Race Forward's mission is to catalyze movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial democratic society free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
Since 1981, Race Forward has brought a systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. In 2017 Race Forward united with the Center for Social Inclusion to become the new Race Forward.
Position Summary
The Deputy Director of Network Strategies is a core member of the leadership team for the GARE network. This position develops strategies for designing pathways, programming and processes that have broad reach into GARE, creating and sustaining a vibrant social change network that embodies aspects of a learning community and a community of practice. This position oversees a team of approximately 15-20 staff with up to 6 direct reports that are responsible for a range of efforts: ensuring durable connections, development of strategic content and resources, cultivating learning informed by data and insights and supporting programming across the GARE staff and network. The Deputy Director, Network Strategies ensures that the GARE network works with racial equity practitioners to foster a culture and supportive infrastructure for sharing knowledge, building strong leaders, effective strategies and tools to build the momentum and power of a national movement of racial equity practitioners who are committed to transforming government to create a racially just and equitable society.
Duties And Responsibilities
Works under the direction of the Senior Director of the GARE to:
Lead a team of highly motivated and talented professionals who will involve practitioners in developing a network strategy, implementing and continually improving it to support a rapidly growing network.
Partner with the Sr. Director of GARE and leadership team to lead multi-year and annual strategic planning efforts, including goal setting, budgeting and performance metrics for each distinct organizational effort.
Supports functional, relational and strategic connections amongst GARE operations, programmatic delivery modes and key partnerships.
Plan and execute regular team meetings with team ensuring timely project planning, organizational progress to goals and alignment with the overall GARE strategic plan.
Create a strategy to disseminate, lift up and share examples of practitioner efforts, accomplishments and lessons learned to advance government efforts to advance racial equity.
Work with the GARE team to curate racial equity concepts, tools and ideas that can be featured in GARE programming, strategic content, learning spaces, communications and narrative efforts to inspire imitation and innovation.
Oversee the development of a strategy for regional networks to support the development of nodes that are attuned to learning and formation of multi-jurisdictional public strategies for regional racial equity change.
Work with members to develop a network strategy focused on incorporating racial equity practice into various lines of work in government.
Oversee the development of an online practitioners' network using tools and approaches that elevate and strengthen network nodes, connections, commitment and capacity for supporting institutional change for racial equity.
Support a team that will use portal platform tools, surveys and other online tools to consistently monitor the intensity and depth of practitioner exchange and identify trending topics of interest for the network.
Host national, regional and local events designed to increase the depth of practitioner relationship, awareness and participation to deepen their connection to the movement, alleviate the isolation that frequently accompanies racial equity organizing, and create a peer-based wellspring to increase resilience, competence and confidence in leading racial equity work in government.
Oversee the development of GARE's communication strategy.
Oversee the strategic partnership strategy for GARE, including coordination with other government networks, partnering with organizations that can provide substantive resources for the GARE membership, and partnering with actors that can influence the field towards racial equity.
Oversee the field mapping, assessment and curation innovative and transformative strategies for racial equity in the field.
Oversee the development of learning strategy for the network, including deepening GAREs arc of learning, refining curriculum, developing an asynchronous learning program, exploring leadership development tracks, and assessing how effective learning is advancing racial equity in the field.
Create a culture of distributive leadership within their team, growing the agency and generative capacity of staff, ensuring ongoing and continuous communication and mutual influence within the team and across teams.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
A strong institutional racial equity analysis.
Deep knowledge of local or state government.
An understanding of network theory and practice.
An ability to manage teams through a distributive leadership model, able to work with people from diverse backgrounds, with a good sense of humor a plus.
Ability to design/improve and oversee systems, processes, and structures that will monitor and promote the alignment and allocation of resources with broader strategic priorities, and lead to more effective working partnerships within and across program/functional domains.
Superb communication and external relations skills.
Strong writing skills.
Strong convening and facilitation skills and an authentic interest in creating opportunities for learning from others.
Ability to absorb and synthesize information quickly and adjust strategy accordingly.
Qualifications And Experience
Bachelors degree; Masters Degree, PhD. or JD is a plus or equivalent experience
A minimum of 15 years of experience working in progressively more accountable positions in government, public administration, non-profit. or a related field of practice. Years of experience may include military and federal public service.
Expertise and experience in network building strategies for social impact networks.
Demonstrated passion for and investment in advancing racial justice and equity.
Work experience managing complex projects and meeting deadlines.
Fluent in institutional and structural racism; experience with developing and deploying strategies that promote racial equity in an institutional environment is a plus.
Experience mentoring, developing, and providing leadership to high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams and partners that engage staff to achieve program goals.
Collaborative and reflective leadership style that values staff contributions and experiences and effectively manages and motivates teams toward a shared vision and measurable goals.
Experienced in program and project management.
Strong team-player who works collaboratively to ensure timely, strategic and successful completion of work.
Demonstrated success in building an organization's profile and reputation in local, regional, national, and professional communities.
Is an analytical, thoughtful and strategic systems-level thinker and actor who can demonstrate an understanding of the impact of her/his decisions and behavior have on the organization.
Ability to think across systems and sectors to identify opportunities for collaboration and shared outcomes.
Ability to design/improve and oversee systems, processes, and structures that will monitor and promote the alignment and allocation of resources with broader strategic priorities, and lead to more effective working partnerships within and across program/functional domains.
Additional Information
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
How To Apply
External Applicants: To apply for this position, please click the link below. To ensure full consideration, please be sure to include both a cover letter and resume with your application.
Race Forward is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Race Forward will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at HRSupport@RaceForward.org.
EEO Statement
Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Strategy/Planning and Management
Industries
Non-profit Organizations
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