Executive Director

ORGANIZATION & OPPORTUNITY: Housed within the ULCA School of Law, the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy (Williams Institute) is Its work infuses data into the public discourse, influences public policy, informs courts, and impacts LGBTQ+ rights and protections. The Institute's yearly Impact Reports and Data in Review highlight how its research responds to and informs current laws, policies, and judicial decisions that affect the lives of LGBTQ+ people. The Institute’s scholars have consulted with government agencies to improve federal data collection of LGBTQ+ people.

They have provided testimony to Congress in hearings on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, among others. And Justice Anthony Kennedy cited Williams Institute data on the number of same-sex couples raising children as a deciding factor in the landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which granted marriage equality in the U. S. The Williams Institute is a department of UCLA School of Law, the youngest top-ranked law school in the United States.

UCLA Law has established a number of think tanks, including the Williams Institute, that have consistently promoted the highest standards of intellectual discourse. These centers focus on many areas that intersect with and enhance the work of the Williams Institute, including public interest law, reproductive justice, criminal justice, critical race studies, tribal law, and environmental law. Through research and published articles, UCLA Law’s centers offer invaluable information for legislators, the judiciary, and the public while providing critical training for UCLA students and the broader community. THE POSITION:

Working with the Institute’s Faculty Chair, Founders Council, and Advisory Committees, the Executive Director will hold overall strategic and operational responsibilities for the Institute’s staff, research, programs, fundraising, budget, and mission. The Executive Director will help to map out the overall goals of the Institute and will drive their day-to-day implementation. They will also help expand a sustainable fundraising framework for the Institute. Among the key accountabilities for the position are:

developing and implementing a strategic vision that aligns with the Institute’s mission and goals; guiding and supporting staff and visiting scholars; overseeing and producing high-quality research that informs public policy and advocacy efforts; cultivating relationships with donors, foundations, and other stakeholders to achieve fundraising goals; overseeing the Institute’s budgeting and financial management; and engaging w/policymakers, the media, and the public to disseminate the Institute’s work.

Depending on interest, qualifications, experience, and balanced by other program priorities, the Executive Director may teach a course focused on sexual orientation, gender identity, and the law at UCLA Law to be developed and determined in consultation with the Faculty Director of the Williams Institute and the Vice Dean for Curricular and Academic Affairs. CANDIDATE PROFILE: The next Executive Director of Williams Institute will be an experienced, visionary, and inspirational professional with a proven track record of organizational growth and leadership.

In addition to successful experience as an innovative and growth-oriented leader, the Executive Director must have the capacity to collaborate and engage with the broad spectrum of the Institute’s partners and audiences, and the substantive expertise and communication skills to serve as an effective representative of the organization. They must also possess the ability to work effectively within and create synergies with other parts of UCLA Law School.

Candidates for this position must have demonstrated personal passion for the mission of the Williams Institute, appreciation for its institutional voice and values, highly developed research and writing skills, and deep knowledge of policy issues facing LGBTQ communities, and a commitment to a programmatic portfolio that embraces the full diversity of LGBTQ+ communities. Successful candidates for the position will also have existing social and cultural competence for the LGBTQ+ Movement and, ideally, existing connections to Movement organizations and leaders (including the Williams Institute’s current or potential partners). REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE (Must Have):

Proven professional track record including a minimum of 7+ years of successful senior management and leadership experience, ideally in an academic, legal, or LGBTQ+ organization or environment;Successful track record in nonprofit fundraising, including individual and institutional giving, corporate and community partnerships, and large-scale special events; Demonstrated administrative and organizational development skills; Track record of innovation and program building/expansion; Excellent team building and management skills including proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop staff with an ability to generate investment and enthusiasm;Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and ability to represent Williams Institute to the press, policymakers, and the public;Financial oversight and budget management experience in an organization of comparable size and complexity and with similar funding sources;Demonstrated ability to create and maintain productive relationships with colleagues, constituents, donors, and advisory board members;Knowledge of current LGBTQ law and policy issues;A J.

D. or a social science Ph. D. is required. NOTE: This role requires flexibility and ability to travel frequently (including internationally) and to do some evening and weekend work. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Creative, motivated, entrepreneurial spirit, and demonstrated passion for Williams Institute’s mission;Strong interpersonal skills and high levels of professional maturity and self-awareness;Commitment to social justice frameworks including race, gender, and economic justice and equity;Personal warmth and ability to build trust and rapport with a diverse range of people and groups; Ability to pay keen attention to detail without losing sight of larger objectives;Nimbleness and flexibility to pivot, shift gears, and/or re-prioritize as needed without losing sight of the bigger picture; Energy, passion, and exceptional capacity for managing multiple initiatives at once;Humility and openness to learn and to ask for help when necessary; Patience, tenacity, and polite persistence in navigating a complex, matrixed system (UCLA), and in dealing with donors and potential donors.