Summary
Description
The Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) is the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing fairness and equality for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community. Through education, advocacy, and support, we are making a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ service members, military spouses, veterans, family members, survivors, and caregivers.
Position Summary
The Executive Director (ED) must be experienced navigating volatile climates and a forward-thinking, mission-driven energetic leader. The ED serves as the primary external representative for MMAA and guides the strategic vision to protect and fulfill the purpose of the organization while managing day-to-day operations. The ED is responsible for maintaining strong relationships with funders, allies, service members, affiliated organizations, and interested parties even when there is conflict between stakeholders. The ED must understand the legal requirements, administrative oversight, and relational complexity between non-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, elected/appointed officials, and military leaders across diverse communities.
Job Terms
The ED must be based in the DC area or willing to relocate within three months. The ED expected to frequently meet with partners with some travel (up to 20%). Flexible schedule. Salary range commensurate with experience is $110,000-$150,000. PTO and paid holidays.
Job Location: D.C. Metropolitan Area
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The Executive Director provides leadership and direction for all aspects of the MMAA including:
1. Administration
- Manage and supervise the day-to-day operations of the organization.
- Ensure the board maintains a current, relevant strategic plan and crisis management plan and oversee implementation of organizational activities aligned with the mission.
- Ensure compliance with policies and other governing documents adopted by the board, all relevant state and federal laws, and any funder restrictions.
- Ensure compliance and the successful implementation of administrative functions, including but not limited to human resources, finance, grants, fundraising, and communications.
- Ensure compliance and the successful implementation of governance functions, including but not limited to nonprofit compliance, strategic planning, and board relations.
- Ensure compliance and the successful implementation of programs, including but not limited to member relations and management, MilPride, Rainbow Shield, and advocacy efforts.
2. Human Resources
- Ensure overall staffing structure and individual job duties meet the needs of the organization with flexibility to adjust to emergent needs.
- Ensure compliance with relevant state and federal employment laws as well as best practices.
- Complete a strategic workforce plan ensuring all personnel are skills-aligned and prioritizing mission-critical activities. Oversee recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes. Design and implement an annual employee performance evaluation process. Design and implement staff training, professional development, and team-building activities.
- Maintain the MMAA workplace and work relationships in accordance with all local, state, and federal non-discrimination laws, rules, and regulations.
3. Financial Management
- Work with the Finance Team to prepare and implement the annual budget.
- Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, best practices, funder restrictions, and organizational policies.
- Authorize expenditures within the board-approved budget.
- Advise the board on financial matters, budget, and future needs.
- Monitor revenue gaps and operational funding needs.
4. Board Relations
- Recommend long-term strategies, short-term plans, policies, and annual budgets to the board.
- Participate in monthly board meetings including preparing the meeting agenda, attending meetings, and reporting to the board.
- Assist with the identification, recruitment, and orientation of board members who are eager to advocate for MMAA and fulfill the misison.
- Steward board members and develop board members’ capacity for fundraising.
- Stay apprised of board and committee activities; serve as their primary point of contact.
5. Public Relations, Advocacy, and Fundraising
- Serve as the primary spokesperson of the organization using compelling, immediate messaging that activates stakeholders and allies to champion MMAA.
- Develop a funding strategy and engage community leaders who will champion its success.
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders ensuring that each ally has an engagement pathway as a volunteer, donor, and/or advocate as appropriate.
- Cultivate relationships with other organizations; seek and evaluate opportunities to partner on collaborative projects.
- Research, develop, and implement an advocacy agenda.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a communications plan that ensures MMAA is prepared with reactive and proactive messaging that is compelling and timely.
- Ensure MMAA is represented at community events by members of staff, the board of directors, allies, and advisors.
6. Complete other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The Modern Military Association of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity and equity in all facets of the organization’s work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
The Executive Director provides leadership and direction for all aspects of the MMAA including:
- Managing the transformation of the organization from a growth phase to maturity. The Executive Director will assist the board and lead the staff in the transition to a mature organization with formal structures and processes, a governing board of directors, outcomes-based programs aligned with the strategic plan, and diversified funding streams. The ED will identify growth areas, design improvements, effectively communicate with team members to enable the smooth implementation of new strategies, and identify and manage any potential resistance to change.
- Collaborating with the board of directors to provide the overall vision and direction of the organization as well as to ensure that key strategic objectives are implemented. The ED will support the board in strengthening its ability to govern strategically and will continue to build board-staff relations. The ED will work with board members to effectively recruit new members ensuring an optimal mix of skills, expertise, diversity, high engagement, and financial support. The ED will effectively communicate with the board regarding agency operations and finances.
