The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) seeks a full-time Deputy Director based in Austin, Texas. TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization that is building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.

The Deputy Director will oversee the day-to-day work of TFN to ensure we meet our organizational goals. The primary responsibilities of the Deputy Director will be to directly supervise the VP of Programs, VP of People & Culture, and Political Director. The Deputy Director should be passionate about building strong and collaborative teams, strategic direction and decision making, and  facilitating our capacity for growth. They should also come with a deep knowledge of the movement space in Texas and direct experience in the work.  The Deputy Director will report directly to the Executive Director.

Areas of Responsibility:

  • Management + Leadership (~70%): Oversee day-to-day implementation to ensure we meet our priority goals and maximize collaboration and impact

    • Manage senior leadership to ensure we meet our goals, providing strategic guidance, ongoing assessment of progress, feedback, and troubleshooting support as needed

    • Manage all programmatic work through the VP of Programs and the Political Director, consulting with ED for strategic guidance and support as needed

    • Manage the VP of People & Culture to ensure strong HR, talent, culture and DEI work

      • Oversee our efforts to make TFN a more diverse (with focus on race, and those directly impacted by issues TFN works on), inclusive, and equitable organization

    • Own the leadership team, facilitating regular leadership team meetings to ensure alignment, collaboration, and effective decision-making 

    • Ensure effective internal communication, coordination, and staff engagement

      • Own day-to-day communication to/from leadership, management, and staff

      • Partner with ED to ensure fair decision making for the most important organizational decisions

      • Oversee the planning of regular staff meetings and retreats

    • Serve as a strategic resource and helper to the ED on issues relating to board development, fundraising, financials, compliance, strategic initiatives, and step in as acting ED in the ED’s absence.

  • Drive organization-wide strategy and planning (~15%): Ensure strategic alignment across the organization

    • Own the development of annual goals and plans, and lead the process of developing longer-term strategic plans and/or answering longer-term strategic questions, in close partnership with ED

      • Serve as trusted strategic advisor to ED on overall strategy

      • Develop and oversee the annual staff strategic planning process, ensuring the budget process aligns with and supports organizational priorities

      • Develop and drive ongoing processes to assess progress to goals and determine whether strategic pivots are needed, gathering input from across the organization (and externally), making recommendations to ED and senior leadership team

  • External Relations and Partnerships (~15%): Expand and deepen external partnerships

    • Expand TFN’s partnerships and collaborations across the progressive sector and with other key stakeholders, including peer organizations, elected leaders, business leaders, influencers, and funders

    • Representing the organization at national network spaces (ex: Ford convenings, America Votes, etc.)

 

Qualifications and Skills

  • An outstanding, equitable manager, who is able to hire, support, develop, and evolve a racially diverse team of senior leaders, each of whom owns their own realm and all of whom collectively assume responsibility for the good of the whole organization; This includes: 

    • Deep understanding of, experience in, and commitment to effective management as equitable, sustainable and results-driven

    • Demonstrated track record of success in managing a high-performing organization, department, or team

    • Ability to manage managers 

    • Ability to manage across teams/departments 

  • An inclusive leader and communicator, who builds authentic and trusting relationships across lines of difference and power; recognizes the value of divergent perspectives and regularly includes others in planning and decision-making; and garners followership in one-on-one, small group, and whole team settings. Brings an awareness of power and privilege, a growth mindset, and approaches difficult conversations with directness and empathy. 

  • An exceptional problem solver and generalist with high standards, with the ability to hold multiple perspectives & tensions, seek out both/and solutions. Ability to untangle and move forward complex dilemmas; capable of handling a high volume of demands and to track and successfully advance multiple complex streams of work, directly and through managing others; and transmitting appropriately high standards for our work across the organization; Comfortable with conflict and operating within ambiguity/ incomplete information, bringing good judgment to bear in solving problems where there are no clear or obvious solutions. Can make tough decisions for the greater good of the organization, stand by them, and move people forward. Ability to resolve disputes, and maintain a high degree of discretion and confidentiality. 

  • Demonstrated track record of advancing racial and gender equity

Understands the impact of systemic and implicit biases and inequities related to race, gender, and other identities that can play out in workplaces; able to surface this in ways that allow others to hear what is being said without compromising the integrity/clarity of the message. Centers equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of the work. Proactively spots issues of equity and inclusion in the work and can bring practical solutions by drawing on personal experience combating white supremacy, racism, and other interconnecting systems of oppression. Names and grapples with how own identities play out in the work. Creates inclusive cultures where all members thrive. Develops equitable and just processes and policies.

 

Benefits

TFN/TFNEF uses standardized salary bands to ensure pay equity.

Salary: $120,000 - $135,000

100% employer paid medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan with employer contribution, paid vacation, personal, sick, and parental leave.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Texas Freedom Network is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages people of color, ethnic minorities, women, and individuals from the LGBTQ community to apply.

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