Exeuctive Director
Led by a mission to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities and older people in Colorado through direct legal representation, advocacy, education, and legislative analysis, Disability Law Colorado (DLC) has represented more than 35,000 people with disabilities, provided technical assistance to more than 130,000 people, and reached over 100,000 Coloradans through their education programs and publications over its 50-year history. Building upon this track record of success and following the departure of a longstanding leader, DLC now seeks nominations and applications for its next Executive Director (ED).
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the next ED will lead a highly qualified team of 27 dedicated staff delivering individual services, fostering statewide self-advocacy, and pursuing strategic litigation. The ED will oversee all internal finances and the management of a roughly $3 million annual budget. They will also ensure compliance with legal and funder requirements, safeguarding the short- and long-term fiscal and programmatic health of the organization.
DLC seeks an inspiring and skilled leader who will establish strong collaborative relationships, both internally and externally, and work to articulate and implement a strategic vision for the next phase of the organization.
The ideal candidate will have significant nonprofit leadership and management experience within disability rights, legal advocacy, or a closely related field. Strong candidates will demonstrate commitment to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities and older people and the ability to mobilize support both internally and externally for strengthening systems and community supports on behalf of the populations DLC serves.
The ED will exhibit humble servant leadership and will have a strong ability to effectively empower staff and collaborate with the Board. The ED will represent DLC publicly and will continue to elevate the organization’s profile as a critical, impactful agency, both across the state and nationwide.
The ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
- An inclusive, visionary, and transparent leader with demonstrated experience effectively inspiring and empowering staff, board members, and partners toward greater impact in addition to advancing representation through the cultivation of a diverse and inclusive staff.
- Deep appreciation of, and success in, advocacy, community organizing, and mobilizing at various levels.
- Demonstrated leadership in a complex and dynamic organization, including fiscal oversight and budget development experience, revenue stewardship, and familiarity with fundraising.
- Experience developing or improving organizational capacity, with an eye toward opportunities for process improvement and refinement.
- Demonstrated success, internally and externally, as a consensus builder and collaborator.
- Excellent writing, analytical, and communication skills.
- An underlying commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and an understanding of the culture and specific challenges faced by persons living with disabilities.
- Sensitivity and sophistication in stepping into an agency that has been run by a leader with an extensive breadth and depth of expertise, who is leaving a substantial and enduring legacy after decades at the helm.
- Ability to represent DLC to a variety of stakeholders and intermediaries in a credible and influential way.
- Self-starter with strong ability to manage a diverse, driven, and successful staff.
- An optimistic outlook, along with the humor, integrity, patience, and perseverance necessary to support mission-driven staff, and to advance efforts to ensure persons living with disabilities and older Coloradans have greater access to services.
- Work performance consistent with the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.
More information about Disability Law Colorado may be found at: disabilitylawco.org. DLC provides reasonable disability accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs, Tamar Datan, and Chris Cannon of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.
Cultivating a diverse and inclusive team of board members, staff members, and partners is an essential component of DLC’s work to advance equity. Candidates of all backgrounds and abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.