Executive Director - Center for Racial Justice in Education

The Center for Racial Justice in Education’s mission is to train and empower educators to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and communities. We envision a world where all young people learn and thrive in racially equitable, liberating, and empowering educational spaces.

About the Center for Racial Justice in Education:

In 2001, Border Crossers was founded to teach students how to “cross borders” with one another to develop understandings to dismantle racism. The work shifted to training educators directly to disrupt racism in their classrooms and beyond and in early 2019, Border Crossers changed its name to the Center for Racial Justice in Education (“CRJE” or “the Center”). The purpose of the change was to intentionally align the core of the organization’s work and to establish itself as a hub that convenes educators to learn and grow. CRJE lives out its mission by designing and delivering intensive short-term and long-term trainings to educational organizations and schools. Today, the Center has trained thousands of educators to build educational institutions that foster racially equitable outcomes, and ensure that all students learn in culturally sustaining spaces that honor their full humanity, dignity, and identity.

About the Opportunity:

Throughout the United States, racial injustice continues to persist. It is embedded in our nation's history, implemented in our policies and practices, and even now, racist language is part of the commonplace rhetoric of our leaders. This consistently affects all of our children, with many teachers uncomfortable and unprepared to address race and racism in their classrooms. Beyond that, few school systems provide ongoing, specific professional development to give them the tools they need to guide their students through these turbulent times.

In the last few years, CRJE has rapidly expanded in response to the overall increase in local and national racially conscious conversations and the growing demand for racial justice work in schools. This has resulted in exciting partnerships with school districts, major foundations, and expanded programming including the Racial Justice in School Initiative. But there is more work to do.

Today, CRJE is looking for a dynamic, passionate, and collaborative Executive Director who is a field leader, advocate, and spokesperson for racial justice and coalition building work to lead the Center into its next stage of evolution. Ideal candidates are energized to operate in complex and complicated environments. They also excel in managing change in a fast-paced social, political, and cultural landscape, and bring significant experience in organization building and advancement.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will set and implement the strategic vision and model, continue building the organization’s infrastructure, team and culture, expand and diversify philanthropic revenue opportunities, oversee the strengthening of CRJE’s programming, and lead and support a diverse and multi-racial team currently of four full time staff, one part-time staff member, and roughly 50 national trainers who work on the frontlines for racial justice in education.

The Executive Director position is an opportunity to truly shape the organization and deepen their impact as they work to transform K-12 education by creating and strengthening networks of anti-racist educators nationwide.

How You Will Be Measured:

• Executive Leadership: Collaboratively set and execute the strategic direction for CRJE’s current and future work by developing a plan to grow and expand programming and impact, and accordingly build out the organization’s structure, people, and resources to support a strong and sustainable future.
• Organizational Spokesperson: Clear and powerful spokesperson for the Center’s mission and for dismantling racism, with the ability and network to engage a wide range of audiences.
• Advancement and Partnerships: Increase and diversify philanthropic revenue, increasing grants and foundation investments in particular, and cultivate partnerships with organizations that share CRJE’s values.
• People and Culture Building: Establish processes and practices that result in a holistic organizational culture and supported staff from hiring and onboarding to performance management and engagement. Ensure a healthy, inclusive, and collaborative environment in which team members can show up as their authentic selves and actively participate in the continued evolution of CRJE.
• Financial Oversight: In partnership with an outside consultant or future senior finance leader, oversee all fiscal activities including the implementation of the appropriate systems and tools to ensure fiscal compliance and sustainability.
• Program Development and Evaluation:  In collaboration with the program team, lead the organization and support staff as they deepen and develop trainings and partnerships, assess and evaluate future trainings, and develop strong and measurable goals.

What Qualifies You:

• Mission Alignment: A demonstrated commitment to dismantling racism and injustices wherever they exist; sophisticated anti-oppressive, intersectional analysis with a focus on anti-racism and racial equity.
• Years of Experience: At least 10 years leading, building, and developing teams in a growing, mission-driven organization.
• Strategic Planning: Proven ability to design, operationalize, and implement a strategic plan with built-in accountability measures.
• Resource Development: Track record raising resources, developing partnerships, and diversifying funding, ideally with experience raising at low seven-figure level 
• Board Management: Experience reporting to, and working in partnership with, a board of directors.
• Infrastructure and Systems Building (Org Development): Experience building out the teams, functions, and systems of an organization.
• Culture and Team Building: Through collaborative leadership, develop strong organizational culture where teams are cohesive and motivated to achieve shared goals.

Our Commitment to Equity:

At the Center for Racial Justice in Education, we believe that the work of racial justice is an active process, and can only occur in partnership with other people. CRJE is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applicants from all identities inclusive of race, gender expression, gender identity, sexual identity, ability, religion, age, education, national origin, citizenship, and ethnicity as well as applicants from historically marginalized communities. We commit to building communities that are grounded in fierce solidarity and courageous vulnerability, and that acknowledge our individual and collective power. We are bold in our dialogue, authentic in our connection, and unapologetic in our love for humanity as we create community while dismantling white supremacy.

To Apply:

This search is being managed by Axis Talent Partners, a boutique executive search and talent strategy firm which partners with social justice-focused organizations. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their interest in our mission and qualifications for the position to: https://www.axistalentpartners.com/current-openings.