Managing Director

JOB DESCRIPTION

March 2025

Managing Director

ELLA BAKER CENTER

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

OAKLAND CA

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (EBC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Oakland California organizing to shift resources away from prisons and punishment towards opportunities that make our communities safe healthy and strong. Named after civil rights hero Ella Baker we mobilize Black Brown and lowincome people to build power in our communities. For over 25 years we have worked from the community to the legislative level to free our people from state violence. We are currently working to end mass incarceration and mass criminalization in the United States through Truth and Reinvestmentmoving resources away from failed criminal legal policies and into creating opportunities also known as books not bars jobs not jails healthcare not handcuffs. Through our programs such as successful organizing in Alameda County a robust state policy platform and national leadership in the movement to end mass incarceration EBC is building a culture of care to replace cages and cops.

The Ella Baker Center Action Fund (EBCAF) is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization and a separate but affiliated organization with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. EBCAF mobilizes our communities current and formerly incarcerated people their loved ones people who are lowincome and Black and Brown communities to exercise their full political power and hold institutions accountable. Like our namesake Ella Baker we understand that true power lies within the people. EBCAF was born out of the vision to further build power amongst those most impacted by incarceration and criminalization. We mobilize these communities to ensure that our elected officials are focused on addressing the root causes of harm in our communities instead of investing in failing institutions such as prisons and policing that exacerbate that harm.

OUR VALUES

At Ella Baker Center we win by doing our liberation work in alignment with our core values:

1. Prioritize people most impacted by policing and prisons

2. Accountability

3. Black Liberation

4. Interconnection

5. Transformation

6. Culture of Care and Healing

7. SelfDetermination

POSITION SUMMARY

The Managing Director is a leader dedicated to supporting the Executive Director in advancing the organizations strategic initiatives upholding the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (EBCHR)s core values and passionately advocating for the end of incarceration. The Managing Director prioritizes uplifting the voices of Black leaders and creating a supportive environment where staff can lead and drive their work forward. This role requires exceptional leadership collaboration strategic thinking communication and operational management skills. Reporting to the Executive Director the ideal candidate is a highly collaborative seasoned and confident leader who will identify and implement operational and administrative solutions across the organization with a strategic approach to managing our financial and risk management systems database and facilities.

PRIMARY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary objective of the Managing Director is to enhance and strengthen the organizational capacity of the Ella Baker Center in pursuit of our mission. Collaborating closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership team the Managing Director develops shortterm and longterm strategies to strengthen the organization so it can effectively and sustainably achieve its goals. They oversee the operational financial and HR functions of EBC. As a thought partner to the Executive Director the Managing Director engages with the Board of Directors the staff and the union on relevant issues and will serve as a critical member of the organizations senior leadership team.

Operations & Human Resources

• Directly manage seniorlevel staff responsible for daytoday operations systems/technology human resources organizational culture and finance.
• Oversee the management of the Ella Baker Centers Oakland office ensuring the effective stewardship of assets resources technology and facilities.
• Maintain strong tenantlandlord relations while identifying and establishing a new real estate broker to support longterm strategic growth and sustainability.
• Implement best practices to enhance operational systems ensuring longterm sustainability and collaboration on future strategic planning.
• Provide adequate resources policies and systems to support infrastructure and operations with consistent documentation and training.
• Support managers in building collaborative sustainable and impactful teams aligned with EBC values and strategic priorities.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director Director of Human Resources and Director of Finance support the annual review of salary bands for all positions ensuring equitable financially sustainable and competitive range recommendations to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director Director of Human Resources and Director of Finance review EBCs fiscal and internal policies and update accordingly (including but not limited to Covid hybrid/remote work sabbatical and other key policies).
• Coordinate external Restorative Justice facilitators for internal cultural and conflict work in compliance with the union Restorative Justice agreement.
• Support the Director of Human Resources in creating a department dedicated to providing excellent internal customer support including benefits management.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director serve as Management point of contact within the Labor Management Agreement & Union meetings.
• Bottomline Management team meetings.

Financial Management

• Oversee and provide thought partnership to the Finance Director to maintain the organizations longterm fiscal health ensuring compliance with GAAP and other nonprofit requirements.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director in providing accurate financial information and analysis supporting risk management and longterm planning to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities and plan for the future of EBC.
• Lead on planning and implementation of infrastructure for successful C4 political work.
• Support annual and multiyear budgeting and planning in collaboration with the Finance Director Development Department and the senior leadership team.
• Advise and support organizational investment strategies including capital campaigns.
• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of semimonthly payroll including endofyear retirement and census reporting and be prepared to serve as a backup for payroll processing when necessary.

