Job Opportunities
Executive Director
The AHA is seeking a visionary Executive Director with a track record of non-profit leadership, and a demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice community building. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for overall strategic and operational leadership of a national non-profit including building awareness of humanism, defining the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring adequate resources are in place to support the mission, and leading the staff.
Responsibilities:
- Drive AHA’s mission, vision, and strategy: Work with the board to provide strategic direction, guide the staff in linking strategy to specific programs and projects, with big picture, bold, strategic thinking
- Lead and supervise in a collaborative fashion, with a focus on transparency and accountability in decisionmaking
- Oversee recruitment of a diverse and inclusive staff, work with directors to develop department work plans, evaluate performance of direct-report staff members
- Lead the AHA’s transition to a truly equitable and just workplace, ensuring fair hiring, promotion, salary and workload policies and a culturally responsive climate
- Act as primary spokesperson and the “face of the AHA”
- Develop a comprehensive communications plan: Work with the staff to formulate messaging and deliver captivating content through social and earned media
- Lead and coordinate fundraising efforts to ensure adequate resources to implement mission: Work with development staff and board on overall funding strategies; create relationships with and communicate with current funders, especially cultivation of major donors; help identify new prospects for funding
- Broaden membership and supporter base, reaching out to underrepresented communities within our movement to develop innovative, culturally responsive programming, initiatives, and policies utilizing the input of historically underrepresented communities
- Cultivate relationships and deepen the AHA’s network: Engage in meaningful and regular communications with current members; identify needs and opportunities to support programs of chapters, alliances and affiliate organizations; collaborate on mobilization tactics; recruit new organizational members
- Engage with the board, regularly update board members on AHA activities, challenges, and opportunities
- Oversee affiliate organizations, especially the Center for Freethought Equality, the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, and the Humanist Society
Requirements:
- Passionate commitment to the humanist life stance; to supporting the flourishing of local humanist groups; and to formulating rational, compassionate responses to theistic and/or unsubstantiated claims of public officials and thought leaders
- Strong team leadership style and proven ability to effectively manage supervisory, mentoring, partnering and collaborative relationships with staff, volunteers, board members, donors and supporters, government and elected officials, and leaders of peer organizations
- Sense of humor, creativity, patience, and entrepreneurial drive
- Compelling writing and inspirational speaking skills
- Proven experience in social justice community building and outreach, including racial equity, LGBTQ rights, anti-racist/intersectional feminism, and youth leadership development
- Lived experience and proven skills centering communities of color traditionally at the margins of secular organizations and society
- Strong philosophy of stewardship with a clear vision and plan for AHA’s financial sustainability and growth
- Commitment to the AHA Strategic Priorities and the ability to accomplish the AHA Strategic Implementation Goals
- Proven ability to broaden the base of support of the AHA through equity, diversity and inclusion with regard to both staff and membership
- Proven fundraising ability, especially the cultivation of major donors
- Willingness to acquire and maintain up-to-date technical skills and the ability to effectively utilize them across a broad scope of electronic media
Education and Experience Required:
- A relevant advanced degree or equivalent professional experience
- At least 10 years of non-profit experience or the equivalent
- Significant staff supervisory experience
ADA/EEO Statement:
Persons with mental and physical disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) are eligible for this position as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodations are made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible for this position.
American Humanist Association provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, genetic information, religion, creed, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age, marital status, citizenship status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $120,000 – $140,000. The AHA offers good benefits, including full health insurance, a generous leave program, and a 403(b) retirement savings plan that includes a partial match.
To Apply:
Review this job listing and apply through PNP Staffing or through LinkedIn here.
We encourage you to explore our website for more information about our work. The American Humanist Association advocates progressive values and equality for humanists. Our motto is: Good Without a God.
Staff Attorney
The Staff Attorney reports to the Legal Director and Senior Counsel to help facilitate all aspects of AHA’s legal activities.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
The following list of duties is not exhaustive. AHA may also outline additional responsibilities that are not included in this job description.
