Executive Director

Fahrenheit Group; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, seeks an Executive Director to provide strategic leadership, oversee programs, fundraising, and operations, and advance the organization's mission. Reporting to the Board, the ED will guide policy advocacy, build partnerships, ensure compliance, and lead staff, interns, externs, and volunteers to improve outcomes for people with disabilities.

Ideal candidates bring legal or disability-rights expertise, fundraising success, and a deep

Qualifications

• Possess legal or disability rights expertise.
• Be a VA-licensed attorney or eligible to be licensed within one year.
• Experience leading and fundraising for a nonprofit focused on protecting civil rights.
• Demonstrate strategic leadership and ability to empower staff and Board.
• Strong communication across written, verbal, digital and public-facing channels.
• Experience driving revenue diversification and fundraising strategies.
• Ability to evaluate legislation and guide policy and advocacy efforts.
• Lead a diverse organization with effective systems and governance.
• Willingness to relocate to Richmond and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead programs and initiatives aligned with the mission and performance goals.
• Oversee budgets, audits, and financial controls with the Treasurer and Finance Committee.
• Develop fundraising strategies and diversify revenue sources.
• Guide policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement at state and federal levels.
• Manage personnel policies, evaluation, development, succession planning and engagement.
• Represent the organization to Board, partners, funders and the public.

Skills

Legal or disability rights expertise

Strategic leadership

Fundraising experience

Stakeholder communication

Policy analysis

Education

Attorney licensed in VA (or eligible within 1 year)

Job description

Fahrenheit Advisors has been retained to partner with the disAbility Law Center of Virginia to hire their next Executive Director and lead this organization into its next phase of growth and impact. This position is based in Richmond, Va and is an incredible opportunity to lead a well-respected organization with an important mission.

Mission

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia's mission is to advance independence, choice, and self-determination; protect legal, human, and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect, and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. dLCV's vision is a Commonwealth free of legal barriers for individuals with disabilities.

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) provides strategic leadership and organizational direction for dLCV, ensuring high-performing service programs, sustainable fundraising, and effective business operations. Areas of responsibility include management and administration, fiscal oversight, personnel leadership, Board relations, and public relations and representation. This is a full-time position, hired by the dLCV Board of Directors and directly accountable to it.

Requirements

The Executive Director will:

• Possess legal or disability rights expertise.

Preferred:

• Be an attorney in good standing with a license to practice law in Virginia or become licensed within one year of hire; or
• Experience leading and fundraising for a nonprofit organization focused on protecting civil rights and possess expertise in Virginia and federal laws, regulations, and systems affecting individuals with disabilities.
• Demonstrate expertise in Virginia and federal laws, regulations, and systems affecting individuals with disabilities, along with experience leading an organization focused on protecting civil rights.
• Provide strategic leadership and empower staff, the Board, PAIMI Advisory Council members, and other stakeholders in carrying out dLCV's mission.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills across written, verbal, digital, and public-facing platforms. Effectively articulate dLCV's mission, priorities, and impact to individuals with disabilities, staff, Board members, elected officials, funders, community partners, the media, and the public. Use compelling storytelling and data-informed messaging to build understanding, support, and engagement.
• Demonstrate the ability to lead and support revenue diversification and fundraising strategies.
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and interpret legislation, regulations, public policy, and emerging trends affecting individuals with disabilities and to guide organizational policy strategy, advocacy priorities, and stakeholder engagement efforts. Effectively influence policy discussions and advance systemic change consistent with dLCV’s mission.
• Manage a structured leadership system within a diverse and dynamic organization, including staff, interns, externs, and volunteers, through delegation, accountability, and effective organizational systems.
• Be available to work additional time outside normal business hours.
• Maintain a consistent presence in Richmond, Virginia, to support engagement with state agencies, legislators, stakeholders, coalition partners, and community leaders. Candidates should reside in or be willing to relocate to the Richmond area within an agreed-upon timeframe.
• Be able to travel within and, when necessary, outside of the state.
• Have a demonstrated commitment to the rights of all persons with disabilities, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice. Lived experience highly valued.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Management and Administration

• Ensure programs, services, and organizational initiatives are effectively led, appropriately resourced, and aligned with dLCV's mission, strategic priorities, and performance goals.
• Maintain and develop organizational goals and objectives for Board approval consistent with dLCV's mission and vision.
• Lead and steward an ongoing strategic planning process that establishes organizational priorities, measures progress and adapts to emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Ensure compliance with public and private funding sources and all regulatory requirements.
• Develop operational policies for Board approval, implement them, and recommend improvements as necessary.
• Maintain a system of information-gathering and analysis to provide information for evaluation of the organization’s activities.

Fiscal

• Lead the organization's revenue diversification and fundraising strategy, including cultivating philanthropic partnerships and expanding non-federal funding sources to support long-term sustainability.
• In collaboration with the Senior Management Team, develop, recommend, and monitor all budgets.
• In conjunction with the Treasurer and Finance Committee, ensure prompt and effective audits, monitoring, and fiscal controls, including the annual independent audit.
• Submit monthly financial statements to the Treasurer and quarterly financial statements to the Board.
• Approve expenditures and contractual agreements.
• In conjunction with the Senior Management Team and designated program and development leaders, oversee the preparation and submission of grant applications, funding proposals, and all required financial and programmatic reports.

• In collaboration with the Senior Management Team, develop, implement, and recommend improvements to personnel policies for Board approval that support organizational effectiveness, compliance, accessibility, and employee engagement.
• Ensure personnel decisions, employment practices, and labor relations comply with applicable laws, organizational policies, and collective bargaining agreements while fostering collaborative relationships with employee representatives.
• In conjunction with the Senior Management Team, maintain systems for supervision, performance evaluation, professional development, succession planning, and training that promote accountability, growth, and organizational excellence.
• Oversee talent acquisition and leadership recruitment strategies, ensuring equitable hiring practices and supporting senior leaders in the selection, onboarding, and retention of high-performing employees.
• Promote staff wellbeing, accessibility, and inclusive workplace practices.
• Ensure transparent and equitable performance management systems.

Board Relations

• With direction from the Board, establish annual goals to guide workload and time management. Goals may be adjusted in response to changing needs and circumstances.
• Participate in and support the Board's annual evaluation process for the Executive Director, demonstrating accountability to organizational goals, mission, vision, values, and applicable grant requirements.
• Work with the Board, Foundation, and other relevant organizations to raise funds and engage in diverse resource development.
• Assist the Board President and Executive Committee in preparing agendas and materials for Board meetings.
• Initiate and assist in developing policy recommendations and organizational priorities.
• Facilitate orientation for new Board members.
• In collaboration with Board leadership, provide staff support to Board committees and ensure committee activities align with bylaws, governance practices, and organizational priorities.
• In accordance with Board policy, regularly report to the Board on organizational progress and performance related to established goals and objectives.

Public Relations and Representation

• Coordinate representation of dLCV with legislative, executive, regulatory, stakeholder, and community groups.
• Educate those groups in accordance with statutory requirements and dLCV's mission and vision.
• Lead and coordinate dLCV's legislative and public policy engagement efforts, building relationships with governmental officials, coalition partners, and stakeholders to advance disability rights and systems change, consistent with applicable funding restrictions.
• Direct and assist with appropriate representation of dLCV by Board members, staff, interns, externs, and volunteers.