Website Liberation Ventures
About the Opportunity
Working closely with the Co-Founder & CEO, the LV team, and LV’s movement partners (grantees), LV is seeking its first-ever Vice President of Movement Building to build and execute a strategy for LV’s third pillar of work: strengthening movement capacity. This is an opportunity for a seasoned and innovative movement leader, ready to dive head first into the Black reparations ecosystem with great humility, wisdom, and courage.
This individual will lead key elements of LV’s strategy to holistically support organizations in the movement, as well as the movement as a whole, to accelerate progress toward financial and nonfinancial reparations. Within their role, they will help set internal strategy, build deep and trusting relationships with partners, support coalitions, and learn the ins and outs of a field with roots as old as this country itself. One part campaign director, one part strategist, one part program officer, and one part consultant/coach/cheerleader, this person’s work will dynamically answer the question: “what does the reparations movement need, and how can Liberation Ventures fulfill those needs?”
This position reports to the Co-Founder & CEO.
Areas of Leadership
Mission and Values Alignment: This person understands the dynamics of at-scale movements for justice and political and cultural change, and can hold the complexity required to be deeply accountable to a myriad of stakeholders.
Key qualifications: Deep belief in Liberation Ventures’ mission
Demonstrated commitment to LV’s beliefs in practice
Strong understanding of LV’s field of work — racial, economic, and gender justice and their intersections, and the systems and structures that cause ongoing harm in these areas
Able to hold multiple truths at the same time related to running a liberatory organization within a capitalist system, and able to take decisive action from that position
Understands complexity as it relates to identity; able to hold and understand parts of one’s identity that are historically marginalized as well as parts of one’s identity that are historically powerful
Able to see, name, and navigate power and privilege dynamics in a group and contribute to a working environment where all people are equally valued, feel cared for, and are accountable to each other
Accountable and Compassionate Management: This person will manage a team infused with collaboration, growth, care, and equity.
Key qualifications: Exceptional project management skills; strong attention to detail and equitable, streamlined processes; highly organized and able to manage multiple streams of work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Track record of building “high EQ” teams dedicated to personal and professional growth
Track record of serving as a thought partner and strategic advisor to executive leaders as well as reporting to and managing a board of directors
Track record of building strong partnerships with team members at all levels of an organization; relational, collaborative approach to management and leadership
Movement Building Strategy: This person will develop a tailored strategy for how LV connects and supports movement partners and the reparations movement writ large, and operationalize that strategy to meet organizational needs across the movement (e.g., strategic planning, fundraising, communications, etc.). They will do this through providing some direct support as well as managing others (either contractors or other LV staff), attending events across the country to maintain an up-to-date perspective on movement progress, opportunities, and challenges, and partnering with organizations on the ground to implement successful initiatives, campaigns, etc.
Key qualifications: Strategic and informed decision maker; able to zoom out and see the full picture, synthesize data from many different sources, identify implications for Liberation Ventures, operationalize those implications into organizational plans/priorities, and communicate them with clarity and nuance
Strong and humble listener: able to receive feedback from partners and act on it with humility and care
Experienced movement leader with a strong network of existing relationships inside the progressive/social justice movement
Experience developing a strategy for how to support many different actors – across sectors, geographies, identities, and more – in coalescing as a field to achieve at-scale political and cultural change, together
Highly innovative and adaptable; passionate about staying abreast of current shifts and trends in the field, and able to track opportunities, challenges, and progress within the movement across the country over time and adjust LV programs accordingly
External Partnerships: This person will build deep, personal relationships with LV’s 40+ movement partners (grantees) and other organizations across the movement (e.g., nonprofits, academics, researchers, activists, artists, etc.). They will contribute to and co-lead LV’s 2025 grantmaking process (which will begin in mid-2024), as well as serve as an advisor on other LV strategies and programs (e.g., research strategy, narrative change strategy), elevating the needs and learnings from conversations and collaborations with movement partners.
Key qualifications: Experienced relationship builder with peers, movement leaders, and funders from all backgrounds; skilled at building new partnerships through tensions and nuances that exist in the field
Skilled at articulating strategic goals and organizational tradeoffs; able to hold boundaries and complexity in live dialogue with partners
Comfort with public speaking and engaging with diverse audiences. Ability to communicate effectively via multiple platforms and in person, in both small and large groups
Track record of creating conditions for healing, repair, and wellness across people and organizations within a movement
Work Environment
This position is open to people in any location in the US. Liberation Ventures has a flexible, remote working environment. The Liberation Ventures team has quarterly in-person retreats, usually in New York City. This position requires regular travel; approximately 1-2 domestic trips per month.
Position Type
The Liberation Ventures Vice President of Movement Building is a full-time (100% FTE) position. Liberation Ventures is a fiscally sponsored organization of PolicyLink, a 501c3 nonprofit headquartered in Oakland, California. PolicyLink’s 501c3 number is 94-3297479.