- Screen legal inquiries, investigate reports, draft client correspondences, and work with the Legal Director to determine the best course of action
- Participate in case selection and development, including conducting factual and legal research, evaluating legal theory and strategy, identifying and analyzing potential claims, determining possible plaintiffs and defendants, interviewing clients and potential witnesses, working with experts, preparing internal memoranda, and drafting demand letters and litigation‐related pleadings and briefs
- Assist the Legal Director and Senior Counsel in selected litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, briefs and correspondence; conducting discovery; taking and defending depositions; and pursuing attorney’s fee awards
- Monitor litigation being handled by cooperating attorneys or pro bono counsel and provide supervision and/or assistance as needed
- With the approval of the Legal Director, draft articles for the AHA website and other media regarding legal issues and cases, as requested or as necessary
- Perform certain administrative and tactical functions related to the practice of law
- Assist with amicus brief opportunities
- Assist with the promotion and publicity of AHLC activities
Requirements:
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Membership in good standing with the D.C. Bar or ability to waive into the D.C. Bar within a reasonable time
- Willingness and ability to work beyond the normal workday, on weekends, and/or more than 40 hours a week as necessary
- At least three years of litigation experience, preferably in federal courts
- Meticulous attention to detail while multi-tasking
- Ability to work independently and in a highly collaborative environment
- Ability to prioritize workload and meet tight deadlines
- Strong communication skills as well as exceptional writing ability
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
- Proficient with Lexis Nexis
- Proficient with Google Suite
- Understanding of humanism and willingness to support the mission of the AHA
- Commitment to creating and sustaining a positive, respectful and inclusive work environment
Essential Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to provide clear direction, set priorities, meet deadlines, and hold staff accountable to deadlines
- on concurrent projects
- Ability to provide meaningful and critical feedback on planning and execution of programs
- Strong self‐motivation and capacity to handle numerous deadlines and work in a fast‐paced, stressful environment
- Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work competently and effectively under pressure
- Ability to think critically and solve complex problems
- Ability to work independently and to take initiative
- Ability to work effectively and professionally with clients, other counsel, volunteers, community members, and staff, and a commitment to the highest ethical standards and the values of the AHA
Work Environment:
This position predominantly operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, keyboards, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to safely and successfully perform the essential functions of this job consistent with federal, state, and local standards, including meeting productivity standards.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act are eligible for this position as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodations are made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible for this position.
Salary:
Starting salary will be $60-65K. The AHA offers good benefits, including full health insurance, a generous leave program, and a 403(b) retirement savings plan that includes a partial match.
To Apply:
Send resume and cover letter to: jobs@americanhumanist.org
We encourage you to explore our website for more information about our work. The American Humanist Association advocates progressive values and equality for humanists. Our motto is: Good Without a God.
The American Humanist Association is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, age, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Internship Opportunities
The American Humanist Association has internships available year-round for students, recent grads, and volunteers in Washington, DC. Interns will develop a more comprehensive understanding of how a progressive, national nonprofit organization works, while gaining valuable skills for the future.
An internship at the AHA will provide an opportunity to support the organization’s current work: advancing humanist values and progressive issue advocacy, focusing on church-state separation, civil liberties, reproductive freedom, human rights, and equality.
Internships are currently available in following areas:
Legal Internship
The American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center accepts interns year-round. To be considered for the Summer of 2021, please apply by April 30, 2021. The AHA’s legal arm, the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, handles constitutional litigation and church-state separation cases, with clients ranging from parents and students to federal inmates.
The legal intern is primarily responsible for researching and writing legal memoranda and assisting in litigation under the supervision of the legal center’s attorneys. The intern may also be assigned the task of investigating new complaints, maintaining case files and submitting public records requests. This internship will be a 10-week, full-time position with hourly pay at DC minimum wage. Start and end dates are negotiable, but will begin as early as May 2021 and end as late as September 2021. Learn more here!