Come work with us!
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mission: Freedom Oklahoma works to secure lived equality and legal protection for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queer people through advocacy, public education, coalition building, and empowerment in the civic process.
Vision: We envision an Oklahoma in which every person has the guaranteed right to live an authentic life free of discrimination and inequity. Freedom Oklahoma is driven by the core belief that Oklahomans of every sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity should have equal protection under the law and true and full-lived equality in their home state.
Organizational Background: For over 20 years, our predecessor organizations have served as a consistent voice for equality in Oklahoma, achieving benchmarks inconceivable by the founders of the organization. Freedom Oklahoma was established in 2015, after then Oklahoma City-based Cimarron Alliance and Tulsa-based TEN (The Equality Network) elected to coalesce their efforts. Since that time, Freedom Oklahoma has continued to advance its efforts towards securing freedom and equality for all Oklahomans.
Freedom Oklahoma comprises two organizations. The Freedom Oklahoma Education Campaign, Ltd., is a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the social welfare and education of the public on issues of concern to the LGBTQ2S+ community. The Freedom Oklahoma Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) corporation dedicated to political action on issues of importance to the LGBTQ2S+ community.
The Executive Director (ED) of Freedom Oklahoma will be a dynamic and proven leader who will work with the Board and staff to fulfill the organization’s vision and mission.
The Executive Director has four major areas of responsibility:
Serve as the administrator of the organization, including fiscal oversight, personnel management, and managing all programs and activities.
Develop and execute the fundraising programs of the organization.
Build and foster community coalitions and direct all levels of organizational communication for Freedom Oklahoma.
Lead an ongoing strategic planning effort and manage the implementation of that plan.
Organizational Management
Staff/Administrative Management
Manage/perform the day-to-day operations of the organization including the recruitment and training of staff and volunteers.
Encourage and promote professionalism among staff and volunteers through management, development, and evaluation processes and activities.
Develop and implement performance metrics with clear accountabilities and measures for success.
Encourage teamwork, coordination, collaboration, and focus within the staff.
Maintain official records and documents and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Financial Management
Develop an annual budget and monitor/control expenditures and financial outlook in coordination with the treasurer and the finance committee of the board of directors.
Oversee financial and administrative functions to ensure the immediate and long-term fiscal integrity of the organization.
Protect the organization’s interests by ensuring legal and regulatory compliance. Manage all grant awards in compliance with grant provisions.
Fundraising
Serve as Freedom Oklahoma’s chief fundraiser, working in conjunction with the Development Manager and implement a system to grow and diversify the financial resources of the organization to include individual, corporate and foundational giving, special events, and appropriate grants
Maintain positive personal relationships with key individual and institutional funders.
Create and implement a strong stewardship plan
Board Relations
Provide regular updates to the Board of Directors on programs, the financial health of the organization, and other topics as requested
Support board development efforts by identifying and recommending emerging leaders for board service, and by leading or participating in board training as appropriate/necessary.
Attend all board meetings and participate in ongoing executive and other committee meetings as required.
Coalition Building and Communications
Strategic Leadership
In coordination with the board of directors, finalize and implement a strategic plan for Freedom Oklahoma.
Establish and communicate clear and concise priorities and a roadmap to achieve them.
Translate the vision of the organization into achievable and measurable benchmarks through the completion of a strategic plan.
Provide visionary leadership to the organization.
Engage, motivate, and grow Freedom Oklahoma’s supporter base through an intersectional lens and commitment to anti-racism.
External Relations
Build strong working relationships with local state, regional, and national leaders and enlist support for accomplishing goals and tasks.
Serve as a public advocate and media-ready spokesperson for the organization and its mission in the state and within the broader LGBTQ and allied social justice movements.
Build and improve external communications, public speaking opportunities, messaging, and the visibility of the organization.
Strengthen partnerships and forge alliances among diverse partners including businesses, other local and national LGBTQ and social justice organizations, allies, legislators, and the faith community.
Legislative Advocacy and Leadership
Be an effective, trusted public advocate and spokesperson before public bodies.
Coordinate efforts to impact policy and legislation through development of functioning relationships with policy makers.
Expand political advocacy work.
Advocate for trans rights, anti-racism, gender equality, and LGBTQ issues and inclusions.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
3-5 years experience in senior management level positions in non-profit, social service, governmental, or corporate sectors.
Fiscal management and understanding of accounting practices associated with 501c3 and 501c4 corporations
Experience creating and managing budgets.
Experience with forecasting revenues and managing expenses to maintain a balanced budget and cash flow.
Demonstrated ability to raise funds from foundations and private sources.
Demonstrated donor relations experience.
Demonstrated experience working with and reporting to a board of directors.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, verbal & written.
Exceptional speaking & presentation skills.
Excellent organization skills.
Attention to detail.
Ability to develop, initiate, and maintain new programs.
Ability to communicate strategically and effectively via social media and other platforms.
Ability to manage time, evaluate progress, and adjust activities as necessary.
Leadership
Committed to the vision and mission of Freedom Oklahoma.
Proven history of effective leadership and staff support and supervision.
Committed to team-building and staff development and retention.
Ability to effectively interact and collaborate with community leaders, organizations, and government bodies.
Personal Attributes
Knowledge of and commitment to LGBTQ2S+ issues and activism.
Commitment to intersectionality and liberation-based organizing, especially as it pertains to those on the margins of the LGBTQ2S+ community, including our disabled, immigrant, BIPOC, and neurodiverse members
Ability to work collaboratively within diverse groups of people.
Self-motivated and self-directed.
Resourceful.
Persistent and determined.
Freedom Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Freedom Oklahoma encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, arrest or conviction, and veteran status.
TO APPLY
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and two references at this link. In your cover letter, please address your thoughts on how best to integrate Freedom Oklahoma’s mission into Oklahoma’s LGBTQ2S+ community and the community at large. Please include an explanation of how your life experience, education, and work history make you the best candidate to implement this vision. Please reach out to admin@freedomoklahoma.org if you have any questions using the subject line “Executive Director Position.”
Salary: $75,00 to $78,000 a year
We expect the position to be remote until pandemic conditions change so that relocation to the Oklahoma City metro is safely possible. At that time, the cost of relocation will be negotiated.
April 13, 2021