The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (the Institute), a social justice advocacy organization aimed at toppling the load-bearing walls of structural inequity to create just, vibrant, and healthy communities, seeks a dynamic, strategic, and transformational leader to serve as its next president and chief executive officer (President & CEO). This is an opportunity for an exemplary leader to guide the continued growth and impact of the Institute, which is currently fueled by its four programmatic programs (economic justice, criminal justice, environmental justice, and law & policy).

Established in 1999 by the Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein Foundation, the Institute is committed to a holistic, evidence-driven, and solutions-focused approach to social justice research, policy, and advocacy. Now in its 27th year of operations, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice is New Jersey’s premier strategic innovator in policy, legal advocacy, and community engagement as vehicles to address issues of systemic racism and structural inequity. Using a holistic approach to address the unique and critical issues facing New Jersey, the Institute advocates for policy reforms that are transformative, achievable in the state, and replicable in communities across the nation. The Institute identifies, analyzes, and addresses the underlying causes of social and economic disparities and challenges the barriers that constrain individuals and communities from achieving their full potential.

The President & CEO serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and reports to the Board of Trustees. They will serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for the Institute and will assume responsibility for providing vision, leadership, and oversight of the Institute’s strategy, programs, advocacy, litigation, fundraising, operations, and external partnerships. The position requires a person with a passion for social justice; a demonstrated commitment to civil rights, racial justice, and social equity; and a passion for advancing the Institute’s mission and impact to improve the lives and futures of structurally and systemically marginalized people and communities across New Jersey and, as applicable, the United States.

The President & CEO will be an effective collaborator and communicator, placing value on the building of relationships with community leaders, policymakers, funders, and partners not only to accomplish the work of the Institute but to expand its reach throughout the state of New Jersey and nationally. The President & CEO will provide prudent fiscal oversight of the Institute’s $6.1 million annual budget and $7.7 million endowment, while also fundraising assiduously to sustain and enhance the Institute’s financial sustainability.

This leader must be a decisive, thoughtful strategist who can balance visionary initiatives with pragmatic operational stability. They will possess deep civil rights, social justice, and/or racial justice advocacy experience and demonstrate success catalyzing and shepherding consequential policy and advocacy campaigns and coalition-building efforts. This leader will possess an innate ability to build trust and buy-in internally and externally, nurture and further develop the Institute’s reputation as a best-in-class comprehensive policy and advocacy organization, and thoughtfully navigate the dynamic interplay between community engagement, policy research, and legal and legislative advocacy to sustain and grow the organization’s impact.

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm, as indicated at the end of this document.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is $300,000 – $325,000.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For more information, visit here.

We are seeking a Director of Finance & Operations to serve as a senior leader who will ensure that our internal systems, financial stewardship, and operational discipline are as strong as our advocacy.

Reporting to the President & CEO, this person serves as the Institute’s senior operational and financial leader. This role is responsible for translating strategy into execution and ensuring the long-term sustainability of an institution built to endure.

Key Responsibilities

Finance

• Lead annual and multi-year budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Oversee cash flow management, reserves strategy, and long-term financial sustainability planning.
• Ensure accurate grant accounting, revenue tracking, and expense allocation across all funding streams.
• Develop financial models and scenario analyses to guide strategic decision-making in a volatile funding environment.
• Present clear, accessible financial reports and strategic insights to the President & CEO, Board Treasurer, and Board Committees.
• Oversee annual audit preparation, tax filings, and regulatory compliance in partnership with external auditors and accounting partners.
• Establish and strengthen internal controls, financial policies, and risk management systems to safeguard organizational assets.

Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee the Institute’s operational systems, aligning staffing, structure, and administrative capacity with strategic priorities.
• Supervise core administrative functions including finance, IT, facilities, procurement, and vendor management.
• Ensure payroll, benefits, and reimbursement systems operate with accuracy and accountability.
• Build operational systems capable of scaling with continued growth in staff, programs, and geographic reach.
• Support senior management coordination and disciplined execution of key initiatives.
• Ensure the Institute maintains a culture of accountability, equity, and collaboration by strengthening operational systems, clarifying processes, and supporting cross-department coordination fostering a high-performing work environment.

Organizational Planning & Execution

• Partner with the CEO and Senior Management Team to translate strategic priorities into operational plans, budgets, and measurable benchmarks.
• Oversee tracking and reporting on implementation of the Strategic Plan, identifying risks or capacity gaps and recommending adjustments.
• Lead operational planning processes that align, staffing, budget, and programmatic growth.
• Oversee RFP processes and consultant engagements, ensuring clear scopes, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure Institute compliance with all financial, legal, and regulatory requirements, including nonprofit tax filings and lobbying reporting.
• Partner with the CEO and Governance Committee to maintain strong governance practices and risk oversight.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on matters related to contracts, compliance, and risk management.

Board & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the CEO and the Board, including attending Board and Board Committee meetings, ensuring appropriate coordination, gathering data, preparation of materials, and timely follow-up on action items.
• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board’s Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees.
• Maintain Board records, including attendance, engagement, and giving, in coordination with the administrative director.
• Support CEO and the Chair of the Governance Committee in developing and maintaining a pipeline of Prospective Trustees to ensure that the Institute has a list of potential new Board members with the skills and experience to benefit the Institute.
• Coordinate Board self-assessments and governance processes, working with the Governance Committee and external consultants.

