Executive Director

Executive Director

• Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN)
• January 03, 2024
• San Jose, CA

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About Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN)

In 1998, SIREN was founded and now is unique in the field of immigrant rights organizations due to its commitment in three critical areas that further the immigrant rights agenda:

• Community Organizing – Empowering immigrant communities through leadership development, mobilization, and civic engagement, to improve education and communication among all communities.
• Immigration Legal Services – Providing free or low-cost legal consultations, application assistance, information, and education to immigrant and refugee communities so that they may become full participants in society and avoid becoming victims of fraud.
• Policy Advocacy – Analyzing and promoting federal, state, and local policies that protect immigrant rights and empower immigrants to make an impact on the political decisions that affect their lives. We address barriers that prevent immigrants from being fully integrated into their communities.

SIREN’s integration of the three programmatic strategies guides staff and Board as they seek to fulfill its mission:

To empower low-income immigrants and refugees in Santa Clara County through community education and organizing, leadership development, policy advocacy, and naturalization services. We believe that all people regardless of legal status or nationality are entitled to essential services, human dignity, basic rights and protections, and access to full participation in society.

SIREN provides these important services to our community through the tireless work of its proactive and committed staff and Board. To a person, SIREN personnel are compassionate experts in the field of immigrant advocacy and services. Though small in number, SIREN staff members pride themselves on being well-informed and believe in information-sharing about the depth and breadth of the issues facing immigrants and their families. Thoughtful team support is key to this band of colleagues’ ability to have such a significant impact in our community.

For more information on Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network, please visit .

Strategic Direction and Priorities

Fund Development

In the midst of a historic emphasis on immigration rights through the Administrative Relief by President Obama, SIREN’s ability to stay sustainable is a renewed commitment to fundraising made by the Board and staff. Key among the work is diversifying funding streams by raising unrestricted funds from individual donors.

Collaboration

At the heart of SIREN’s work is building, participating, and leading collaborations and coalitions that advance its mission and the collaborative vision of the community. Enhancing and formalizing SIREN’s collaborative model is critical in a time where so much needs to be done and our work will be successful through effective alliances with existing and new partners.

Strategic Vision, Planning, and Execution

SIREN envisions a United States where immigrants are valued, integrated, and seen as essential to our society, where the human rights of all persons are protected and honored. Within our ever changing political and economic environment, SIREN needs to affirm its values, priorities, goals, and strategies through a planning process aimed at defining our uniqueness and creating a living road map for our work ahead.

Delivering On Our Commitments

The aforementioned priorities help focus our efforts while SIREN’s staff and Board continue to deliver on our work in the Administrative Relief arena with DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) and DACA/Dreamers (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and other critical organizing, outreach, education, policy, and legal programs.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Fund Development and Communications

• Develop and implement a fund development plan that outlines key fundraising and communications strategies to sustain the organization’s operational budget.
• Work in partnership with the Board and bring the energy, skills, and experience needed to diversify funding streams and create sustainability.
• Be SIREN’s public spokesperson at key community events, within political and government settings, and with the media.

Organizational Management

• Lead organization through strategic planning process and manage goals and objectives established in the plan.
• Work with staff leaders to oversee programs and establish program evaluation and human resources management systems.
• Work with the Board Chair and all its members to establish and maintain a top-notch governance Board of Directors.

Finance and Administration

• Develop annual budget based both on program needs and funding outlook for Board approval.
• Supervise the maintenance of financial records and statements. Provide necessary information for the annual independent audit.
• Monitor financial information, including income statements and cash flow, for accuracy and growth.

Collaborations

• Define and communicate SIREN’s collaborative style and values.
• Maintain ever increasing leadership roles in immigrant and other collaborations.
• Value internal and external collaborations.

The Opportunity

SIREN seeks a visionary, transparent, and collaborative Executive Director who is committed and passionate about advancing immigrant rights and social justice. Confident yet humble, this leader will know when to lead and when to follow. The Executive Director will bring strong organizational-building skills, demonstrated nonprofit management experience, and a deep understanding of policy issues impacting immigrant communities.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will have oversight of a $1.7M budget and 15 staff. The Executive Director will provide leadership in the implementation of SIREN’s long-term strategic plan, policy agenda, and financial objectives and will convey the organizational direction to staff, the Board of Directors, community members, and organizational supporters.

The Executive Director will lead SIREN’s core areas of focus in community organizing, immigration legal services, and policy advocacy. This executive will be visible and accessible internally and externally, working in partnership with a broad group of collaborators and coalitions to ensure that SIREN has a seat at the table as a thought leader on key policy issues affecting immigrants in the Bay Area and Central Valley. The Executive Director will ensure that core services and programs are communicated broadly and widely to the community.This leader will work in collaboration with a passionate and committed staff, Board members, and community partners and supporters while building upon SIREN’s 25 years of impact.

Candidate Profile

The Executive Director will bring a track record of success as a nonprofit leader, coalition builder, and people manager with 5+ years of nonprofit management experience, as the Executive Director or equivalent, including partnering with a Board of Directors. In addition, they will have 4+ years leading the strategy and execution of fund development. The Executive Director will have a proven background in one of SIREN's key program areas (organizing, policy, and legal services) and will exhibit a good working knowledge of SIREN’s local funding, political, and immigrant landscape or similar experience in a comparable community.