Organizational Development & Strategy

• Collaborate with the Executive Director to lead EBCs organizational development priorities strategic planning and implementation and fundraising initiatives.
• Support the management of tenants and operations at EBCs Restore Oakland building.
• Coordinate with department directors to establish and monitor yearly work plans & dashboards.
• Identify risks assess and inform the Executive Director of internal and external issues impacting the organization including finance legal matters 501(c)3 status and organizational culture.
• Champion racial equity within EBC and participate in political education training.
• Participate in EBC signature events support organizational fundraising efforts and outreach and cultivate new relationships with funders.
• Support EBCs strategic communications narrative shift policy advocacy and campaign strategies; serve as an EBC organizational spokesperson as needed.
• Support the Executive Director and Board of Directors recruitment development and staffing for EBCs Board and its committees (i.e. internal external governance and executive).

NECESSARY SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a Director position within a nonprofit organization.
• Be located in the Bay Area.
• Experience operating in a unionized workplace.
• Deep understanding of the criminal legal system and/or lived experience or connection to Ella Baker Centers mission.
• Experience and training in Racial Criminal and/or Economic Justice campaign work.
• Knowledge of risk management and insurance compliance & needs.
• Comprehension and expertise in managing facility needs and tenant relationships.
• Possess excellent collaboration leadership and problemsolving abilities.
• Dedicated to advancing and implementing organizational systems through a racial justice perspective.
• Significant experience managing organizational accounting audits & finances.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Comfortable and practiced at communicating with a diverse audience including Black and Brown communities currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones and people with low or no income.
• Familiarity with Restorative Justice concepts and practices.
• Demonstrate extensive experience in supervising individuals with a compassionate approach that acknowledges differences in privilege and power.
• Proficient in Google Suite and MS Office applications techsavvy with handson experience in Salesforce (or other CRM) Zoom (or other video conferencing platforms) BOX Monday and Bill.
• Wellversed in various HR platforms financial systems and IT systems like BambooHR Sage QuickBooks or equivalent industry software.
• A willingness to travel to the office events and other relevant EBC responsibilities.
• Commitment to using 2SLGBTQIA staff and community names & pronouns.
• Bilingual Spanish & English proficiency is a plus!

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This is a salaried exempt onsite fulltime position. There will be times when the position will be required to work in the evenings on weekends at outwardfacing public events and will be on call during office closures. The Managing Director reports to the Executive Director and serves on the Management Team.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $125000 to $135000 depending on professional and lived experience. The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights offers a competitive benefits package to its fulltime employees which includes employee health vision dental chiropractic acupuncture LTD life insurance EAP paid holidays vacation and sick time and the option to enroll in a 401k program. We cover 100 of the employeeonly premiums for all medical coverage. Medical coverage begins on the 1st of the month after the date of hire.

EVERYONE WELCOME

The Ella Baker Center is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals of color 2SLGBTQIA people individuals with past involvement in the criminal legal system or who have loved ones currently or formerly impacted by the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply. We do not require candidates to have a degree and we welcome candidates with nontraditional backgrounds. We believe in both the necessity of building a broad diverse movement to effectuate change and the importance of centering the experiences and leadership of those most impacted by the legal system. We are committed to investing in the leadership of people of color and formerly incarcerated people. If you are wondering if you are qualified to apply please do.

HOW TO APPLY

Ella Baker Website Careers Tab: https://ellabakercenter/careers/Submit the following application materials:

• Resume or summary of relevant experience.
• A thoughtful cover letter about your interest in the position.
• Please provide a writing sample that demonstrates your understanding of one of these topics:1: Your understanding of issues related to Social Justice or 2. A grant proposal you have written.

COVID VACCINATION

The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights recommends vaccinations to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Fully vaccinated is determined two weeks after completing a primary vaccination with a COVID19 vaccine with if applicable at least the minimum recommended interval between doses. The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights requires all employees to wear a mask when working within the building and at EBCsponsored gatherings. Employees may be legally entitled to a reasonable accommodation if they cannot be vaccinated and/or wear a face covering (as otherwise required by this policy) because of a disability or if the provisions in this policy for vaccination and/or testing for COVID19 and/or wearing a face covering conflicts with a sincerely held religious belief practice or observance.

START DATE: SUMMER 2025

Nothing in this job description restricts Ella Baker Centers right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Experience:

Director