Ruth’s List Florida seeks a Chief Executive Officer who is a strong, strategic leader and proven fundraiser with deep roots in Florida politics. The new leader should have a demonstrated ability to effectively manage a team to achieve ambitious goals in a dynamic and challenging environment.
About Ruth’s List Florida
Ruth’s List Florida comprises a 501(c)(4) organization called Ruth’s List Florida Action and a Political Action Committee (PAC) called Ruth’s List Florida, Inc. It is the only organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and electing progressive, Democratic, pro-choice women candidates to state and local offices in Florida, with a focus on flipping the leadership in Tallahassee and building a vibrant bench of candidates from the local level.
Founded in 2008 by former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Ruth’s List has established itself as an influential, highly reputable, and effective entity poised for continued growth and influence in the state. With a budget of approximately $1 million and staff of six, including fellows, this small organization has an outsized impact on Florida politics.
Leadership Opportunity
Working with the Board of Directors, donors, and constituents, the successful candidate will lead the organization by building on its current successes, increasing visibility, expanding a diverse membership, and growing resources. The successful candidate will help build a legacy by shaping the state’s political landscape through cultivating and electing progressive women who champion reproductive choice.
Responsibilities
Fundraising
Develops strategies and tactics to drive effective fundraising efforts. Diversifies the organization’s funding base beyond its major gifts program and successful events. Maintains and grows the major gifts program, with particular emphasis on identifying and cultivating new major donors statewide. Explores institutional and allied-organization funding, and implements innovative small donor programs, leveraging digital and social media to maximize geographic reach and to significantly increase small-dollar donations. Fundraising is expected to be a primary focus of the CEO’s time.
Leadership
Establishes an excellent working relationship with the Board of Directors through regular and transparent communications that include shared agreement about strategic goals and objectives and clearly defined roles and responsibilities for board and staff. Maintains an efficient process for addressing issues and opportunities related to strategy, resource development, governmental, political and ally partner relationships, finance and human resources. Demonstrated ability to recruit, train and develop staff to enable the organization to achieve its goals.
Candidate and Campaign Staff Recruitment and Training
Expands and delivers the organization’s successful and dynamic recruitment and training efforts. Identifies, assesses, cultivates and recruits talented women candidates for opportunities across the state for all levels of government. Develops strategies to construct candidate and campaign staff pipelines within all areas of the state. Delivers high-impact training for campaign managers and staff.
Communications
Develops and executes compelling strategies, consisting of internal and external communications for all stakeholder groups including candidates, donors, partner organizations, volunteers and the press. As the face of Ruth’s List, exhibits exceptional platform speaking skills, with the ability to deliver inspiring messaging to multiple constituencies. Excels at identifying compelling themes for membership and fundraising communications, including social media.
Management and Operations
Builds teamwork in the management of staff and consultants to achieve organizational objectives. Responsibilities include fiscal and compliance oversight, including budgeting, allocations of funding, filing of campaign finance reports and 501(c)(4) related tax documents. Hiring and team development.
Desired Attributes
Ruth’s List’s CEO must be committed to the values of the organization and dedicated to creating and stewarding relationships with internal and external constituencies that will enable the successful, consistent delivery of its mission. Also, they should possess key attributes, including:
- Deep knowledge of Florida’s political landscape and strong relationships with key political insiders and influencers.
- A sincere commitment to and understanding of Ruth’s List’s mission.
- A proven track record of high impact fundraising including major gifts and events. This must include demonstrable success in building dynamic relationships with key members of the community along with allied partners and the willingness to spend significant time identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors.
- An understanding of and strong appreciation for the legal status and external regulations related to a PAC and 501(c)(4) entities housed within the same organization.
- Superior written and oral communication skills. Inspiring presenter.
- Experience with nonprofit organizations and a track record of effectively establishing and maintaining a productive relationship with a nonprofit Board of Directors.
- Proven leader with experience in directing and motivating a small team to achieve exceptional results.
- Ability to inspire confidence among staff, board members, donors, partner organizations, candidates, and other constituents.
- Tenacious and creative in the achievement of goals and objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare and manage budgets and systems.
- Creative, strategic and practical problem solver.
Qualifications
- At least 10 years of relevant experience.
- College degree preferred, but not required for candidates with 15+ years of experience in the political/non-profit space.
- Willingness and availability to travel frequently for work throughout Florida.
Compensation
Salary commensurate with experience.
How To Apply
If you think you meet the qualifications for this position or would like to learn more, please send your resume and cover letter to Felice Schulaner, Board Chair, at fschulaner@hotmail.com.
Deadline to apply is Monday, November 30th.
Ruth’s List supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and hopes to have a pool of applicants with different backgrounds, cultures and orientations who will broaden our perspective and experience.