This executive will demonstrate the ability to set strategic priorities, manage a team, and build regional and statewide relationships that advance SIREN’s mission. An excellent communicator, the Executive Director will be bilingual in English and Spanish or Vietnamese. Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) required; Master’s degree highly desirable.

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, a successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

Passion for Mission

The Executive Director will be established and well respected by immigrant communities and those working to further the rights of immigrants. They will have the knowledge and experience working with the immigrant community in the Bay Area and Central Valley and an awareness of issues and trends impacting these groups. This leader will have a passion for SIREN’s mission and a deep commitment to SIREN’s Core Values: Self-Determination, Racial and Social Justice, Freedom, Compassion, and Unity. The Executive Director will be passionate about creating opportunities for the immigrant community to have a voice and be seen. This equity minded and empathetic leader will have experience building and sustaining inclusive work environments that prioritize employee wellness and embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, valuing the wisdom of lived experience and reflecting the communities served. The Executive Director will be a trustworthy leader of unquestionable integrity.

Progressive and Visionary Leadership

The Executive Director will be a progressive and visionary leader who will lead SIREN forward to its next chapter, articulating a clear and achievable vision to enable SIREN to deepen its impact on the communities it serves. The Executive Director will develop and implement strategies and plans that strengthen the organization’s infrastructure, systems, programs, and processes. Open-minded and accessible, the Executive Director will model collaborative and transparent leadership by involving the Board and staff in critical conversations regarding the organization’s direction.

The Executive Director will have excellent leadership and management skills and will be an individual who believes in succeeding by promoting and supporting others to innovate, create, and thrive. Self-aware and respectful in their leadership style, this leader will have a proven ability to work well within a small and multi-generational team with a focus on empowering and supporting staff and providing opportunities for professional development. As a small organization, the Executive Director will need to be able to balance between strategic and hands-on, willing to roll up their sleeves as needed to problem solve with the team. Lastly, this individual will bring a fresh perspective and creative energy, identifying and implementing clear, action-oriented strategies that anticipate SIREN’s future challenges while responding to current needs and opportunities.

Excellent Relationship and Coalition Building Skills

The Executive Director will be a natural relationship and coalition-builder, comfortable talking with an individual immigrant family as well as testifying in Sacramento and meeting with regional leaders. This leader will bring the skills to navigate complex waters with ease, confidence, humility, and action. The Executive Director will be skilled in providing guidance and a framework to move through conflict as well as to identify a clear theory of change for organizing. This movement builder will connect, build bridges, and sustain excellent relationships with existing and potential coalition partners, grassroots organizers, legislators, government officials, community members, volunteers, and other key constituents to help further SIREN’s mission. Internally, this approachable leader will promote open dialogue with the staff and Board and will build authentic relationships with all key constituents.

Fundraising Expertise

The Executive Director will bring to the role a strong capacity and track record in fundraising, including solicitation, stewardship, and cultivation of individual donor and foundation support. This inspiring leader will have the ability to diversify and grow SIREN’s revenue stream for future growth and sustainability. The Executive Director will have a long-term vision for revenue generation and will identify innovative ways to increase funding to maximize SIREN’s positive impact in the community.

Excellent Communication, Policy, and Advocacy Skills

The Executive Director will be a highly effective spokesperson for SIREN, with excellent bilingual (English and Spanish or Vietnamese) public speaking skills and a strong presence as the public face of SIREN. A passionate ambassador for SIREN, the Executive Director will be able to thoughtfully and strategically articulate and motivate a diverse range of constituents around the organization’s mission, vision, and values. This leader will be comfortable working with legislators, elected officials, coalition partners, grassroots organizations, community members, and the media, and will possess the ability to move seamlessly between differing spaces and audiences. The Executive Director will value and establish clear, consistent, and transparent communication and will ensure that SIREN remains a highly credible, visible, and relevant organization in the community. Ideally, this individual will bring experience in organizing, policy/advocacy, and/or legal services with an understanding of the needs and specific challenges of immigrants in the Bay Area and Central Valley and a general understanding of the immigration landscape in California.

Business Acumen and Organizational Development Skills

The Executive Director will bring strong business acumen skills with the ability to ensure fiscal responsibility and a strong internal infrastructure with clear systems, policies, and processes. This leader will model and implement best practices in nonprofit management and will ensure that the day-to-day operations are streamlined and in alignment with SIREN’s mission and strategic goals.

This leader will bring organizational development skills to create a strategy and plan for providing the resources and tools to support the needs of staff. They will effectively direct change management initiatives, leveraging a collaborative and deep listening approach. The Executive Director will set clear expectations, delegate effectively, listen actively, seek input, and empower staff to realize their full potential. Additionally, this leader will ensure that strategies are in place to promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse staff, professional development opportunities, and employee wellness.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $120,000 – 150,000 with a generous benefits package.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by or email . All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners 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 . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

SIREN is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, immigrants, women, gay men, lesbians, transgendered persons, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to seek employment at SIREN.

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 .