Rainbow Center
2215 Pacific Ave
Tacoma WA 98402

Join a team of talented professionals who are passionate about their work!

About Rainbow Center

Mission

Through education, advocacy, and celebration, Rainbow Center expands resources and safe space for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied (LGBTQ2S+) community.

About Us

For more than 25 years, Rainbow Center has served as a resource hub for the LGBTQ2S+ community in South Puget Sound. Rainbow Center has daily open hours, where resources—including a lending library, computer and Wi-Fi access, advocacy services, and educational materials—are available to community members. Each year we provide direct services to 1,000 individuals, greet almost 4,000 visits at Rainbow Center, and touch the lives of thousands more through events and partnerships. 

Our Education Program offers high-quality workshops and training opportunities for individuals, businesses or groups that want to know more about how to engage, support, serve and increase their awareness/understanding of the LGBTQ2S+ community. 

Finally, celebrating the LGBTQ2S+ community is a huge part of our mission. We host social programs and events for the LGBTQ2S+ community all year. We are also proud to host the two most amazing celebrations in Tacoma/Pierce County — Tacoma Pride and our annual Black & White Gayla. 

Equity Values

Rainbow Center is committed to a practice of anti-racism, social justice, and racial equity.

We understand that a commitment to this practice involves addressing the inequities that exist within RC, our programs, and our wider communities, while creating opportunities for new inclusive practices. We understand that this practice involves making mistakes, taking accountability for them, and learning from them. 

Data shows that women and BIPOC candidates more frequently do not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed. Our job descriptions' desired skills are general overviews, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you share Rainbow Center’s values and believe you have the expertise to contribute to the mission and growth of our organization, we encourage you to apply. As part of our ongoing commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, we’re invested in building teams with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

See the full Job Description below. This position will remain open until filled. Applicants who submit their cover letter and resume by November 15th will be given first priority.

Interested applicants should send their cover letter and resume to jobs@rainbowcntr.org

Applicants who do not provide a cover letter and resume will not be considered.

Executive Director

Rainbow Center is seeking a transformational Executive Director to lead our organization at a time of restart and revitalization as we gather again as a community and look to new possibilities. A successful candidate will lead the organization in our mission of anti-racism and social justice, serve as the organization's public face, grow our community relationships, and expand involvement in and service to our community of Tacoma and greater Pierce County.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to a board of directors, Rainbow Center’s Executive Director will be responsible for working with the Board to meet the organization’s strategic goals and build on its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community, while managing the center’s continued evolution of complex opportunities and complex challenges. An ideal leader will be charismatic, experienced in program and evaluation, excited to share the center’s vision, have keen financial oversight experience, and the ability to raise money. A candidate must be committed to the full complement of Rainbow Center’s programs. The Executive Director will provide direction and leadership to the organization’s staff and consultants, identify funding opportunities, and serve as the organization’s spokesperson. 

Key responsibilities include:

Program Oversight, Development and Execution 

• Co-create, oversee and implement the strategic plan and guide the process towards achievement;
• Ensure that day to day operations are smoothly and effectively administered; maintain strong internal communication and coordination between programmatic and administrative areas;
• In partnership with other staff, evaluate and recommend strategies to expand the base of Rainbow Center users;
• Set priorities for program spending based on strategic plans focused on underserved communities, health and wellness, and celebration;
• Rainbow Center is in a collaborative space and shares rent and core, common facilities with another agency; stewarding and growing that relationship is a crucial role.

Fundraising 

• In partnership with the Celebration Manager, develop and lead the overall fundraising strategy including writing grant proposals, special events, and managing funder and individual donor relationships;
• In support of the Celebration Manager, oversee Tacoma Pride Festival (15,000+ attendees) and the annual fundraising Gayla (500+ attendees) along with other events;
• Work closely with the Celebration Manager and Board of Directors to identify, solicit and acquire new sources of funding, to encourage board giving and to build long-term, sustainable, diversified sources of income for the organization;

Finance/Administration 

• Ensure proper fiscal accounting and controls, as well as legal and fiduciary compliance;
• In partnership with the Finance Coordinator and other key staff, develop the annual budget, ensure the accuracy of records, create monthly finance reports, oversee annual audits;
• Ensure that the Center has the financial and human resources necessary to implement its strategic plan and operational goals;
• Work with the Board and staff to develop and implement Rainbow Center policies, goals, objectives, and strategic plans;
• Engage and coordinate efforts of various Board committees and task forces;
• Help to maintain, steward, and recruit board members;
• Keep Rainbow Center’s Board abreast of issues and challenges impacting the organization;
• Oversee and strengthen the organizational infrastructure necessary to support and sustain growth;
• Responsible for negotiating federal, state, and city contracts; guaranteeing compliance; and overseeing reporting as well as providing supervision to advocates and overall support.

Communications/Community Relations 

• Serve as an articulate and enthusiastic spokesperson and marketer for Rainbow Center’s mission and programs, both internally and externally, to a variety of audiences;
• Tell Rainbow Center story, in an effective, clear and engaging manner;
• Mobilize the local community across all sectors and spearhead efforts to protect, increase access for, and raise awareness of the LGBTQ2S+ community;
• Understand the intersectionality of different identities – particularly the impact of race upon members of our community – as well as the variety of barriers and disparities that the LGBTQ2S+ community faces, especially in the context of Tacoma/Pierce County.

