Director

Position Overview

This position will lead the Democracy Protection Network (DPN), a coordinated network

of experts who have come together to support organizations and individuals that come

under threat while working to protect and strengthen American democracy. The DPN

connects eligible applicants with low- to no-cost crisis-response and resilience-building

services — including physical security, cybersecurity, crisis communications, and legal

services.

The Director will report to the network’s executive committee, consisting of partners

from several organizations. Top candidates will have experience leading complex

projects, ideally during start-up phase, as well as advanced stakeholder management

skills, high-level operations and project management skills, and the ability to handle

high-pressure situations.

Essential duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Project Management and Quality Control

● Ensure the successful operation of the network, serving as the primary decision-maker

and ensuring that it can connect applicants with relevant services in an

efficient, supportive, and coordinated fashion.

● Review meeting agendas and run regular meetings to manage project

deliverables and workflow.

● Lead efforts to reflect on user feedback, improve processes and workflow, and

ensure the network is able to meet applicant and stakeholder needs.

● Manage and supervise the work of a small team of project staff, including at least

two full-time employees, and lead efforts to hire additional staff and/or

contractors as needed.

● Coordinate communications with common counsel.

Partner and Stakeholder Management

● Lead efforts to inform partner organizations (including funders) about the

network and generally serve as a spokesperson for the network.

● Oversee the creation of promotional materials and identify opportunities to

present information about the network to external stakeholders.

● Lead efforts to determine when additional service providers are needed,

appropriately vet and onboard them, and integrate them into the network’s

operations.

● In partnership with a communications firm, oversee the implementation of

external communications protocols, including as they relate to the media, and

represent the work of the network to the media.

● Oversee collaboration and coordination with other support-services networks,

movement coalitions, and other relevant areas of the field.

Financial Management and Fundraising

● Oversee financial management for the project, including updating and managing

the project budget.

● Coordinate funding needs with the project’s primary funder.

● Participate in fundraising conversations and outreach with philanthropic

partners.

● Communicate about the network to current and prospective funders and help

manage grant applications.

● Determine how to structure contracts with vendors and service providers, and

ensure the quality of their work.

● Ensure that vendors and service providers receive appropriate and timely

payments.

Organizational Stewardship

● Tend to internal administrative items (e.g., emails/slack, timekeeping, expenses,

HR).

● Participate in internal activities (e.g., full team meetings, peer learning

communities, culture building activities, and regular check-ins with your

supervisor(s)).

● Engage in individual and team wide professional development/learning

opportunities.

● Supervise staff.

What You’ll Need

● 10+ years of professional experience plus experience leading complex initiatives.

● Strong familiarity with the landscape of pro-democracy organizations and leaders.

● Comfort working alongside people with whom you may have deep

disagreements; ability to be transparent about your own beliefs without being

restricted by them; and willingness to invest in building bridges and finding

common ground.

● Strong ability to make time-sensitive, high-pressure decisions while nurturing a

collaborative culture with staff and close partners.

● Strong meeting planning and facilitation skills, including the ability to create

productive agendas and lead large and small groups through them on a regular

basis.

● Demonstrated ability to launch and scale in start-up mode, including adaptability

and facility with long-term planning and goal-setting.

● Ability to implement processes for continuous improvement.

● Experience and ability to manage a team around complex and shifting operations

dynamics, while simultaneously seeing the big-picture and engaging in detailed

operational questions.

● Excellent self-management, including the ability to pivot or adapt in response to

urgent needs while not neglecting self-care.

● Some familiarity with technology product development, or an ability to quickly

get up to speed on a product development process, is preferred.

● Excellent oral and written communication skills.

● The ability to engage in moderate travel (up to 20%) for field-related gatherings

and team retreats.