CEO

About Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network
The Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN) is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is building a movement to advance the health, economic well-being, and rights of women, girls, gender expansive people, and their families in South Carolina. WREN is the leading statewide gender justice advocacy organization in South Carolina, and one of the leading organizations dedicated to gender research, advocacy, and organizing in the nation. WREN engages and influences diverse audiences – from our 40,000+ member database, hundreds of non-profit partners, elected officials, business leaders, donors, and the public.

The Opportunity

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for developing and implementing the organization’s strategic direction in partnership with the Board of Trustees and staff, overseeing its development efforts, guiding day-to-day operations, collaborating with staff, and representing WREN to the media and public. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will ensure that the organization is fiscally sound and that its policy, advocacy, and programmatic initiatives meet current and emerging needs consistent with the strategic direction and mission as determined by the Board and staff. The CEO will be adept at optimizing both internal performance and external impact and visibility.

The CEO’s responsibilities will include:

Vision and Strategy

• Build on past successes by inspiring the creation and implementation of strategies that advance gender justice, including reproductive rights, economic justice, and racial justice, in the context of a challenging state and national legal and political climate;
• Work in partnership with the Board, staff, and key stakeholders to implement, review, and refine the current strategic plan and implement future strategic planning frameworks that help define the direction of the organization, establish priorities, and identify funding needs;
• Provide leadership and direction to direct reports and other staff;
• Oversee management and administrative practices to maintain a professional and efficient organization and enable WREN to achieve its strategic objectives;
• Help build a diverse and inclusive Board representative of the community that is highly committed, engaged, and willing to leverage and secure resources in support of WREN’s mission;

Fundraising and External Relations 

• Increase and diversify WREN’s funding sources to support financial sustainability as well as growth;
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Board, Leadership Council, and major donors, ensuring that they are appropriately engaged, recognized, and informed;
• Anticipate funding needs and engage staff to ensure they have the resources they need to be successful, and to maintain the continuity of important initiatives;
• Represent WREN to the media and public, clearly articulating the organization’s mission, vision, and programs;
• And establish and cultivate partnerships with key individual and institutional partners from private, public, and non-profit sectors that can amplify WREN’s impact.

Organizational and Staff Management 

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality services while managing for current and future growth;
• Cultivate a supportive team-oriented environment that puts people first and ensures personal growth and development;
• Champion and value equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) on the Board of Directors and with staff; regularly assess how WREN is incorporating EDIB principles and best practices internally and externally;
• Provide a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences; create a work environment that recognizes and respects the diversity and individuality of each employee, and encourages collaboration;
• Oversee the financial status of the organization including developing long and short-range financial plans, monitoring the budget and ensuring sound financial controls are in place; set financial priorities accurately to ensure the organization is operating in a manner that supports the needs of the program and staff;
• And motivate and maintain a cohesive staff, ensuring that there is strong internal communication, coordination, and accountability.

Programmatic Oversight

• Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board and ensure open communication about the measurement of financial, programmatic, and impact performance against milestones and goals;
• Develop and oversee implementation of programmatic platforms for achieving impact;
• Leverage the expertise of staff in considering options for WREN’s program and policy work and strategies;
• Evaluate impact of current programs;
• Assess other/future opportunities for achieving impact;
• And ensure effective and efficient use of resources to achieve programmatic objectives

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• Deep personal passion for and demonstrated commitment to WREN’s mission, vision, and values;
• 10+ years of leadership experience in non-profit, academic, or for-profit spaces; experience in senior roles required;
• Experience in strategic planning, fund development, budgeting, and finances in the private, non-profit, or public sector; able to balance big-picture, longer-term strategy with urgent needs;
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, creatively problem-solve, and exercise good judgment;
• A strategic, resourceful, and politically astute individual who is inspiring, able to translate vision into action, to conceptualize and express ideas, and to anticipate and act nimbly on events which may create opportunities for WREN;
• Strong understanding of policy advocacy, lobbying, and public engagement, ideally in a conservative environment and culturally sensitive to nuances within the state of South Carolina and/or the South;
• Proven experience that includes managing, coaching, and mentoring staff through collaborative program development and implementation and goal-setting processes;
• Empathetic, compassionate, and collaborative leadership style with the ability to listen to Board members, staff members, donors, partners, and the public with respect and genuine openness to constructive input;
• Successful track record of raising money from a variety of sources, including major donors and foundations, and ability to connect WREN to resources and opportunities outside the organization;
• Proven success at working effectively and collaboratively with diverse staff as well as local officials, media or press, and community members and groups; ability to navigate across the political spectrum and value differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance;
• Robust understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, as well as experience successfully leading and integrating these principles into organizational policies, practices, management, and culture.
• Significant travel (primarily in-state, some national) will be required.

Compensation & Benefits

The CEO is a full-time position. The salary range for the role is $140,000 – $150,000 annually with a competitive benefits package which includes medical and dental (100% coverage for employee), 12 weeks of parental leave, paid time off and holidays, contribution to retirement plan, and support for professional development.