Trans Lifeline - Executive Director

Organization Overview:

Trans Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing our trans peers with the connection, care, and advocacy we need and deserve. Founded in 2014, Trans Lifeline operates three core program areas that serve the trans and gender-nonconforming (GNC) community:

1. Our Hotline program, which operates a confidential peer-support hotline for trans and gender-nonconforming (GNC) folks, staffed by trans and GNC folks, where we provide emotional support, crisis intervention, and referrals to resources such as healthcare, housing, and legal assistance.
2. Our #SafeHotlines campaign, which aims to end counterproductive and dangerous police-involvement in crisis intervention.
3. Our Microgrants program, which distributes small grants to trans and GNC folks to cover costs associated with legal name changes, identity document updates, and other trans-specific needs. (This program is currently paused, but we plan on restarting this work as soon as possible.)

At Trans Lifeline, our guiding principle is the belief that trans people deserve the opportunity and resources to determine our own futures, to be given the chance to live meaningful lives, and to do so with dignity and confidence. We believe that all trans communities can be places of imagination, liberation, and joy– free of prisons and police. 

Position Overview:

Trans Lifeline is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and visionary Executive Director to lead the organization in its mission as we begin implementation of our new, three year Strategic Vision. The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, overseeing day-to-day operations, driving advancement initiatives, and serving as the public face of the organization. The ideal candidate will have a deep and personal understanding of trans issues, a history of leading transformative social justice initiatives, a high degree of emotional intelligence, and robust leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to advance Trans Lifeline's mission and goals. This includes leading the development and execution of strategic plans.
• Build strong, trust-based, and informed relationships with the Leadership Team.
• Directly lead, facilitate, and supervise the Leadership Team.
• Foster a positive, affirming, and inclusive organizational culture that values open communication, trust-building, curiosity, and accountability.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including volunteers, donors, partner organizations, and community leaders.
• Establish effective decision making at all levels to ensure that voices are heard and that short- and long-term goals are met.

Board Partnership:

• Build strong, trust-based, and informed relationships with the Board of Directors.
• Actively engage with the Board to help identify and recruit prospective board members who bring the skills, attributes, lived experience, and community networks necessary for the board to be the best partner it can be.
• Provide the Board of Directors with the resources, information and training necessary to fulfill their duties and be organizational ambassadors.
• Support board committees in fulfilling their duties including the Finance and Audit, Personnel, and Governance committees.
• In partnership with the Development Director, work with the Board to develop and nurture a fundraising culture for Board members.

Programs:

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team and program management to envision and execute a sustainable management structure for Trans Lifeline’s programs, including:
  • Producing a management plan and structure that will ensure that programming can meet the needs of our community while remaining realistic in regards to org capacity.
  • Implementing and evaluating the plan, and revising as needed.
• Oversee the ongoing development, management, and evaluation of Trans Lifeline’s programs, ensuring that program service provisions and strategic plan goals are on track with expectations.
• Leading and directing the organization’s commitment to providing services to the BIPOC community.

Fundraising:

• Provide top-level oversight of Trans Lifeline’s fundraising strategy, ensuring that it is resourced, executable, and aligned with our values as an organization. Here is a note about some of the financial challenges Trans Lifeline has recently faced and the changes the new ED will need to navigate.
• Strengthen existing relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, foundat