Executive Director

Compensation

$60,000 for 3 days per week

The Essex County Family Justice Center (the Center) is seeking a passionate, committed, and experienced leader. The Center is well-positioned to usher in an exciting new chapter after 15 years in which it established New Jersey’s first family justice center, built a powerful network of over 40 partner organizations, retained a long-tenured staff of 9, and secured in-kind program and administrative office space from Essex County.

Led by a united and mission-driven Board of Directors, the Center is now transitioning from the tenure of an interim Executive Director who implemented strong organizational infrastructure, including new computer and information technology software hardware and software, updated Human Resource policies and program manuals, renewed written commitments with all program partners, established new and renewed contacts with elected officials and private foundations, and led a highly successful 15th Anniversary event.

This is a wonderful platform for an exceptional team leader, relationship-builder and community advocate with a commitment to survivor-center innovation to broaden the Center’s visibility and continue to diversify funding to help end the cycle of violence.

The Center enhances the safety and autonomy of domestic violence victims by providing trauma-informed, coordinated, comprehensive services from one location. The Center was established in direct response to the high rates of domestic violence homicides consistently documented in the New Jersey State Police Crime Report for Essex County and Newark from 2004 to present. Domestic violence assault causes complex trauma leaving untreated survivors with dissociation, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, reduced self-esteem and independence.

Research confirms marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by violent trauma and Newark domestic violence survivors face almost insurmountable barriers to accessing trauma-specific services. The Center reduces these barriers by co-locating multidisciplinary professionals at its facility, providing a one-stop intake function, and offering current, but limited provision of therapeutic-services.

The Center serves as a backbone organization, created to lead, coordinate, and support the collective efforts of our direct-service partner agencies, including law enforcement, city and county agencies and 25+ community-based organizations. All our programs and services are survivor-driven, prevention-oriented and culturally competent. The Center is currently operating on an $800,000 budget.

The Center seeks a mission-driven Executive Director with exceptional leadership, commitment to social justice and a passion for supporting survivors. The ideal candidate must be comfortable building and maintaining meaningful relationships and partnerships; be a skilled communicator and a strong advocate for the values driving the Center which include compassion and relationship-based care; victim-centered safety and support; and diversity equity and cultural competence.

• Strategic Leadership & Vision:
  Lead the long-term vision and strategic direction of the Center, in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Work with the Program Director to build and maintain strong partnerships with law enforcement, legal systems, community-based organizations, and healthcare providers.
• Lead and inspire staff to identify unmet needs, emerging trends, and opportunities for programmatic growth and systems change.
• Serve as the primary contact person and spokesperson for media and the community.

• Build the Board of Directors to execute organizational goals and support recruitment of new members.
• Oversee all aspects of operations, programs, and fiscal stewardship, ensuring strong infrastructure to meet goals.
• Ensure organizational sustainability and excellence in service delivery.

• Build strong relationships with funders and donors and lead the development of grant proposals, government grant submissions and individual donor solicitations.
• Work closely with the Board and staff to meet revenue goals and diversify funding sources.
• Ensure the Center’s fiscal soundness; develop, implement and monitor the annual budget and manage internal finance staff and relationships with external accounting and administrative partners.

• Develop and implement a strategic communications plan that strengthens the visibility, voice, and reputation of the Center.
• Promote public awareness and education on interpersonal violence and the Family Justice Center model.
• Serve as the liaison with state elected officials to secure the continuation of an existing budget line item allocation for the Center.

• Proven leadership experience, preferably as an Executive Director
• Experience in individual and…