Executive Director

Executive Director

Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC)

Location: Orlando, FL (must live in or relocate to the greater Orlando area)
Type: Full Time
Salary: [To be confirmed]
Sector: Voting Rights / Criminal Justice Reform
Website: floridarrc.com
Reports To: Board of Directors

 

About the Organization

 

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition is a grassroots membership organization run by returning citizens in partnership with allies. Founded on the principle that people most impacted by the criminal justice system should help lead the solutions, FRRC works to end disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions while advancing opportunity, dignity, and successful reentry.

 

FRRC gained national prominence by leading the passage of Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to more than 1.4 million Floridians in one of the largest expansions of voting rights in modern American history. Today its work spans advocacy, organizing, leadership development, rights restoration, fines and fees relief, voter education and mobilization, and policy advocacy. FRRC has a 2026 operating budget of approximately $3.7 million and nearly 20 staff, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023.

 

Position Summary

 

Following more than a decade of leadership from founder Desmond Meade, FRRC is entering a new chapter. The next Executive Director will lead the organization's evolution from a founder-led movement into an enduring institution, preserving the values, credibility, and community connection that define FRRC while building the systems, leadership capacity, partnerships, and fundraising strength needed to expand its influence.

 

This leader will keep directly impacted leadership central to FRRC's identity, broaden public understanding of its impact beyond rights restoration, and strengthen its capacity to organize, mobilize, and influence policy across Florida. The Executive Director supervises six direct reports: Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, Director of Data Science and Technology, Staff Attorney, Senior Manager of Membership, and Senior Manager of Organizing.

 

Key Responsibilities

 

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Stewardship

 

• Serve as chief executive and steward of FRRC's mission, vision, and long-term sustainability

• Lead strategy, planning, and execution, aligning resources, priorities, and outcomes

• Define and communicate a compelling vision for FRRC's next chapter

• Strengthen organizational infrastructure, systems, and operational effectiveness

• Foster a culture of accountability, learning, innovation, and growth

 

Fundraising and External Relations

 

• Develop and lead a diversified, sustainable fundraising strategy

• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and institutional partners

• Expand the resources and partnerships needed to sustain and grow the work

• Serve as a visible ambassador for FRRC across Florida and nationally

• Elevate FRRC's profile among funders, policymakers, civic leaders, and partners

 

Community Leadership and Coalition Engagement

 

• Strengthen relationships with members, returning citizens, grassroots leaders, and community partners

• Expand leadership development, organizing, and civic engagement across Florida

• Build coalitions that advance opportunity, participation, and systems change

• Support the development of future leaders across the organization and movement

 

Public Policy and Systems Change

 

• Advance advocacy and policy efforts that improve outcomes for returning citizens and their families

• Cultivate bipartisan relationships and coalitions across political, ideological, and sector lines

• Translate community voice and civic participation into meaningful reforms and measurable impact

• Strengthen FRRC's voice on rights restoration, civic engagement, reentry, economic mobility, and public safety

 

Board Partnership and Governance

 

• Partner closely with the Board to advance strategic priorities and long-term sustainability

• Support strong governance, transparency, accountability, and board engagement

• Build relationships grounded in trust, candor, and shared responsibility

 

Organizational Leadership and Culture

 

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team

• Foster a culture rooted in belonging, accountability, collaboration, and mission alignment

• Invest in staff growth, leadership development, and organizational resilience

 

Year One Priorities

 

• Build trust and credibility with staff, members, board, funders, and partners

• Establish a clear strategic direction that builds on FRRC's accomplishments and positions it for sustainable growth

• Articulate a broader vision of FRRC's impact beyond rights restoration

• Enhance systems, operational effectiveness, and accountability

• Expand fundraising capacity and diversify revenue

• Strengthen pathways for returning citizens to grow as leaders and advocates

• Increase civic participation, coalition building, and community engagement statewide

• Advance policy and systems change opportunities for returning citizens and their families

 

Qualifications

 

• Demonstrated success leading organizations through growth or significant transition

• Exceptional fundraising and relationship-building skills, including securing major philanthropic, institutional, and multi-year support at scale

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills and the ability to serve as a compelling public ambassador

• Strategic leadership experience translating vision into measurable priorities and results

• Experience building strong teams, culture, systems, and operational capacity

• Familiarity with civic engagement, advocacy, organizing, public policy, criminal justice reform, reentry, democracy initiatives, or related fields

• Political sophistication and understanding of, or commitment to learning, Florida's civic, cultural, and policy landscape

• Demonstrated ability to build trust and common ground across ideological, political, geographic, and socioeconomic differences

 

Personal Attributes

 

• A genuine love for people and the ability to see humanity, dignity, and potential in others

• Deep alignment with FRRC's mission, values, and commitment to directly impacted leadership

• High emotional intelligence, humility, integrity, courage, and sound judgment

• Reflective leadership marked by self-awareness, accountability, curiosity, and continuous learning

• Creativity and systems thinking

• The wisdom to honor FRRC's history and the confidence to shape what comes next

• Commitment to advancing opportunity, dignity, and success for returning citizens and their families

 

How to Apply

 

Email FRRC@BoardWalkConsulting.com or call Demeika Wheaton, Crystal Stephens, or Lysondra Somerville at BoardWalk Consulting, 404-262-7392.

 

Equal Opportunity

 

FRRC is committed to an inclusive search and welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences, including candidates with lived experience navigating the criminal justice system or with criminal justice records.