Position Title: Deputy Director

Location: Washington, DC

Reports To: Executive Director

Application Deadline: Rolling until filled

Organization Overview

EarthRights International (EarthRights) combines the power of law and the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment, which we define as “earth rights.” We rise in defense of communities and the planet, using the power of law and the power of people in pursuit of justice.

EarthRights is a team of community organizers, campaigners, and legal strategists who challenge powerful corporations, governments, and banks that violate peoples’ rights and destroy our planet for profit. We are part of a global network of earth rights defenders who aim to protect our planet for the future.

EarthRights makes change through three important strategies: training of community and legal activists, strategic legal work in defense of human rights and demanding corporate accountability, and campaigns to promote systemic governmental and corporate policy change.

For 25 years, EarthRights has stood with communities in pursuit of a world in which every person lives with the dignity of justice and human rights on a planet where precious resources are shared equally and preserved for the future. We’ve trained over 400 Defenders through our EarthRights School, and we’ve filed over 25 groundbreaking accountability cases against the world’s largest corporations.

Today, EarthRights has a global team of over 65 staff with offices in the United States, Thailand, and Peru.

Summary Description

EarthRights is seeking a talented leader to serve as the Deputy Director, helping to guide the organization at a critical time of growth and opportunity.

The Deputy Director will be responsible for providing leadership, management, planning and enhancement of EarthRights internal organizational systems, processes and infrastructure. The Deputy Director will lead staff processes around the implementation of EarthRights’ strategic plan, including integration and collaboration across offices, vision alignment and collective goal setting.

The Deputy Director will support the Executive Director and share responsibility for the overall development and structure of the organization, with accountability and decision-making authority on finance, fundraising, human resources and program planning, monitoring and evaluation systems.

This position will also be responsible for leading the development and implementation of organizational policies at the global and regional levels and be a crucial steward of the organization’s culture and values.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, confident leader with a passion for the internal workings of organizational management and developing efficient, effective systems and processes that help staff succeed in their jobs.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a leader with strong operational and people management skills, a commitment to global human and environmental rights and a proven track record of implementing systems and processes to serve in the leadership at an organization with a global impact.

This position is based in Washington, DC. EarthRights staff are currently working remotely due to COVID-19.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

• Lead staff processes around the implementation of EarthRights’ strategic plan, including integration and collaboration across offices, vision alignment and collective goal setting.
• Oversee the development of annual work plans.
• Monitor financial, political, and security risks to the organization and advise the Executive Director, Senior Leadership Team, and Board of Directors on these risks.
• Ensure programs have adequate operational resources to function effectively, including operational policies, office space and equipment, information technology, and measures to protect staff’s physical and cyber security.
• Ensure high-level decisions move forward when the Executive Director is out of the office.
• Manage the planning of the semiannual EarthRights’ Board of Directors meeting, and other EarthRights-wide meetings and processes.

Finance and Fundraising

• Oversee and implement all systems, strategies, and plans for financial accountability and solvency for the organization, in collaboration with the Finance Director.
• Oversee the annual development plan and implementation to meet the annual budget.
• Direct the organization’s annual budgeting process.
• Collaborate with the Finance Director to manage the financial accounts and budgeting information for EarthRights’ operations.
• Supervise the Development team and mentor development officers.
• Review grant proposals and external materials; sign and approve grant agreements.
• Liaison with the finance committee of the board.
• Ensure annual audit is completed on time and implement management recommendations, as appropriate.
• Ensure organizational policies and systems adhere to donor requirements and standards.

Outreach and Advocacy

• Represent EarthRights in public forums, conferences and external meetings and maintain relationships with foundation staff and individual donors.
• Support community outreach, networking and consultation initiatives with the NGO community and other organizations in networks and coalitions.

Management

• Supervise key senior staff including the Senior Human Resources Manager, Senior Development Officer, Finance Director, and Senior Manager of Programs and Global Grants.
• Coordinate and facilitate regular teleconference meetings of the Senior Leadership Team and facilitate at least one annual in-person meeting of this committee.
• Ensure that Program Directors have the necessary management skills, training and resources to lead their programs effectively.
• Conduct vision alignment processes with Program Directors and support them to do the same with their teams.
• Develop and support accessible, meaningful, and authentic monitoring and evaluations across all programs and regions.

Qualifications and Experience
Candidates should bring a passion for the internal workings of organizational management, strong attention to detail, a sense of humor and a collaborative leadership style. Candidates should be thoughtful, confident leaders with high emotional intelligence and the ability to successfully work with spirited, committed colleagues.

Key Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of related, progressively responsible work experience including organizational-level leadership.
• Experience with strategic planning and organizational development.
• Deep understanding of and commitment to racial and gender equality and implementation of fair practices and culture.
• Proven track record in enhancing efficiencies, organizational growth and transformation, and the ability to develop a high-performing and resilient workforce.
• Experience overseeing human resources activities.
• Track record of overseeing organizational financial activity and systems, including budgeting, forecasting, modeling, accounting, and reporting.
• Ability to navigate complex compliance and risk management issues.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Superb interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a variety of stakeholders. Demonstrated success in managing people and motivating teams through organizational change.
• Ability to travel globally, up to 20% of the time.
• Understanding of advocacy, movement building, community organizing and/or experience in a global organization is preferred.
• Experience with Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning systems design and development is a plus.

Benefits

• Employer-sponsored medical insurance (dependent coverage available)
• 100% employer-paid dental and vision insurance coverage (dependent coverage available)
• 14 weeks paid maternity/paternity leave for eligible employees
• 15 days of vacation & 12 sick days per year
• 12 paid federal holidays; office closed from December 24 – January 1
• Flexible Spending Plan (FSA)
• Generous employer non-elective retirement contribution
• Employee wellness benefits
• A casual work environment

Application Materials

Please submit a statement of interest and resume. Due to the volume of applications, only short listed candidates will be contacted.

EarthRights International is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices, and actively encourages people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI people to apply.