Executive Director (Seattle)

Disability Rights Washington (DRW) is a private non-profit organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide. Their mission is to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities. Relying both on lived and learned experience, they work to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights. DRW is the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for Washington state and a member of the National Disability Rights Network. They strive for a society where all people are treated with equality, dignity, and respect for their expressed choices, and who have equal opportunities to participate in society.

Disability Rights Washington is seeking nominations and applications for its next Executive Director.

ABOUT DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON

Since 1972, Disability Rights Washington has worked to advocate for and protect the civil and human rights of people with disabilities across the state. They envision a society where all people are treated with equality, dignity and respect for their expressed choices, and have equal access to participate in society.

In 2021, DRW’s Board of Directors adopted the 10 principles of Disability Justice to guide DRW’s internal and external work. DRW is committed to and has been manifesting those principles in its decisions about strategy, programs, and operations. DRW is at a pivotal inflection point, shaped by several recent transitions in executive leadership which led the organization to a process of reconciliation and recovery. Under the steady guidance of a seasoned Interim Executive Director since April 2024, DRW is now poised to integrate repair, strategy, and transformation.

DRW focuses their advocacy and legal resources on systemic cases and activities that will improve service systems for people with disabilities. They exist because society and service systems are not always fair or responsive to people with disabilities and they work for change in policies, laws, and systems that promote:

• Freedom from abuse and neglect
• Legal rights
• Adequately funded, appropriate support and services
• Communities that involve everyone

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director will be a strategic, visionary leader for DRW. They will be overseeing the organization’s operations, including advocacy, public policy, legal initiatives, strategic partnerships, and financial management.

The next ED will build on a legacy of impactful work across the state that has positioned Disability Rights Washington as one of the premier Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies in the country. Together with the Board and staff, they will have the opportunity to craft a new strategic plan, charting DRW’s future in these uncertain times when the advocacy and support services DRW offers are under threat and needed now more than ever.

With a deep commitment to providing the legal and advocacy services that people with disabilities deserve to have access to, the bedrock principles of disability justice, and an unshakeable commitment to inclusivity, empowerment, and transparency, the next ED will be poised to undertake the crucial task of bolstering the services that DRW provides across the state, including:

• Legal representation through individual and systemic litigation concerning issues that fall within DRW’s program goals and objectives.
• Targeted monitoring and investigations to protect and assist people with disabilities facing abuse, neglect, rights violations, and/or barriers to community-based support and services.
• Public policy advocacy to promote systemic access to services and full inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities.
• Information, advice, referral, and/or direct advocacy support to individuals through their Technical Assistance services.
• Community power sharing and education on disability rights and issues impacting those rights.
• While many P&As across the country are heavily reliant on federal funding, DRW receives nearly half of its revenue from other sources, including state contracts and private funders. The next ED will work to continue diversifying the income streams to keep the agency resilient and ready for the challenging times ahead.

While no one candidate will likely possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will be passionate about Disability Rights Washington’s mission and bring most of the following competencies and experience.

Competencies:

• Disability Justice Alignment: Profound cultural fluency in DJ principles, ideally through a demonstrated commitment to acting on disability justice principles and lived experience.
• Leadership: Able to envision the future by imaging exciting possibilities and enlisting others in a common vision that will lead to shared aspirations. An ability to develop and execute a 3–5-year plan in complex political, funding, and organizational contexts with organizational buy-in and support. Demonstrated alignment of actions with values.
• Transparent Communicator: Clear, direct, inclusive communicator who listens actively, works to reach multiple communities in their own language, while adhering to best practices in accessible communication.
• Experienced People Manager: Demonstrates skill in managing diverse teams through conflict, transition, and change. Has shepherded teams during times of external pressure. Success in fostering collaboration by building trust and creating a sense of community.
• Disability Movement Change Agent: Has a history of effectively deploying human and material resources to accomplish disability justice/advocacy work through a combination of advocacy, activism, communication and coalition building. Values the importance of power-building within the communities most affected and centering them in change efforts.
• Fundraising & Fiscal Literacy: Understands complex nonprofit funding structures; can build and maintain diverse revenue streams and be a bridge between advocacy and finance; is frugal and simultaneously knows when to spend in challenging settings.
• Board-Staff Bridge Builder: Trusted by both governance and operational teams; experienced in strengthening board-staff trust; understands both confidentiality and transparency in this context.
• Collaborative Decision-Maker: Skilled at balancing input with decisiveness; avoids micromanagement; successfully gives people a voice while also being able to guide decision making even when there is no consensus.
• Trauma-Informed and Crisis Leadership: Holds space for repair; responsive to staff burnout and past harm. Grounded under pressure, adept at prioritizing during times of uncertainty.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of nonprofit leadership experience.
• Familiarity in leading federally funded non-profit organizations.
• Experience in advocacy, direct service, or litigation on behalf of people with disabilities or other marginalized groups.
• A demonstrated track record of successful operational management and cultural transformation.
• Understanding of public policy issues and experience partnering with state governments and legislatures.