Raise the Floor, a dynamic new alliance of Illinois-based worker centers founded in 2014, seeks an Executive Director. Raise the Floor (RTF) unites Chicago-area worker centers to ensure that low-wage workers have access to quality jobs and are empowered to uphold and improve workplace standards. RTF achieves its mission by providing research, communications and legal support for efforts to win public and private policy changes that raise the floor for all workers. Both an alliance and a support center, RTF brings worker centers together into one strong voice for economic policies that foster permanent full-time family supporting work.

Responsibilities
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for RTF’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission. S/he will initially develop deep knowledge of the core operations, governance, fundraising and policy agenda.

The Executive Director is responsible for coordinating the alliance’s work in five (5) general areas. Responsibilities include:

Organizational Development & Governance

• Develop the alliance’s legal, governance and fiduciary structure, in cooperation with the RTF Board
• Manage RTF’s communications, research, policy, and development staff
• Oversee organizational start-up and build-out process including hiring of new staff and contracting with specialists as needed
• Acquire and maintain understanding of the work of each member group (worker center); ensure each member groups’ voices are heard and needs are accounted for
• Build and maintain commitment to RTF mission, vision, and principles; work collaboratively with RTF Board to meet collective goals while accounting for each member group’s needs

Policy Advocacy

• Lead RTF’s policy work, including serving as liaison with enforcement agencies, elected officials, academic partners and other allies
• Work with Board to create and execute a statewide policy campaign strategy and policy agenda
• Oversee development of policy proposals, and private-sector policy vehicles that establish industry-specific workplace standards

Development

• Envision and execute a fundraising plan, including the development and management of an individual donors base
• Champion grant development, facilitate RTF Board interaction with national and local funders to meet fundraising goals
• Partner the RTF Board Fundraising Committee in reaching annual fundraising goals

Communications

• Manage and coordinate RTF’s communications work, working with staff and/or consultants to build broad public support for policies that promote permanent, full-time living wage employment
• Oversee and garner earned media, including referral of media inquiries to appropriate member groups
• Create and execute the alliance’s online and social media strategies/platform
• Assist member groups’ with communications needs, when necessary

Research

• Oversee RTF’s research work, including supervision of research staff and coordination of in-kind research assistance from academic partners

Required Qualifications
The ED will be thoroughly committed to RTF‘s mission. All candidates should have proven leadership, operations, and relationship management experience. Concrete demonstrable experience and other qualifications include:

• A least 5 years’ experience in worker justice organizing including workplace policy campaigns, coalition building and developing campaign strategy
• Significant supervisory experience with the ability to coach staff and manage teams
• Record of success working with a board or similar governing body
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple complex projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Experience in organizational and financial management, including familiarity with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure and the ability to manage a budget and achieve strategic objectives
• Experience working in communities of color
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people and perspectives, listen, build consensus and keep ego in check
• Proven fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of supporters, donors, philanthropists, and foundations
• A persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal relations, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectively articulate the needs of low-wage Illinois workers
• Conversational Spanish a plus
• Passion, idealism, integrity

Salary Range and Benefits

The Raise the Floor Alliance offers a competitive market salary and benefits package to commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include health care coverage, vacation, and sick days.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample, and a listing of three references to: EDsearch@raisetheflooralliance.org. The writing sample should be no more than 5 pages and can take the form of: a communications plan, fundraising plan, recently published article or position paper on workers’ rights.

Attention: Recruiter
Raise the Floor Alliance
Via email to: EDsearch@raisetheflooralliance.org

NO TELEPHONE CALLS OR WALK-INS PLEASE.