Executive Director

Executive Director

The https://www.aclusocal.org/ (ACLU SoCal) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of executive director. The person appointed to this career-defining role will lead one of the most influential and impactful organizations in the nation’s most diverse and populous state. This is a hybrid position based in Los Angeles, California. The executive director is expected to take office in late May or early June 2025.

Founded in 1923 as the first local affiliate of the https://www.aclu.org/, ACLU SoCal is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that has been at the forefront of major efforts to protect and promote civil liberties, civil rights, and equal justice in California and nationwide. With more than 120,000 members, a staff of 85, and a total budget of $18 million (as of December 2024), ACLU SoCal tackles a vast array of issues, including First Amendment rights, criminal justice, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants’ rights, police practices, jail reform, education equity, and economic justice.

Reporting to and working closely with the boards of directors of ACLU SoCal’s two corporate entities, the executive director is the chief executive officer of ACLU SoCal and provides overall strategic, financial, and operational leadership and oversight to achieve the organization’s mission, strategies, goals, and objectives. The executive director has primary responsibility for managing day-to-day operations; directing the work and development of a diverse and talented staff; shaping the organization’s internal culture; fostering an environment of continuous improvement, learning, and effectiveness; and ensuring that the organization is fiscally sound and that its litigation, advocacy, fundraising, internal and external communications, and programs are meeting the current and emergent needs and interests of its constituents.

ACLU SoCal seeks a visionary, energetic, and inspirational leader with extensive relevant experience, strong leadership and management skills, and a track record of building high-performing teams and driving organizational change. They have a strong moral center, unimpeachable integrity, superb judgment and diplomatic skills, and dedication to bringing effective, long-term leadership to the organization.

The full position announcement, qualifications, and application/nomination instructions may be found https://apptrkr.com/5916876

The classification salary range for this position is $201,400 to $335,700 and the anticipated hiring range is $250,000 to $300,000. Salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including the knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual selected.

ACLU SoCal has exclusively retained Spelman Johnson to assist in this search. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until ACLU SoCal reaches a hiring decision. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received no later than February 14, 2025. Submit a resume and cover letter via https://spelmanandjohnson.com/search-open-positions/

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson by phone at 413-529-2895 or email at info@spelmanjohnson.com.

This will be a fully confidential search, with no announcement of finalist names. References will not be contacted until after the first round of interviews and not without prior knowledge and approval of candidates.

Visit the ACLU of Southern California website at www.aclusocal.org.

The ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion and to striving to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.

ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and value people of all races, genders (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientations, disabilities, citizenships, ages, religions, and national origins and who have different marital statuses, family caregiving responsibilities, lived experiences with the criminal justice systems, and genetic information. ACLU SoCal does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of any of these characteristics.