Worksafe is seeking an Executive Director to support our mission to prevent occupational injury, illness, and death by bringing justice to the workplace. The position is based in Oakland, California. Open until filled.
ABOUT US
Worksafe is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the basic right of all people to a safe and healthy workplace. We engage in campaigns in coalition with worker organizations and activist networks to eliminate toxic chemicals and other hazards from the workplace. We advocate for protective worker health and safety laws and effective remedies for people who are injured on the job or suffer work-related illnesses, and we watchdog government agencies to ensure they enforce these laws.
In addition to advocacy and policy work, we are a support center for California legal aid organizations whose clients encounter workplace health or safety issues, workplace injuries, or retaliation for reporting unsafe work. We provide legal training, technical assistance, and advocacy support to legal aid programs who serve low-wage and immigrant workers, improving access to justice for workers who are most vulnerable to having their rights violated.
POSITION SUMMARY
Worksafe’s Executive Director is responsible for providing leadership and vision, directing daily operations, and furthering the long term goals of the organization. We are seeking someone with experience leading a team, developing programs and campaigns, and fundraising. Candidates should thrive interfacing with diverse stakeholders including policy makers, government agencies, workers, advocates, and members of the media. Candidates should possess a strong desire to improve the health and safety of California’s workforce. The Executive Director is accountable to the Worksafe Board of Directors and conducts the business of the organization in accordance with board member guidance.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
I. Supervision & Organizational Management
- Recruits, hires, supervises, and mentors staff
- Facilitates an effective and healthy organizational culture
- Resolves personnel and administrative issues
- Ensures compliance with relevant workplace and employment laws
- Ensures administrative, human resources, and office organization tasks run smoothly
- Keeps the board of directors informed about the organization and factors influencing it
- Ensures effective recruitment, engagement, and departures of board members
- Sees that board committees are appropriately supported
II. Funding Development & Budget Management
- Creates and manages a fundraising and development plan to achieve sustainable growth
- Cultivates and maintains positive relationships with institutional funders and individual donors
- Writes and administers grants; ensures compliance with application and reporting requirements
- Develops and administers budgets and maintains oversight of the organization's fiscal health
- Oversees the annual budget, presents budget reports to the board, supervises the accountant, and ensures budget is consistent with annual goals
- Develops budget forecasts and plans for the upcoming fiscal year
III. Program Planning & Coalition Building
- Collaborates with staff and board members to develop strategies for achieving mission goals
- Provides direction and leadership for strategic planning and evaluation processes
- Develops and implements cohesive and achievable annual work plans
- Develops and implements issue-specific campaigns and legislative advocacy campaigns
- Establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with diverse stakeholders including low-wage workers, unions and labor advocacy groups, legal aid organizations, environmental organizations, and others
IV. Promotion of Worksafe and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
- Represents and promotes Worksafe and OSH in a variety of public forums
- Cultivates and maintains role as a recognized expert and resource in the field
- Engages effectively with a variety of audiences including members of the press
- Provides direction and inspiration for strategic communications and media advocacy efforts
DESIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
- Supervisory experience and demonstrated ability to positively manage and mentor a team
- Excellent interpersonal communication, writing, and public speaking skills
- Experience fundraising and developing strategies to strengthen and grow a vibrant organization
- Experience with grant writing, grant administration, and interacting with foundations
- Ability to develop and administer budgets and work plans
- Experience with legislative and/or regulatory policy advocacy
- Experience developing and implementing campaigns in partnerships and coalitions
- Experience organizing workers, concerned individuals, and stakeholder organizations
- Familiarity with or knowledge of workplace and environmental health issues
- Familiarity with or knowledge of the intersections of race and health equity
- Experience in social justice movements, preferably with a focus on low-wage workers, immigrant communities, and/or worker safety and health
- Proven ability to craft compelling messages and engage in effective media advocacy
