Chief of Staff & Culture

About The Organization

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.

Founded in 1971, the SPLC sought to ensure that the promise of the civil rights movement became a reality for all. Since those early years, we've won numerous landmark legal victories, researched and documented the rise of hate and extremism in the country, and developed award-winning resources for educators on teaching our true, inclusive history.

Today, the SPLC seeks to build an inclusive, democratic South that advances the rights of all people, particularly communities of color. To accomplish this, our work aims to eradicate poverty, fight incarceration and criminalization of Black and brown communities, protect voting rights and civic engagement, and relegate white supremacy out of the mainstream. We are establishing state offices in each of our Deep South states, including our home state of Alabama as well as Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. The SPLC also maintains the Civil Rights Memorial center and its interpretive center, the Civil Rights Memorial Center, in Montgomery, Alabama, the birthplace of the modern civil rights movement.

About The Position

The Chief of Staff and Culture plays a pivotal role in the strength and health of the organization as a whole, with a special emphasis on developing and maintaining a strong culture. Specifically, the Chief of Staff and Culture will manage the teams advancing our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles, and will support the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) work of the organization. In addition, the Chief of Staff and Culture will oversee leadership development, facilitate and support the leadership teams of the organization, and provide strategic counsel to the President/Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors. Managing organization-wide projects and initiatives, the Chief of Staff and Culture ensures effective internal and external communication so that organizational priorities are in alignment across the SPLC.

Reporting directly to the President/CEO, the Chief of Staff and Culture will manage the JEDI Director, MEAL Director, and an Executive Assistant. The Chief of Staff and Culture will work closely with the Executive Team (ET), and Leadership Team (LT), Board, the JEDI Working Group, and staff across the organization.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a cross-functional leader and connective tissue between teams and program areas, ensuring ongoing communication and collaboration, centering our commitment to JEDI in all work streams
• Support the JEDI Director and team to develop and implement a comprehensive multi-year diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy that aligns with the SPLC's strategic goals and objectives; ensure that the SPLC's long-term plans are inspired by an equity lens, and fully reflect the organization's equity identity and focus on inclusion
• Provide an organizational perspective to support senior leaders and ensure organizational success, including leading cross-functional task forces, as needed; manage the execution of organizational projects and initiatives that require cross-team collaboration where decision-making spans across departments
• Represent staff and holistic organizational needs in strategic planning and problem solving processes, act as a steward for ongoing staff engagement and effectiveness
• Work closely with partners, donors, and other external stakeholders, representing the SPLC with strategic partners and building lasting, trusting relationships to advance mutual goals
  
  

Strategic Support

• Provide strategic counsel to the President/CEO; serve as a thought partner by helping to set and achieve strategic priorities
• Represent the President/CEO in both internal and external meetings, at conferences, and with the media
• Prepare for and manage weekly Executive Team and Leadership Team meetings, bi-monthly joint ET/LT meetings, quarterly meetings between the JEDI team and the leadership teams, and all leadership retreats
• Ensure leadership meetings align with strategic priorities, and that there is clear ownership and follow through on projects and initiatives
• Support the President/CEO in developing agendas and materials for the Board of Directors and committee meetings; organize regular briefings for Board members on the work of the organization; identify opportunities to engage the Board of Directors on strategic issues and communicate with Board Members as appropriate
  
  

Team Management

• Lead the organization's efforts to create a positive working environment reflecting organizational values; implement initiatives to develop leadership skills and establish accountability mechanisms for leadership
• Provide mentoring, coaching, and accountability to the JEDI team (5 employees) and the MEAL team (3 employees)
• Provide management and thought leadership to their efforts and ensure integration across all departments and teams
• Hire, train, establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign duties, and conduct performance reviews
• Support the prioritization of strategies and tactics to advance organizational goals
• Serve as an interim team lead during periods of transition; oversee newly forming teams on an as-needed basis
• Design, develop and implement structures, processes, initiatives to support organizational goals and priorities
  
  

Candidate Requirements

Related work experience

• Minimum of twelve (12) years in a leadership role with a track record of success in leading organizational change and innovation with demonstrated results
• Significant experience in advancing JEDI principles and working with organizations to manifest these values in the workplace
• Minimum of seven (7) years managing, developing, mentoring and supporting a diverse and high-performing team
• Exceptional relationship building skills with a track record of cultivating strong working relationships across staff and stakeholders at all levels of an organization, with a range of beliefs and identities
• Demonstrated success developing leadership skills to enhance high levels of collaboration
• Expertise in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and tracking program quality, performance, outcomes, and impact
• Professional maturity, with the ability to manage conflict, sensitive information, and complex / divergent interests
• High school diploma or GED
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to inspire and motivate staff, the board, and allies to advance a shared vision and communicate that vision to all audiences
• Commitment to ideals of justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity
• Connection to the South, with a deep understanding of the culture, strengths, challenges, and unique attributes of the region
• An entrepreneurial, proactive attitude with strong organizational skills
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to change and work within an impact-oriented organizational environment
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing tasks and demands
• Enthusiasm, initiative, and grace under pressure
  
  

Location Flexible, with a strong preference for candidates based in the South, and ideally in one of the following cities Atlanta, Montgomery, New Orleans, or Jackson

Compensation And Benefits

Salary for this position begins at $240,000.

The SPLC offers comprehensive benefits, including competitive pay, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with an employer match program, paid time off, continuing education, and more. For more information about the SPLC's extensive benefits, please visit Benefits & Perks.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, on the basis of genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.

On-Ramps is deeply committed to equity. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose. We're partnering with the team at the SPLC to build a diverse team that will work to advance its goals. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

On-Ramps is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [email protected].