Pivot Legal Society (“Pivot”) works in partnership with communities affected by poverty and social exclusion to identify priorities and develop solutions to complex human rights issues. Our mission is to work alongside communities to create a just, fair, and equitable society through law reform, litigation, policy change, research, and education. Pivot’s work focuses primarily on four policy areas: police accountability, drug policy, homelessness, and sex workers’ rights. We combine strategic litigation with high-impact public education and advocacy campaigns to maximize our effectiveness. Our deep collaboration with people and grassroots movements, combined with our unique approach to social change, makes Pivot the only human rights organization of its kind in Canada.
Pivot believes that a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. We strongly encourage and prioritize applicants from communities that experience structural discrimination including applicants from marginalized ethnic and cultural backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities, and with a range of life experiences. Your lived and living experience, as it relates to our work, will be valued.
About the role
The Managing Director is responsible for the successful leadership and management of Pivot. The position reports directly to the Board of Director, and works alongside Pivot staff to realize our mandate, goals, and develop strategy.
The Managing Director has the following responsibilities:
Human resources
• Fostering and supporting an inclusive culture and developing and supporting capacity across Pivot’s team.
• Addressing human resources and interpersonal tensions in an open and direct manner.
• Providing annual reviews of workload, emotional labour, and requirements for sick leave
and personal time.
Strategic direction and impact
• Participating in and supporting governance and committee work related to Pivot-wide projects and Initiatives.
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating Pivot’s strategic and operational plans by collaborating with key stakeholders.
• Assessing the resources required to achieve the objectives of the operational plan and prioritizing the projects that are within the scope and resources of the organization.
• Overseeing and supporting the management team to achieve campaign objectives, responding to emerging issues, and empowering staff to carry out their best work.
Fundraising and donor relations
• Overseeing and monitoring a comprehensive fundraising plan and developing and maintaining positive relationships with funders.
Operations and governance
• Developing an annual operational budget for Board approval and analyzing financial results of Pivot relative to established objectives monthly.
• Reporting regularly to the Board on Pivot’s operational and financial condition, and any issues that may affect the organization.
Communications and advocacy
• Acting as an advocate and spokesperson and embodying and supporting a culture that reflects Pivot’s core values of justice, fairness, and equality.
• Overseeing and monitoring a comprehensive organizational communications strategy.
About you
You bring direct experience (work, volunteer, organizing) with the communities Pivot works alongside, including people living in poverty, sex workers, people who use (il)licit substances, survivors of police brutality, and people who are unhoused or precariously housed. You have a deep knowledge of advocacy that advances social justice, which may include lived/living experiences.
You bring an intersectional analysis that builds upon an understanding of settler colonialism, white supremacy, classism, patriarchy, trans-misogyny, ableism, anti-substance use, and sex work stigma. You understand and centre the concerns of communities affected by structural barriers.
You are familiar with the limitations, pitfalls, and harms inherent to the non-profit world and are committed to working collaboratively with staff, management, and the board to flatten imposed hierarchies, foster transformational change within Pivot, and the ability to grow with and adapt to that transformational change. You have skills and experience in supporting and stewarding people through this type of structural and organizational change.
You are self-reflective, a strategic thinker, take care in building relationships, and are looking for a dynamic and highly collaborative working environment. In a team, you work independently and practice a management style that is not intrusive and respects the autonomy of your colleagues.
Additionally, you bring, and are committed to ongoing learning and developing, the following experiences and skills:
• Experience with fundraising strategies and management of key funder relationships
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience with supervising, mentoring, and supporting staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Models and fosters collaboration within a team setting.
Anticipated start date
March 7, 2022
Compensation
Salary for this role is between $80,000 – $95,000, commensurate with experience. Pivot offers a
highly competitive annual benefits package, including four weeks paid vacation, 16 paid personal
days, extended health and dental plan, access to health and lifestyle spending accounts, a cell
phone allowance, professional development funds, paid law society fees (as applicable), and
other professional membership fees open to negotiation.
To learn about working conditions, requirements, and how to apply, read the complete job posting.
Application deadline is February 7 at 10 AM Pacific time.