Executive Director

Human Rights Defense Center

Posted December 14, 2009

The Human Rights Defense Center will celebrate its 20th anniversary in May, 2010. Initially it published  Prison Legal News, a monthly magazine from published from inside a Washington State prison cell by editor Paul Wright. It has since grown to approximately 7,000 magazine subscribers, and engages in book distribution and  publishing, plus and litigation . The HRDC’s annual budget is approximately $500,000 and has eight fulltime employees in Vermont, Tennessee and Seattle. All of our activities center on advocating for criminal justice reform and the human rights of prisoners. We are seeking an Executive Director, a new position with the Center.

This is a full time job and includes health, dental and vision insurance and two weeks paid vacation. The ED will work from our Seattle office and supervise 4 employees. HRDC is an equal opportunity employer.

 Job Qualifications

  • A dynamic, motivated individual who can further professionalize and help us expand our organization . We are less concerned with academic credentials than we are with actual experience and results.
  • A commitment to human rights
  • Must be comfortable working with current and former prisoners.
  • A self-starter, motivated, able to multi task,
  • Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • The Executive Director is responsible for fiscal and programmatic oversight,  promoting effective communication among board members and employees on our issues,  and maintaining the HRDC’s business operations.
  • 7-10 years of successful non profit management experience.
  • A commitment to social justice and a passion for criminal justice reform and a good sense of humor will help.
  • Criminal justice and/or media experience is desirable but not required.
  • Litigation, legal knowledge and experience are also desirable but not required.
  • Must be willing to travel.
  • Computer skills are required. Must be proficient in MS Office and Windows, and have experience or can learn quickly Quickbooks, Acrobat and InDesign.

Reports to: President

Fiscal Responsibilities

  • Prepare annual budget
  • Monitor budget compliance and report to board on regular basis
  • Produce cash flow projections
  • Approve expenditures
  • Negotiate and sign contracts
  • Ensure taxes are paid, all government and tax paperwork is properly filed
  • Track and pay bills

Fundraising

  • Write and submit proposals to foundations
  • Write letters to individuals and donors
  • Supervise mailings and follow up
  • Work with HRDC board to establish fundraising goals, identify new sources of funding and implement fundraising plan
  • Assist board with fundraising follow up
  • Provide donors with receipts  and complete follow-up reports required by foundations

 Personnel

  • Hire and fire non-editorial staff
  • Supervise staff
  • Evaluate staff
  • Propose salaries and salary increases to President for submission to board
  • Propose staff reorganization if needed
  • Research and negotiate employee health insurance
  • Recruit, supervise and utilize interns, work study students and community volunteers

Communications

  • Facilitate outreach and communication between officers, board members and staff
  • Maintain contact with compatable organizations for joint projects

Membership

  • Maintain subscriber records
  • Design and implement plan for subscriber development
  • Develop policies and procedures for mailings, dues processing and response to subscribers

Publications

  • Ensure monthly production and mailing of Prison Legal News
  • Supervise production of annual report
  • Supervise printing of HRDC books and publications
  • Produce subscription and advertising and renewal card and special materials as needed
  • Produce report on PLN book sales, make royalty payments to authors and track book publishing income

Book Sales

 

  • Report on book sales by title and volume
  • Add, delete or modify book sale list
  • Supervise book order fulfillment

Technology Contracts

Negotiate and supervise contracts with technology contractors for tech projects such as websites, databases, etc and ensure contract fulfillment

Office Maintenance

  • Work with building owner to maintain office
  • Ensure proper office space for operation

 Litigation

  • Work with staff counsel and editor to monitor censorship issues as they arise and coordinate response with counsel.
  • Maintain censorship and public records files and evidence as needed
  • Be prepared to testify in litigation as needed

Submit your resume, references and salary requirements to Paul Wright and Don Miniken by February 15, 2010.

Contact: Paul Wright pwright@prisonlegalnews.org at 802 257-1342 and Don Miniken, dminiken@prisonlegalnews.org at 206-246-1022.