Development

• Partner with the Development Team to align financial planning with fundraising strategy.
• Develop grant budgets and ensure timely, compliant financial reporting to funders.
• Provide revenue forecasting and scenario planning to support diversification of funding streams.
• Monitor progress toward annual and multi-year revenue targets in partnership with the CEO and Development leadership.

Attributes

• Deep commitment to the Institute’s mission and vision, with a demonstrated dedication to advancing racial justice and aligning decisions with organizational values.
• Strategic and systems thinker who can translate big-picture goals into clear, actionable plans, balancing long-term vision with day-to-day execution.
• Bias toward action and accountability, with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift, conditions change, and adaptability is essential to delivering results.

Qualifications & Experience

• The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred but not required.
• A CPA or similar financial certification is preferred; however, candidates with equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• 8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit operations and financial management.
• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing budgets of $5M or more.
• Deep expertise in nonprofit financial planning, grant accounting, compliance, and audit management.
• Experience scaling systems and infrastructure in a growing organization.
• Experience working closely with an engaged Board of Trustees, particularly Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and advancing mission-driven impact.
• Sound judgment, steady leadership, and the ability to build systems without building bureaucracy.

Compensation:
This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $150,000–$175,000, commensurate with experience.

To apply for this position or to learn more, click here.

The Deputy Law & Policy Director will serve as a senior leader responsible for overseeing the coordination, execution, and day-to-day management of the Institute’s legal and policy agenda. Reporting to the Law & Policy Director, this role provides operational and strategic leadership across the Institute’s programmatic pillars, advancing advocacy campaigns, supervising staff, and strengthening cross-functional collaboration. The Deputy Law & Policy Director provides direct supervision to team members, which may include Program Directors, Community Organizing staff, Litigation staff, or others as assigned.

The Deputy Law & Policy Director will lead internal program operations, support strategic advocacy initiatives, and help align legal, policy, communications, and development efforts to maximize organizational impact. This role requires a proactive and solutions-oriented leader who can manage complex projects, mentor staff, and drive initiatives forward in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Execution

• Help lead the implementation of the Institute’s strategic vision for legal and policy programs, including legislative advocacy, public education initiatives, strategic campaigns, and litigation support as needed.
• Drive day-to-day execution and coordination across pillars to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and goals.
• Lead internal Programs Team meetings, planning discussions, cross-functional initiatives, and regular programmatic check-ins.
• Identify ownership and accountability for shared responsibilities and cross-departmental initiatives.
• Monitor progress on strategic priorities and proactively address operational or programmatic challenges.
• Support the development and execution of advocacy campaigns and grassroots engagement strategies.
• Ensure strong coordination and communication across legal, policy, communications, development, and operations teams.

Staff Management & Team Leadership

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and support policy and legal staff, including attorneys, policy analysts, fellows, interns, and other junior team members.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins and provide clear, timely, and constructive feedback.
• Lead Programs Team evaluation processes and support staff growth through coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and high-performing workplace culture rooted in teamwork, accountability, and shared purpose.
• Identify and coordinate training and leadership development opportunities for staff.
• Support the professional development and advancement of junior staff members.

Advocacy, Communications & External Engagement

• In partnership with the Communications Team, help lead the development, review, and dissemination of advocacy and public education materials, including reports, talking points, op-eds, press materials, public education resources, campaign messaging and communications strategies.
• Review and edit research reports, policy briefs, flyers, presentations, and public-facing materials to ensure consistency, quality and strategic alignment.
• Coordinate closely with the Development Team on grant proposals, reports, funder communications and program updates.
• Represent the Institute in coalition meetings, advocacy spaces, public forums, and strategic partnerships as appropriate.

Operations & Internal Coordination

• Strengthen internal communication systems and improve coordination across teams and initiatives.
• Ensure smooth execution of programmatic operations, timelines, and deliverables.
• Help establish systems and processes that improve collaboration, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support internal planning, priority-setting, and organizational alignment efforts.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in legal advocacy, public policy, civil rights, nonprofit leadership or related fields.
• Member of the New Jersey bar or eligible to waive into, or able to obtain New Jersey Bar admission within one year of hire.
• Demonstrated experience leading advocacy campaigns, grassroots organizing efforts or movement-building initiatives.
• Significant experience supervising, mentoring and developing staff and teams.
• Strong understanding of legislative advocacy, policy development, coalition building and strategic communications.
• Exceptional writing, editing and drafting with the ability to produce and refine high-quality, empirically-grounded advocacy materials.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build strong relationships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to operate strategically while also managing day-to-day execution and operational details.
• Commitment to the Institute’s mission and demonstrated passion for racial, social, and economic justice.

Compensation:
This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary range of $160,000–$180,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance – Eligible from day one with 85% employer contribution.

Employer-Paid Life Insurance.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Includes medical, commuter, and dependent care plans.

Medical Reimbursement Plan.

401(k) Plan – Eligible after 90 days of employment with a 3% safe harbor contribution.

Generous Paid Time Off – Vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave.

Application Process:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To be considered, attach all required documents to this job posting. To apply, click here.

For inquiries, please contact our recruitment team at recruitment@njisj.org, ensuring that you reference the specific position in your email.

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice seeks dedicated, highly qualified law and/or graduate students for summer and term internships. Term internships are part-time. Please submit inquiries or applications (comprised of a cover letter, resume, transcript (official or unofficial), three references, and a writing sample) to recruitment@njisj.org. Please indicate if you want to intern for course credit. Learn more.