Job Description
We are seeking an Executive Director to serve a two-year term, with the intention of making the position permanent as additional funding is secured and we obtain full 501c3 status. We are excited to take this next step as an organization by bringing on a leader to guide the growth and evolution of the Walla Walla Immigrant Rights Coalition (WWIRC). This individual will be passionate about and familiar with the community we serve, able to develop a shared vision for the future of the organization, and have the skills to lead the implementation of that vision in collaboration with our community.
This position is designed to be full-time, but can be 30 hours a week depending on experience and availability. The position is flexible in the sense that the ED may work a varied schedule in a combination of formats (e.g., holding “office hours'' at a set location, meeting with partners at their offices, meeting with members in the community, working from home, holding meetings by Zoom, etc.). This role requires active engagement with the community and with partners; the ED will have the autonomy to design what that looks like from week to week, working with staff members to ensure the team is accessible and responsive to community members. The ED must live in or be willing to relocate to the Walla Walla Valley (some relocation assistance can be provided).
About the Organization
Our mission is to foster equity with immigrant populations in the Walla Walla Valley through education, advocacy, outreach, and emergency aid. WWIRC connects our Walla Walla Valley community members with culturally appropriate resources such as legal counsel, health services, food aid, emergency aid, and state programs that can offer them support regardless of their immigration status. While exact numbers are challenging to pin down for various reasons, we know that immigrants account for an important portion of the Walla Walla Valley and that the majority in southeastern Washington come from Mexico and Central America. A snapshot of our clients and their needs include:
● Families who, because of their refugee status, can't yet work in the United States, have very little when they arrive, and need help to make it to their court dates in Spokane or Seattle in order to move forward in the immigration process.
● People who are in the United States legally. but whose citizen journey has stymied because they simply lack the funds to move it forward, or face other obstacles in the process that they need additional legal help to overcome.
● Individuals who are learning English and need support in their interactions with various institutions and systems, such as learning to navigate public transit so they can get to work, or getting referrals for culturally appropriate healthcare services.
● Agricultural workers in between field seasons who experience an unplanned emergency such as family illness or death or who will be out of work indefinitely because of a long-term illness or disability and need financial assistance to meet basic needs.
● Undocumented community members who are fearful of interacting with police and our court system and are hesitant to report a crime, abuse, or exploitation by their employer for fear of deportation
Responsibilities
The Executive Director will be responsible for running the organization on a day-to-day basis. The major areas of responsibility include:
● Setting and implementing the organizational strategy:
○ Develop strategy and collaborate with the board to set the long-term vision
○ Execute strategy and work to achieve the vision
○ Steward our journey from fiscally-sponsored state nonprofit to federally recognized 501c3
○ Provide data and information that allows the board to evaluate performance
● Overseeing programs and services:
○ Manage the WWIRC hotline and respond to inquiries with assistance from staff caseworkers and volunteers
○ Conduct needs assessments and distribute aid according to WWIRC guidelines
○ Organize bilingual training and education opportunities
○ Spearhead and/or collaborate with other partners on advocacy efforts related to the needs and rights of the community we serve
○ Support, promote, and/or facilitate WWIRC outreach initiatives, such as The Listeners Project
● Managing staff, interns and volunteers
○ Manage a small, dedicated staff team as well as the pool of volunteers
○ Recruit and train new staff, interns, and volunteers as needed
○ Develop and oversee the performance of current staff
● Fundraising and financial management:
○ Cultivate new donors and steward ongoing relationships with existing donors
○ Apply for grants, organize fundraising events, and execute 3-year fundraising plan in collaboration with the board
○ Conduct ongoing donor outreach, solicit sponsorships from local businesses
○ Create and maintain a WWIRC donor database
○ Provide donors with timely thank-you cards and other forms of acknowledgement
○ Work with the board Treasurer and our fiscal sponsor (the Blue Mountain Community Foundation) to manage organizational funds
○ Regularly report to the board on the budget and fundraising efforts
● Fostering partnerships:
○ Build and nurture relationships with community partners
○ Regularly communicate and coordinate with local partners to provide timely referrals
● Communicating with members and promoting our work to the public:
○ Handle all communications with WWIRC membership, respond to emails and inquiries on WWIRC’s behalf
○ Manage the social media pages
○ Plan regular meetings to inform our members/the public about our initiatives
○ Encourage advocacy among our membership and the community at large for local/state/federal government initiatives that will impact our undocumented community members and/or the immigrant community at large
○ Represent WWIRC in the Walla Walla Valley community and engage in outreach by participating in community events
(Note that several of these responsibilities will be shared with/can be delegated to current staff as well as potential interns or other new hires, pending funding.)
Requirements:
● Passionate and knowledgeable about the rights of immigrants and establishing equity in all spaces
● Prior involvement with nonprofit organizations working with populations similar to those we serve
● Donor development and stewardship experience
● Bilingual
● Lived experience and/or demonstrated experience working effectively across cultures
● Flexible schedule and availability
● Car and valid driver’s license
Other Desired Skills:
● Fluency in Spanish a plus
● Grant writing and fundraising experience
● Event planning experience
● Familiarity with budgeting and financial statements
Compensation and Benefits:
● Salary range is $68,000 to $82,000, depending on experience
● Paid health, dental, and visual insurance benefits
● Flexibility in the schedule and format of your workday (e.g., a combination of work from home, meetings with partners, and “office hours” for in-person meetings with community members)
● Mileage reimbursement provided
To apply, please email a copy of your resume along with a cover letter describing your interest in and fit for the position to ED@wwirc.org.