President & Chief Executive Officer

New Jersey Institute of Social Justice; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 300,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice in Newark, NJ, seeks a dynamic President & CEO to guide its strategy, programs, advocacy, and operations. This is a rare opportunity to shape policy, drive impact, and advance racial equity across New Jersey and the nation.

The successful candidate will lead fundraising efforts, steward the Institute's resources, and serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador to diverse stakeholders, communities, and partners.

Qualifications

• Experience leading civil rights, racial justice, or social equity initiatives.
• Strong ability to build coalitions and advocate for policy change.
• Proven track record in fundraising and financial stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and leadership for strategy, programs, advocacy, and operations.
• Oversee fundraising, budgeting, and external partnerships.
• Serve as primary spokesperson and advocate for the Institute.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Fundraising

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

New Jersey Institute of Social Justice

Search for the President & Chief Executive Officer

Newark, New Jersey

THE SEARCH

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (the Institute), a social justice advocacy organization aimed at toppling the load-bearing walls of structural inequity to create just, vibrant, and healthy communities, seeks a dynamic, strategic, and transformational leader to serve as its next president and chief executive officer (President & CEO). This is an opportunity for an exemplary leader to guide the continued growth and impact of the Institute, which is currently fueled by its four programmatic areas (economic justice, criminal justice, environmental justice, and democracy & justice).

Established in 1999 by the Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein Foundation, the Institute is committed to a holistic, evidence-driven, and solutions-focused approach to social justice research, policy, and advocacy. Now in its 27th year of operations, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is New Jersey’s premier strategic innovator in policy, legal advocacy, and community engagement as vehicles to address issues of systemic racism and structural inequity. Using a holistic approach to address the unique and critical issues facing New Jersey, the Institute advocates for policy reforms that are transformative, achievable in the state, and replicable in communities across the nation. The Institute identifies, analyzes, and addresses the underlying causes of social and economic disparities and challenges the barriers that constrain individuals and communities from achieving their full potential.

The President & CEO serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and reports to the Board of Trustees. They will serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Institute and will assume responsibility for providing vision, leadership, and oversight of the Institute’s strategy, programs, advocacy, litigation, fundraising, operations, and external partnerships. The position requires a person with a passion for social justice; a demonstrated commitment to civil rights, racial justice, and social equity; and a passion for advancing the Institute’s mission and impact to improve the lives and futures of structurally and systemically marginalized people and communities across New Jersey and, as applicable, the United States.

The President & CEO will be an effective collaborator and communicator, placing value on the building of relationships with community leaders, policymakers, funders, and partners not only to accomplish the work of the Institute but to expand its reach throughout the state of New Jersey and nationally. The President & CEO will provide prudent fiscal oversight of the Institute’s $6.1 million annual budget and $7.7 million endowment, while also fundraising assiduously to sustain and enhance the Institute’s financial sustainability.

This leader must be a decisive, thoughtful strategist who can balance visionary initiatives with pragmatic operational stability. They will possess deep civil rights, social justice, and/or racial justice advocacy experience and demonstrate success catalyzing and shepherding consequential policy and advocacy campaigns and coalition-building efforts. This leader will possess an innate ability to build trust and buy-in internally and externally, nurture and further develop the Institute’s reputation as a best-in-class comprehensive policy and advocacy organization, and thoughtfully navigate the dynamic interplay between community engagement, policy research, and legal and legislative advocacy to sustain and grow the organization’s impact.

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $300,000 - $325,000.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Ernest Brooks, Partner

Donna Cramer, Partner

David Grimes, Senior Associate

Isaacson, Miller

EEO/DIVERSITY Statement

This document has been prepared based on the information provided by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice would supersede any conflicting information in this document.

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