Executive Director

Candidate Description: AKPIRG is seeking an exceptional leader to join AKPIRG’s team. As an organization with a broad and weighty mission, dynamic and talented staff, and impact-driven work, this individual will be a visionary, participatory leader working to most effectively achieve our goals while embedding our values throughout our operations.

The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the programmatic and administrative success of the organization. Key duties include fundraising, management, advocacy, communications, and community outreach. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors, and serves as the primary connection point between the Board and staff.

Organization Description: The Alaska Public Interest Research Group’s work is to advocate, educate, and research to support Alaskan communities. AKPIRG works across five specializations: energy affordability, broadband access, economic justice, good government, and language access. AKPIRG is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization first incorporated in 1974.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Planning and stewardship of the annual budget, including fundraising and funder relationships..
• Management of AKPIRG staff and team priorities, operations, and personnel issues as they arise.
• Enact organizational values, policies, and procedures for all functions of the non-profit.
• Steward primary responsibility as spokesperson and responsibility for AKPIRG’s organizational reputation.
• Establish and maintain relationships with various organizations throughout Alaska and nationally and utilize those relationships to strategically enhance AKPIRG’s mission and goals.
• Report to and work closely with the Board of Directors to support their work in organizational planning, fundraising, accountability, and reputation.
• Strategic planning and implementation.
• Review and approve contracts for services, sign-on letters, and other organizational agreements.
• Creative problem solving, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Self-starter
• Strategically-minded
• Highly organized
• Values-driven
• Good communication skills
• Creative problem-solving
• Curious
• Participatory leadership
• Passionate about public interest
• Excellent fundraising skills
• Flexible and adaptive
• Creative problem-solver
• Sense of humor
• Strong facilitation skills
• Visionary
• Direct communicator
• Abundance mindset

Professional Qualifications:

• Proven success in fundraising strategies and donor relations unique to the nonprofit sector
• Management experience, including with conflict resolution/transformation
• Advocacy experience with demonstrated impact
• Hands-on experience with budget management including: budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting
• Strong organizational abilities including: planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation
• Ability to convey AKPIRG’s strategic vision to board, colleagues, volunteers, and donors; and convene stakeholders to adapt/adjust the vision when needed
• Knowledgeable about Alaska Native peoples, histories, cultures, and Tribal sovereignty
• Commitment to decolonization both internally and through AKPIRG’s work
• Understanding of Alaska’s current political and non-profit landscape
• Ability to interface and engage diverse staff, volunteers, donors, and decision-makers
• Strong public speaking and press relations skills
• Proven experience putting values into practice in the workplace
• Developed sense of equity, reciprocity, and accountability
• Demonstrated breadth of professional experience

Executive Director General Responsibilities:

1) Organization Mission and Strategy: Work with the board to fulfill the organization’s mission through programs, strategic planning and community outreach.

• Oversight, implementation and coordination of AKPIRG’s programmatic activities that carry out the organization’s mission.
• Strategic planning to ensure that AKPIRG can successfully fulfill its mission into the future.
• Represent AKPIRG by being active and visible in the community and by working closely with other professional, civic, and private organizations.
• Build trust across diverse communities and backgrounds with integrity and reciprocity.
• Nurture existing partnerships and seek new partnerships in alignment with AKPIRG’s mission and goals.
• Ability to travel for programmatic and fundraising trips as needed.

2) Financial Performance and Viability: Develop and steward resources sufficient to ensure the financial health of the organization.

• Oversee the fiscal integrity and management of AKPIRG. Includes working with staff and Board to prepare submissions to the Board of the annual budget and regular financial statements which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.
• Fundraise, in partnership with Board members, and develop other resources necessary to support AKPIRG’s mission.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders while advocating for and translating AKPIRG’s work, mission, and values in diverse contexts nationally and locally.
• Cultivate a culture of financial transparency and openness to ensure organizational values are reflected in our processes.

3) Board Governance: Work with the board in order to fulfill the organization’s mission.

• Lead AKPIRG in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors.
• Communicate effectively with the Board and provide, in a timely and accurate manner, all information necessary for the Board to function properly and to make informed decisions.
• Support Board growth as needed.

4) Team Building: Maintain a work culture that reflects the organization’s values, ensuring that staff work is impactful and meaningful.

• Foster a culture of mutual trust, collaboration, and respect across all teams, ensuring staff feel trusted and supported in their respective roles and issue areas.
• Cultivate leadership and empower staff to take an active role in decision making.
• Prioritize wellbeing of self and staff, caring for one another as people first and modeling work boundaries.
• Collaborate with staff on projects and issue-specific strategic planning.
• Support staff in fulfilling workplans and creating mechanisms for accountability.
• Conduct annual reviews for direct reports.
• Maintain an overarching (birds-eye) understanding of staff projects, programs, and activities.
• Support staff in forming connections and partnerships that will help achieve their specific goals.

Black, Indigenous, People of Color, single parents, trans and gender-expansive people, and people with disabilities who live in Dena’ina Elnena/Anchorage are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Anchorage, AK 99503: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person