Staff

• Manage all human resources functions, including the hiring, development, motivation, evaluation and retention of staff, in partnership with the Deputy Director and an HR consulting firm;
• Supervise and motivate staff while delegating to and sharing responsibilities with the senior staff; ensure that there are well defined goals and benchmarks of success;
• Directly oversee the Deputy Director and Finance Coordinator, and other managers when the Deputy is not available;
• Support the Celebration Manager with grant writing and other development initiatives;
• Practice and encourage transparency and open communication between staff and Board in an effort to dismantle societal systems of white supremacy;
• Participate in collaborative decision-making as a staff;

Key Priorities

• Thoroughly understand Rainbow Center, its history and culture, purpose and programs, staff and board structure, stakeholders, funders, finances, and other sources of support;
• Establish a solid working relationship with the Board of Directors and provide the Board with the tools to encourage and direct their best ideas for strategic planning, fundraising, and advocacy;
• Understand the landscape of existing organizations in the community to ensure that Rainbow Center programing is unique, necessary, and builds on its strengths and mission;
• Fundraising is an essential part of the position, in partnership with the Board and Celebration Manager. Ensure the building, maintenance and expansion of development activities that identify, educate, recruit, sustain, and recognize donors;
• Serve as representative in all matters pertaining to the agency. Sit on boards and panels, represent the LGBTQ2S+ voice for current and emerging issues, and ensure that Rainbow Center remains a proactive leader and catalyst in the community. Rainbow Center is reliant on the continuing recruitment of new partnerships and the stewardship of already existing relationships;
• Serve as the spokesperson and representative for the RC, which is the nexus of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Pierce County, in times of joy and crisis;
• Be a key social justice advocate for LGBTQ2S+ issues on a local, state, and legislative level.

Professional Requirements 

• An approachable, collaborative and transparent leadership style;
• Knowledge of the history of and public policy issues facing LGBTQ2S+ communities;
• Proven understanding of our society’s systems of oppression, power, and privilege on an interpersonal and institutional level and the impacts of intersecting identities;
• Posses a deep understanding of the differences between white-dominant and anti-racist work culture;
• Demonstrated practice of interrupting and challenging white-dominant culture and encouraging inclusive and culturally-aware alternative practices;
• Ability to lead all staff and board into an increasingly anti-racist framework;
• A record of success of leading and shaping complex non-profit organizations, combined with a demonstrated commitment to the enhancement of a vital, inclusive LGBTQ2S+ community as defined in the broadest terms;
• The ability to interact professionally with dedicated Rainbow Center Board and staff members of varied professions, backgrounds and perspectives;
• An understanding of setting and implementing organizational strategy, and managing through growth and change;
• Five years or more of experience in leadership, preferably in non-profit organizations;
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience desired. Degrees in relevant fields preferred, or relevant previous work experience;
• Successful experience developing and working with a board of directors, preferably for a non-profit organization;
• Proven strong public speaking, writing, and communications skills;
• Experience leading and participating in legislative initiatives to protect or uphold members of marginalized communities;
• Relevant advocacy experience with clients, communities, educators, and service providers (3 years minimum);
• Demonstrated history of effective collaboration and broad community involvement;
• Experience with financial management and QuickBooks;
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and maintain successful non-profit funding models including soliciting donations and applying for grants with tangible evidence of results;
• Self-directed individual, who can manage many competing priorities while holding the vision for the organization, managing staff, and holding the space for the community;
• Flexible problem solver, good at striking the balance between innovation and continuity;
• Collaborative spirit with a desire to engage with staff members’ ideas and experience and foster a culture of open dialogue and transparency.

Personal Requirements 

• Must have reliable transportation
• Must be willing to reside in Pierce County, WA
• Comply with all standard state and federal background checks

Compensation and Benefits 

• Comprehensive Medical/ Dental and Vision care insurance
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Executive Director position range $80K-$100K commensurate with experience
• 401k Retirement after one year of employment

Position Reports to: Rainbow Center Board of Directors 

OPPORTUNITY 

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced executive to be an integral part of serving and strengthening the LGBTQ2S+ community in Washington state. Celebrating its 25-year anniversary in 2022, Rainbow Center is a leader in the struggle to expand and retain civil rights protections to all LGBTQ2S+ citizens, with a current emphasis on transgender community members. The successful candidate will continue the organization’s tradition of providing vital opportunities for education, advocacy, and celebration.

Rainbow Center welcomes candidates from all walks of life and values diverse perspectives. We believe diversity makes us better as an organization and enables us to serve our community better. We encourage qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, ethnic origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or the presence of any sensory or physical disability, including HIV status. 

APPLY/CONTACT

To apply, please send a résumé and cover letter via email to: president@rainbowcntr.org.

Applicants without a cover letter and résumé will not be considered for the position.

Please note that your education, dates of employment, compensation and other information provided will be verified prior to employment. 

All inquiries or referrals will be held in strict confidence.