WEI Executive Director Position

Women Enabled International (WEI) is now accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. Building on the ounding Executive Director’s leadership, this is an exciting opportunity to deepen the impact and reach of a unique global organization that advances the rights of women and girls with disabilities. The Executive Director will lead strategic development and program priorities to influence global, regional and national levels, catalyze partnerships within the disability and feminist movements and manage a current staff of nine and organizational budget of about $1.5 million. The world we want requires not only a commitment to our mission, but also the bravery to uproot oppressive power structures and fuel disabled feminist leadership inside and outside WEI.

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

Strategic Vision/Field Building:

• Grow WEI’s leadership as the preeminent international legal advocacy organization advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities worldwide and a key player within the broader feminist movement.
• Working closely with a talented staff, develop and lead WEI legal strategies and program priorities. Manage advocacy trainings, consultations, and events that provide technical assistance, and resource and information sharing.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external organizations, including feminist and disability rights organizations, and initiate and promote collective action to implement WEI’s advocacy priorities. Engage in coalitions, panels, consultations and public speaking.

Donor Relations: Manage and nurture strong relationships with current and potential donors, working closely with development staff. Cultivate relationships with new donors and spearhead, expand and diversify revenue sources.

Staff Management: Manage, hire, develop, and retain a diverse, highly skilled, collaborative and international team, providing oversight on substantive work along with a consultative management approach.

Financial Management: Ensure the long-term financial health and stability of the organization through strong financial management systems and policies. Oversee internal operations, including budget development and investment in operational capacity building.

Governance: Expand and facilitate engagement by WEI’s global Board of Directors, to support a growing organization. Collaborate with board members to implement and refine WEI’s strategic direction, financial and operational strength, and leadership in the field.

Organizational Development: Work to expand organizational resources to incorporate a senior level administrative and operational management position that will allow the Executive Director to increasingly focus on strategic outward facing engagement.

Qualifications:

• Experience in setting advocacy priorities and advancing the rights of women and girls and people with disabilities that are aligned with international and regional law. Advocacy experience with NGOs or government agencies.
• Experience with diverse donor fundraising and growing funding resources over time with both current and new donors.
• Demonstrated passion for WEI’s vision, mission, and strategic imperatives.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with funders and partners.
• Fluidity in multiple cultures and political contexts, cross-disability solidarity, and the ability to work with diverse global stakeholders from small women with disabilities-led organizations to multilateral UN agencies.
• Strong organizational and management skills. Previous Executive Director or senior organization management experience preferred.
• Experience managing and motivating remote staff, hiring diverse staff and supporting collaborative team environments.
• Bridge builder with the experience to cultivate strong connections within the disability rights movement and between the feminist, human rights and disability rights movements and experience in working within coalitions.
• Significant knowledge and understanding of UN human rights systems, particularly the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as well as knowledge of regional human rights mechanisms and systems.
• Familiarity with the global movement of disabled persons organizations, and national and regional level organizing.
• Strong written and oral skills in English with significant experience presenting complex human rights issues in compelling terms to diverse audiences. Proficiency or fluency in other UN languages a plus.
• Law degree, Masters in International Relations or Human Rights or equivalent preferred.
• 7-10 years of experience in the women’s rights and/or disability rights movements.
• Ability to travel, once COVID restrictions have been lifted, 15%-20% of the time with a mix of domestic and global travel. 
• Willingness to work across time zones with diverse international staff, stakeholders, and board members.
• Financial acumen in creating and managing budgets.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and file sharing services, such as Dropbox and Google Docs.
• Legally eligible to work in the United States.

Compensation:
WEI is offering an annual salary of $150,000 for this position along with a benefits package that includes health insurance and a 403b retirement plan.

Location:
Flexible with ability to travel to Washington, DC and New York, NY (COVID pandemic precautions permitting).

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To Apply:
Please send the following information to [email protected]:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• A writing sample, written within the last five years (no more than five pages) and preferably published
• Contact information for three references who can speak to:
  • Management and leadership style
  • Fiscal management and fundraising
  • Your connection to human rights, women’s rights, and/or disability rights advocacy

Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2021 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please reference “Executive Director” in the subject line of your email.

In the cover letter, in addition to describing your interest, experience, and qualifications for this position, please respond specifically to the following questions (250 words or less per question):

1. WEI will be entering its next phase of the strategic planning process. How would you approach developing a five-year plan for WEI?
2. Where do you see WEI in the next five years and how would you get the organization to that stage?
3. Describe a non-profit fundraising experience you led and how you made it a successful experience.
4. What does a feminist management style mean to you?

No telephone inquiries please. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.