- Building a strong team, including hiring new staff members, integrating staff and volunteers into a cohesive team, and leading the development of a positive organizational culture.
- Ensuring the financial health of the organization. The ED will continuously develop and nurture individual, corporate, foundation, government, and community relationships, leading efforts to increase organizational resources. This will include promoting a culture of giving among board, volunteers, and other stakeholders; proactively managing resources to ensure sustainability; and leading planning efforts for MMAA’s annual gala.
- Planning, organizing, and directing the MMAA’s operations and programs, including reporting on results to the board of directors and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Developing and executing an advocacy agenda. The Executive Director will identify advocacy goals and legislative priorities. And as the primary spokesperson for the organization, the ED will ensure that the MMAA and its programs are recognized resources through the effective and timely use of public relations and contemporary media.
Ideal Candidate Qualifications & Competencies
Inspirational Leader
Must quickly identify critical pathways forward and inspire staff, board, volunteers, and the community to pursue the MMAA mission with passion and excellence. Experience making decisions under pressure, inspiring the team to fulfill the mission at hand, and communicating the results of the mission internally and externally.
Board Champion
Experience in identifying and recruiting allies who bring a wide array of skillsets to support the organization in making sound decisions and recruiting other leaders to support the work of MMAA. Knowledgeable in nonprofit Board of Directors governance best practices and administrative oversight expectations.
Alliance Builder
Skilled in building individual and collective relationships that increase influence and capacity to fulfill the purpose of MMAA. Capacity to navigate difficult communications with clarity, honesty, and transparency.
Persuasive Advocate
Influential ambassador with proven success in advocacy work. Emotionally intelligent and eager to learn from others. Confident with solid judgment and a positive, can-do attitude. Passionate about accessibility and not willing to cede gained ground.
Financially Astute
Experienced in fiscal management, including budgeting and cash flow management. Has familiarity with QuickBooks, Microsoft Suite (including Excel), and Google Docs.
Enthusiastic Fundraiser
Delights in connecting people with the opportunity to support MMAA and a successful track record of securing a minimum of $1M annually. Experience designing and executing a strategic development plan from diverse funding sources as a high-impact small shop.
Pragmatic Manager
Experienced in managing nonprofit teams. Engages in the challenging day-to-day work of actualizing the MMAA’s mission by envisioning and implementing processes and procedures that align with strategic priorities.
Knowledgeable Professional
Has military and LGBTQ+ competency plus familiarity with relevant laws. Has a bachelor’s degree and possibly advanced degree(s) as well. Has a minimum of 5 years of nonprofit management experience.
Compensation
The salary range for the Executive Director role is $110,000-$150,000. The MMAA offers an individual retirement account with 3% employee match; medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; and paid leave. Though this position is housed at headquarters in Washington, DC, the MMAA offers flexible work hours, remote workspace setup, and a remote office stipend.
MMAA: Our Work & History
MMAA is the result of decades of work for the LGBTQ+ and HIV+ military and veteran community through the merger of four organizations, each focused on serving their respective community in different ways: the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), OutServe (OS), and the Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC).
Our staff, volunteers, and members have made incredible gains for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community. In recent years we have fought and won high-profile lawsuits challenging the service bans on transgender people and people living with HIV. We also saw the Respect for Marriage Act signed into law!
However, we still have more work to do. In 2022, we saw a historic number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in 26 States. These States are also home to most of our military service members, their families, and veterans. It is unacceptable. We must ensure the Equality Act is passed; people living with HIV can enlist; discriminatory discharges are corrected; and LGBTQ+ military servicemembers, their dependents, and veterans are protected against hateful rhetoric.
In addition to our advocacy efforts, we offer a variety of programs. MilPride is a resource network dedicated to supporting military families with LGBTQ youth. In partnership with PFLAG, MilPride offers support groups for parents, family members, and members of the LGBTQ+ and military communities. Our Rainbow Shield certification program and other trainings equip military and veteran service providers with the skills they need to provide effective and efficient services to the LGBTQ+ and HIV+ military and veteran communities. Through our legal help referral desk, we connect members to our partner law firms to assist with discharge upgrades, legal name changes, and discrimination. Our military spouse scholarship enables military spouses to pursue their higher education goals. And through our Chapter Network, we facilitate in-person and virtual opportunities for fellowship, camaraderie, and leadership development across the country and worldwide.
As a growing organization facing leadership transition, we recognize this opportunity to evolve. We seek a strong change manager with expertise in transitioning through a growth stage to establish a mature, sustainable organization.
Contact
To express your interest or nominate a candidate for this position, please send a cover letter clearly addressing how you meet the ideal candidate qualifications and competencies along with a resume to Waller Consulting at emily.hill@capacitytodream.com.
