on ballot measures, BISC is ideally positioned to act as a trusted third party, providing expert guidance, facilitating collaboration, and promoting strategic investment for the benefit of the entire progressive movement.
BISC Racial Equity Stance
At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through ourresearch, training, and organizing work with ballot-measure campaigns, partners, and funders.
About the BISC Foundation
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation (BISC Foundation), a 501(c)(3) organization, strengthens democracy by conducting research and acting as a clearinghouse for information to better understand public attitudes toward critical issues and the role ballot measures play in our democracy. The BISC Foundation serves as a trusted source of ballot measure information, strategic advice, and expertise, and as critical links among the diverse groups and issues arenas affected by ballot measures.
Long term, the BISC Foundation's vision is to work with partners to: engage voters, advance social change goals through public education, build capacity through issue organizing campaigns, and support strong in-state infrastructure for proactive issue work. We envision a future in which advocates increase civic engagement and build a stronger issue-focused infrastructure — and in so doing, achieve greater freedom, equality, and opportunity for all people living in the United States.
BISC Foundation Racial Equity Stance
At the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation, we work to transform our country into one that is equitable and just. In our work, we strive to challenge structural racism, and center the people most impacted. BISC Foundation works with commitment to racial equity inside our organization in our operations and management processes, and externally through our research, training, and civic engagement work with partners and funders.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
BISC follows an Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and employs personnel without regard to: race, ethnic or religious background, descent or nationality, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy), gender identification, disability, marital status, age, height, weight, or military service. This policy applies to employment, internships, internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with vendors, use of contractors and consultants, and in dealing with the general public.
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