Director, Human and Civil Rights

National Education Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 224,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

National Education Association (NEA) seeks a Director of the Human and Civil Rights Department within the Center for Racial and Social Justice. This DC-based role leads the HCR team, advances equity, and aligns department priorities with NEA’s strategic initiatives.

The Director reports to the Senior Director, collaborates across affiliates and departments, and may qualify for telework subject to policy and supervision approval.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with senior management experience, preferably in a union environment.
• Demonstrated policy development, implementation, and evaluation experience.
• Commitment to labor-management collaboration and equity initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Guide design and continuous improvement of racial justice programs and trainings.
• Coach staff to strengthen expertise in equity frameworks and accountability.
• Ensure cross-team alignment within HCR and with CAPE department.
• Supervise program staff, approve work plans and budgets.
• Track performance and guide program outcomes.
• Lead NEA's Annual Conference on Racial and Social Justice.
• Collaborate with staff union reps on professional development and staff issues.
• Oversee budget and operations with policy-compliant stewardship.

Skills

Advanced degree leadership

Senior management

Policy development

Labor-management collaboration

Strategic vision

Team leadership

Budget management

Project management

Oral and written communications

Travel coordination

Facilitation and training design

Education

Master’s or Doctorate in Education or Public Policy

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Employee Group Type

EXEC Executives, OO130 Center for Racial & Social Justice (CRSJ)

Posting Period

July 08, 2026 - Until Filled

Employee Group Type

EXEC Executives, OO130 Center for Racial & Social Justice (CRSJ)

Position Type

Regular

Salary Range

$223,995.00 - $239,719.00

Position Details

The National Education Association (NEA) is America’s oldest and largest organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NEA proudly claims more than 3 million members devoted to the following mission: to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education by preparing every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. Our vision is a great public school for every student. We strive to improve the quality of teaching, to increase student achievement, and to make schools safer and better places to learn.

Position Summary

NEA seeks a Director of the Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Department within the Center for Racial and Social Justice. The HCR Director must be able to lead a department while simultaneously moving NEA’s strategic priorities forward in a highly complex, dynamic environment, while balancing the competing needs of various stakeholders. The HCR Department advances equity and racial justice as the foundation of organizational effectiveness across state affiliates, member engagement, and internal teams.

The Director of HCR manages and sets the strategic priorities for the Human and Civil Rights Department in alignment with the Center for Racial and Social Justice.

A successful candidate demonstrates:

• Deep understanding of complex networks, union or member-based structures, and the ability to navigate internal politics and relationships (inclusive or historical relationships) across the NEA enterprise while maintaining trust and alignment across multiple stakeholders.
• Expertise in diagnosing inequitable systems and designing interventions that strengthen belonging, clarity, and accountability.
• Ability to move from theory to practice, turning equity language into measurable shifts in culture and outcomes.
• Skillful facilitation and design of adult learning experiences that deepen teams’ shared understanding of equity frameworks, power analysis, and liberatory practice; scaffolding from awareness to applied leadership.

This position reports to the Senior Director of the Center for Racial and Social Justice. This position is a DC-based position with NEA’s headquarters building serving as the central workplace. This position may be eligible for a telework arrangement, dependent on approval from the direct supervisor and in accordance with organizational policy and NEA business needs.

Responsibilities

The HCR Director serves as a member of NEA’s executive team, with specific responsibilities to ensure the HCR Department serves NEA’s members and advances racial, social, and economic justice internally and externally by:

• Guiding the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs by working with teams to develop racial justice-centered engagement strategy tools, frameworks, and trainings.
• Coaching and mentoring staff to strengthen expertise in racial justice frameworks, equity practices, and strategic program delivery and relationship building.
• Ensuring alignment and integration of work across all HCR teams and with Community Advocacy & Partnership Engagement (CAPE) Department.
• Supervising and guiding assigned program staff and managers in executing departmental and center-wide programs and approving work plans, deliverables, and operational resources.
• Tracking team performance, evaluating progress on programmatic goals, and providing guidance to improve effectiveness and outcomes.
• Leading the design and delivery of NEA’s Annual Conference on Racial and Social Justice.
• Engaging and collaborating with staff union representatives on issues that impact HCR staff, including professional development opportunities, all-staff meetings, and identifying opportunities to remedy systems issues.
• Managing the HCR Department’s budget and operations in a fiscally responsible manner in adherence to relevant organizational policies and procedures.
• Implementing effective project management strategies, ensuring strong stewardship of members’ dues, and meaningful outcomes of all programs.
• Acting strategically in rapidly changing internal and external environments, advising staff and elected leaders on opportunities and challenges related to social, racial and economic justice issues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• An advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Education or Public Policy preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills may be obtained.
• Demonstrated senior management expertise, including a successful record of achievement in leading a diverse, professional business unit. Management experience within a union environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with policy and program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated commitment to labor-management collaboration.
• Ability to articulate a strategic vision for the Human and Civil Rights Department that is both innovative and creative, fostered by external relations and partnerships, as well as cross-departmental collaboration, to drive, strengthen, and align departmental goals and offerings with NEA’s broader organizing efforts, mission, and strategic initiatives.
• Ability to work in dynamic environments; using data to enhance and evaluate programmatic efforts; managing teams, projects, systems, resources, and budgets to drive and ensure the continued relevance of the HCR’s work to NEA members and affiliates.
• Effective skills in supervision, decision-making, oral/written communications, policy analysis, race-equity analysis, interpersonal relations, team building, project management, and meeting facilitation.
• Proven leadership skills in fostering a creative work environment and working collaboratively across a complex organization to ensure effective integration and alignment of resources and programs.
• Proven ability to direct, coordinate, coach, mentor, motivate, delegate, and supervise staff effectively through a collaborative, results-driven approach.
• Ability to address, advocate for, and implement practices related to issues of race, class, social and racial justice, and equity – acknowledging the impact these systemic issues have on both the work they lead, and on great public schools.
• To carry out responsibilities, the incumbent needs strong written and verbal skills, the use of a computer and/or laptop, associated software, and other office technology and online collaborative tools, including Microsoft Teams or other videoconferencing applications.
• Ability to travel frequently (30-45 overnights per year).

This is a DC-based position with NEA's headquarters building serving as the central workplace. Individuals who are hired for certain positions may request approval for telework in accordance with the policies and guidelines for the staff unit to which the position is assigned. Approval must be authorized by the respective manager and the NEA Executive Director, if required. For additional information, please contact NEA Human Resources.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following is provided: The position involves skill in using a computer and/or laptop; oral and written communication skills; skills in proofreading and editing; use of clear and articulate speech; interpersonal relations skills; reasoning and problem-solving skills; ability to work in a fast-paced environment; ability to sit for long periods, stoop, bend, reach and carry light materials (up to 10 lbs.); and ability to travel by various methods of transportation, e.g., airplane, car.

NEA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

NEA Participates in E-Verify. Read more here E-Verify Participation & Right to Work.

NEA complies with the DC Wage Transparency Act of 2023.