ABOUT AARC:

For nearly a decade, the Animal Agriculture Reform Collaborative (AARC) has created a vital, behind-the-scenes space where organizations and leaders from the independent farmer, sustainable food, environmental justice, labor, civil rights, public health, and animal welfare movements come together to build a broad powerful base, win structural reform, and advance a powerful narrative about an animal agriculture system that is just, sustainable, and accountable to people.

AARC connects current and emerging leaders from around the country and across issue-focus and sector for long-view strategy development, campaign alignment, shared resources, and relationship and network building. Each year, we host an annual retreat and smaller in-person meetings and trainings. We convene several working groups virtually to strategize, learn, innovate, and amplify each other’s work. AARC currently is composed of 42 members ranging from national NGOs and coalitions to state-based, grassroots, and frontline community organizations.

AARC is an independent operating project of the nonprofit umbrella organization Multiplier, a nationally recognized nonprofit with a growing portfolio of innovative initiatives that conserve and protect a sustainable and resilient world. (aarcinfo.com).

POSITION SUMMARY:

AARC is at a pivotal point in the collaborative’s evolution as it moves through its first staff leadership transition. The new Managing Director will have the opportunity to lead the collaborative through its continued recentering and growth, and will work in close partnership with AARC’s member-led governance bodies to establish the future vision and strategy needed to carry the collaborative forward into its next chapter. The Managing Director will play a leadership role to ensure the overall health of the collaborative, secure funds to drive long term sustainability, and foster a culture of trust, collaboration, transparency, and equity amongst a broad network of diverse stakeholders.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee a process to update and implement a strategic vision for AARC’s current work and future direction in collaboration with AARC’s member-led governance bodies.
• Uphold AARC’s core tenets of narrative change, base building, and structural reform in setting the collaborative’s strategic direction, work plans, and goals.
• Alongside AARC’s member-leaders, co-create the conditions for a thriving culture of participation, belonging, and transformative power, grounded in place-based knowledge and collective wisdom. Ensure that racial justice and equity strategies, practices, and values are at the core.
• Steward and deepen the engagement of AARC’s Steering Committee, facilitating the continued evolution and codification of a sound governance framework that centers members in decision making.
• Oversee the operations and financial management of the collaborative, including creating and managing an annual budget, managing an additional full-time staff position (to be hired upon the Managing Director’s start), and liaising with the fiscal sponsor (Multiplier) on HR, contracts, and other administrative needs.
• Serve as primary fundraiser, cultivating relationships with new and existing foundation funders, crafting proposals, producing reports, and managing renewals (with the budgeted support of a fundraising consultant), in order to maintain and grow an $850K annual budget.
• In close partnership with AARC staff, member leaders, and support consultants, oversee the planning and delivery of platforms and opportunities for member outreach and collaboration. These include email listservs, a digital newsletter, the annual member retreat, special events, and communities of practice.
• Above all, operate with an authentic commitment to relationships, transparency, equity, and the power of a collective to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

Strong candidates will embody the following skills, experience, competencies, and qualities:

• A dedication to AARC’s relational, multi-sectoral, and movement-based approach to change. You are energized to join an organization that is building power and balance, upending inequitable systems, and advancing a just, sustainable animal agriculture system that is accountable to people. You thrive in a deeply collaborative environment that values transparency, shared leadership, and collective action.
• A well-rounded leader with a track record of growing and sustaining healthy organization(s). You bring experience with oversight and/or exposure to strategic planning and managing finances, programs, operations, and people, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• An effective relationship builder who inspires trust and collaboration across diverse stakeholders. You are a natural networker and facilitator skilled in tapping into the collective strength and wisdom of a group, creating connections and opportunities for building purpose and power together, and lifting up the work of others. You have experience in building and nurturing networks, coalitions, or communities of practice that encompass a range of perspectives and backgrounds.
• A willing fundraiser with a relational approach to donor engagement. You are energized to play a lead role in fundraising, inclusive of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding funders. You bring experience and/or an understanding of foundation funders and expanding an organization’s network of supporters.
• A versatile communicator and spokesperson. You convey information in ways that inspire others to take action. You are tech-savvy and adept at leveraging numerous platforms to amplify messages on behalf of a group of stakeholders, as well as facilitating broad and effective virtual communications between collaborators.
• A resourceful and agile team player. You possess a “get it done” attitude, with the ability to stay focused and nimble in a dynamic environment. You are comfortable with ambiguity and moving multiple tasks forward simultaneously. You create or adapt systems and processes to improve day-to-day operations. You work in purposeful partnership with others to translate goals into tangible strategies and actions.
• A catalyst for racial, social, and economic equity and justice. You are grounded in environmental and social justice issues, including the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, ability, economic, and ecological justice, and are self-reflective about your own growth and learning, relative privilege, and positional power.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:

We recognize that each applicant for this role will bring unique knowledge, experiences, and background, lending his/her/their flair to the trajectory of the position and AARC. We will be looking for candidates who possess some, but not necessarily all, of the following:

• Knowledge and/or experience in designing, leading, and/or supporting successful advocacy campaigns and mobilization initiatives.
• Experience as an organizer and/or an understanding of grassroots organizing or in facilitating the work of grassroots community organizations.
• Knowledge and/or experience related to food systems advocacy and the harmful impacts of factory farming/corporate agribusiness control.
• Experience working in or with rural communities.
• Personal connection to the organizations, networks, and communities served by AARC.

COMPENSATION:

The full-time, fully remote position offers a competitive salary range of $125,000-150,000, based on location and relevant experience. Multiplier provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes: 15 days of annual vacation leave; an additional 12 days of paid holiday; 10 days of sick leave; excellent medical, dental and vision insurance with Multiplier paying 100% of employee and 30% of dependent premiums; and up to a 3.5% employer match contribution to the retirement plan. Additionally, AARC provides a semi-monthly remote work allowance and a $2,500 annual professional development fund.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please visit our Applicant Portal and attach your resume and a 1 page cover letter that answers the following questions:

• What excites you about the Managing Director position and the work of AARC?
• What passions, skills, and experience would you bring to the role?
• How is this position a good fit for you, based on your understanding of the role and the culture of AARC?

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 24th, with a first review beginning on May 8th. The full hiring process is inclusive of a preliminary phone call, a panel interview with the Hiring Committe, a short project assignment for top candidates, and a final interview. Our hope is to make a hiring decision by mid-June and have the Managing Director start in July, All candidates will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

Multiplier and AARC celebrate diversity and are committed to building teams and partnerships that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Multiplier and AARC are also committed to providing an environment of mutual respect that is free from discrimination and harassment. Multiplier and AARC prohibit discrimination in its governance, programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, marital status, amnesty, status as a covered veteran, because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from public assistance, or for any other non-merit based factor.

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