Executive Director

Role : Executive Director

Location : NYS (traveling to in-person events, meetings, and public hearings that take place approximately 2-3x a month, across all regions of NYS. Routine day to day work will be done remotely and through Teams and/or Zoom meetings.)

Contract

The Executive Director must have minimum of five years in leadership roles related to social justice, policy development, and community engagement, including at least three years of those five years in a senior executive role.

• Must include specific details regarding the scope of services, names of the customers the services were provided for, and length of service to enable the client to verify the minimum qualification was met.
• Must have a graduate degree in a relevant field.

The Executive Director or team will be responsible for:

A. Coordinating and synthesizing information and data from public hearings, community education sessions, and business meetings.

B. Collaborating with the Commission’s general counsel, policy advisors, researchers, and historians to ensure the timely and responsive completion of consultant contractual obligations.

C. Managing the drafting, editing, and submission of the final report.

D. Coordinating community feedback sessions to share preliminary findings and incorporate public input into the final version.

E. Management of Commission consultants.

Leadership and Strategy

A. Develop and implement process plans that strengthen and advance the Commission’s mission to examine and address the harms of slavery and systemic racism.

B. Provide collaborative and visionary leadership to the Commission, working closely with Commissioners, staff, consultants, and community stakeholders to foster transparency, inclusivity, and trust throughout the process.

C. Coordinate and synthesize insights from community input, public hearings, education sessions, and expert contributions, including those from policy analysts, historians, legal counsel, and other advisors, to inform the development of a comprehensive final report.

D. Create and manage a transparent and inclusive process for drafting the Commission’s final recommendations, including mechanisms for stakeholder engagement and public feedback

sessions to ensure the report reflects community input.

E. Collaborate with stakeholders, public officials, and experts to ensure the Commission’s findings and recommendations are clearly communicated, actionable, and aligned with the timeline for submission to the Governor and Legislature.

Community Engagement

A. Engage with affected communities to understand their perspectives and needs regarding reparation remedies.

B. Facilitate community meetings, listening sessions, and public forums to ensure diverse voices are included in the Commission’s work.

C. Build and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, organizations, and stakeholders, ensuring transparent and inclusive participation.

D. Coordinate public hearings and outreach activities to gather comprehensive community

feedback.

Administrative Oversight

A. Under the direction of the Chair of the Commission, manage the day-to-day operations of the New York State Community Commission for Reparation Remedies, including oversight

of consultant staff, supervision of workstreams, coordination of internal communications, and alignment with the Commission’s overall goals and timeline.

B. Collaborate with the Chair to support the continued hiring, onboarding, and performance management of consultant staff, including those providing administrative, financial, legal, research, and communications support. Ensure that the Commission maintains the staffing capacity needed to effectively carry out its mandate.

C. Establish and maintain systems for financial oversight, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and timely financial reporting. Coordinate with fiscal agents or contractors to ensure accuracy, transparency, and accountability in all financial matters.

D. Serve as the primary liaison between the Commission and all consultants, ensuring alignment of tasks, consistent communication, and a coordinated approach to advancing the Commission’s work. Facilitate clear and timely updates between the Commission, consultants, and vendors.

E. Manage the scheduling and logistical planning of Commission business meetings, public hearings, and activities across all regions of New York State, ensuring equitable participation and geographic representation.

F. Oversee meeting logistics, including arrangements for physical locations, audio/visual support, webcasting, minute-taking, interpretation services, transportation, and

accommodations as needed.

G. Ensure that all meetings and communications comply with applicable laws and ethical standards; develop and maintain a communication strategy that allows Commissioners to

remain informed and connected while maintaining compliance.

H. Prepare and submit reports to the Commission detailing operational progress, staffing updates, fiscal status, and alignment with strategic goals.

Consultation Role

A. Provide expert guidance and strategic advice on the Commission's initiatives and public engagement strategies.

B. Advise on best practices and innovative solutions to advance the Commission’s mission and achieve its goals.

Desired Skills

A. Extensive experience in social justice, policy development, and community engagement, with a demonstrated focus on reparative justice and addressing historical injustices.

B. Strong understanding of the historical context and policy issues related to slavery, systemic racism, and reparative justice, with the ability to integrate these perspectives into actionable recommendations.

C. Proven ability to coordinate, lead, and guide a multidisciplinary team of experts, including policy analysts, legal counsel, historians, and researchers, in compiling a comprehensive, data-informed report to the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

D. Demonstrated success in managing complex projects involving multiple contributors, stakeholders, and data sources, ensuring alignment across workstreams and delivery of high-quality outcomes on time.

E. Exceptional skills in publishing, editing, fact-gathering, and drafting, with a track record of producing high-quality reports, policy documents, and official publications.

F. Demonstrated experience in managing the full report lifecycle, including content creation, internal review, revisions, formatting, and finalization, while ensuring accuracy, clarity, and adherence to deadlines.

G. Ability to develop a visually engaging and accessible final report that includes data visualizations, graphics, and interactive or digital components to support public understanding and online engagement.

H. Experience planning and incorporating community feedback into formal recommendations, including designing public-facing versions of the report, facilitating community review sessions, and integrating input into the final submission.

I. Strong communication, advocacy, and public speaking skills, with the ability to represent the Commission in both formal and community-facing settings. J. Demonstrated experience working with and within diverse communities and across sectors, including public officials, grassroots organizations, and academic or policy institutions.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: Up to $60.00 per hour

Work Location: In person