About Sonoran Prevention Works
Sonoran Prevention Works was founded by and for people who use drugs and started with a singular focus: everyone should have access to the knowledge, tools, and community they need to be safe and healthy. Today Sonoran Prevention Works is committed to making that a reality at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels through street-based outreach, organizational capacity building, and state-wide advocacy work.
Learn more about Sonoran Prevention Works at https://spwaz.org/
The Opportunity
Sonoran Prevention Works (SPW) seeks a visionary leader and spokesperson who represents SPW’s mission of building a healthy Arizona with people who use drugs among staff, volunteers, community partners, and nationally. The Executive Director (ED) will inspire a wide range of supporters, funders, decision-makers, and stakeholders at the local and state levels to build a world where all Arizonans are safe and healthy.
Combining inclusive and inspirational leadership, the ED will advance SPW in terms of culture, capability, processes, and impact. Working closely with the leadership team, the ED will inspire innovation, apply best practices, and ensure that the organization has capacity to advance the mission of SPW while staying true to the organization’s grassroots beginnings. The ED will set the trajectory for SPW to live its values, which include transformation, collaboration, equity and centering the lived experiences of people who use drugs.
The responsibilities of the Executive Director include:
- Effectively sets a strong and compelling vision and strategy for the organization and makes decisions that drive toward that vision.
- Establishes and models SPW’s core values and oversees the organizational culture.
- Attracts, builds, and retains a strong team and possesses the ability to motivate all staff and to support their development through strong coaching and mentoring.
- Oversees the fund development strategy and serves as the key fundraiser for the organization.
- Identifies and assesses potential risks of a situation and acts accordingly to mitigate them.
- Effectively structures and facilitates decision-making processes; makes decisions effectively and responsibly to improve organizational health and impact.
- Understands data; analyzes data and identifies insights and implications.
- Navigates and transforms conflict with a restorative justice mindset.
- Considers the future of Sonoran Prevention Works proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant.
- Maintains ability to navigate the nuance of leading a nonprofit that interfaces heavily with oppressive systems while maintaining an anti-colonial, systems-critical lens.
- Consistently sees, learns from, and takes strategic action related to diverse perspectives; and demonstrates the self-awareness and behaviors to work with stakeholders (of various identities and levels of power) respectfully and effectively,
- Actively seeks to build and retain a diverse workforce and fosters an equitable, inclusive workplace.
- Maintains the relevance of SPW at local, state, and national levels across a diverse array of communities.
Executive Leadership and Organizational Management
- Provide thoughtful and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission, vision and core values.
- Maintain a deep understanding and commitment of harm reduction philosophy and practices for the organization.
- Present strategic options and plans for organization impact and gain Board approval as needed to carry out the work of the mission.
- Organize, motivate, and mentor internal team leaders to strategically grow the organization’s impact, programs, and fundraising to effectively fulfill its mission.
- Apply innovative thinking and performance measurements to analyze and support strategic decision-making.
- Provide leadership for equity, diversity, and inclusion within the organization and with current and future partners and participants.
- Continually foster a culture that encourages collaboration between programs and departments and recognizes positive contributions.
- Contribute to the strategic plan and drive its implementation, ensuring regular evaluation of the organization’s activities, goals, and impact.
- Ensure the organization’s compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
- Oversee employment decisions at the executive level.
- Oversee communications strategy that promotes SPW’s programs and philosophy while increasing public awareness of harm reduction.
- Lead official representation of the organization to the press and public.
- Maintain SPW’s reputation and integrity as the state’s expert organization in harm reduction.
- Pursue, build, and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, networks, coalitions, committees, task forces, government, and other relevant partners to represent harm reduction practice, philosophy, community, and to advocate for the health, wellbeing, and dignity of all people who use drugs and those impacted by the racialized war on drugs.
Fund Development
- Develop, monitor, and drive the implementation of a robust fund development plan.
- Initiate, cultivate and extend relationships with the organization’s portfolio of individual donors, foundations, and corporate supporters.
- Identify, pursue, and manage service contracts and grants that financially support SPW’s mission, vision, and core values, including overseeing the execution of grant deliverables by key staff members.
Financial Management and Administration
- Responsibly and effectively steward all funds to support the organization’s sustainability and to further the mission.
- Ensure that the flow of funds permits SPW to make continuous progress toward the achievement of its mission and that funds are allocated properly to reflect present needs & future potential.
- Build, administer, and monitor the Board-approved budget and manage financial operations to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization.
- Ensure the organization’s financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves.
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all of the administrative and operational functions of the organization in accordance with the mission, objectives, and policies.
- Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget and contract guidelines and according to current laws and regulations.
Program & Advocacy
- Ensure that new and ongoing programmatic activities align with real-time community needs and best practices, maintaining an eye toward innovative opportunities.
- Lead the organization’s participation in state and national research.
- Drive policy and regulatory change at the state and local levels to embrace and implement harm reduction and evidence-based practices to reduce health disparities among people who are impacted by the racialized war on drugs.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with local and state legislators and government agency representatives.
- Develop and expand the organization’s public image and network, including its reputation within the state and national harm reduction community.
- Develop and maintain strategic partnership and collaborations with other organizations to expand Sonoran Prevention Works’ collaborative network.
Board Governance
- Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong relationships with the entire Board, providing leadership and support to members at all times.
- Communicate effectively with the Board by providing members with all the information necessary to continually function properly and make informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner.
- Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on progress toward the strategic plan, financials, fund development, risks, successes, and other organizational progress.
- Implement Board policies and procedures and build support for Board decisions amongst employees.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate must demonstrate a commitment to anti-Black racism, have a proven history of standing against injustices as it relates to Black people, and possess an in-depth understanding of how the War on Drugs has disproportionately impacted the Black community.
The most compelling candidates will bring a combination of lived and/or shared experience and some of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
- Five or more years senior nonprofit leadership experience; experience working in harm reduction, human rights, social justice, or a comparable field.
- A proven ability to secure diverse funding sources and an openness to innovative fundraising strategies.
- A strong focus on equity and anti-racism, with a track record of collaboration with diverse communities.
- A compassionate, supportive management style with experience in mentoring and developing a diverse team.
- Experience in managing budgets and ensuring financial sustainability.
- A talent for building relationships with community organizations and stakeholders to advocate for the dignity of people who use drugs.
- Strong analytical skills to draw insights from data that inform decisions and align with SPW’s mission.
- A belief in shared decision-making and a willingness to learn from and uplift the team.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to engage effectively with various audiences.
Individuals with lived or shared experience are strongly encouraged to apply. A criminal record/felony conviction is not a barrier to apply.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $135,000 - $150,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trisha Sutrisno and Amber Gomes. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile . All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Sonoran Prevention Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. SPW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.