Executive Director

Reports to: Board of Directors, working closely with Founder Roland Peralta and Chief Legal Officer. Location: Remote, occasional in-person collaboration and travel required ABOUT WHEN JUSTICE WHEN Justice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and crowdsourcing platform democratizing litigation funding. We use capital, media, technology, and the law to hold powerful actors accountable for environmental and human harm. By connecting philanthropic support and public participation with high-impact legal cases, we advance consequential litigation, mobilize communities, and drive systemic change across environmental protection, food safety, consumer rights, and corporate accountability. Rather than operating as a traditional litigation advocacy organization, we are building a platform that expands who can participate in funding public-interest legal action. We are building a litigation fund designed to grow substantially over time and need an Executive Director to turn that ambition into a well-run, scalable organization. THE OPPORTUNITY We are looking for an entrepreneurial builder with a strong sense of ownership and a proven ability to lead teams, cultivate partnerships, and lead the philanthropic capital raising efforts. You will translate vision into priorities, people, systems, and results, while personally leading fundraising. This is not a caretaker role. We need someone who creates structure, decides well with incomplete information, recruits strong people. You must be comfortable opening doors, making direct asks, and assist in closing commitments with philanthropists, family offices, foundations, and strategic partners. The ideal candidate combines the resourcefulness of a founder, the discipline of an operator, the credibility of an accomplished fundraiser, and the presence of a seasoned public spokesperson who is at ease on television, podcasts, and the stage. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership and Execution • Translate the mission and long-term vision into a focused operating strategy, annual plan, budget, and measurable priorities. • Own day-to-day performance, ensuring decisions lead to clear owners, deadlines, and follow-through. • Build the structure, leadership team, workflows, and management systems needed to scale responsibly. • Establish clear roles, decision-making authority, and accountability. • Partner with the founder while exercising independent judgment and reducing dependence on founder-led execution. Fundraising and the Litigation Fund • Lead fundraising strategy and share responsibility with the board and founder for building the litigation fund, starting with a near-term goal of $10 million. • Bring credible relationships with donors, family offices, foundations, philanthropic advisors, and influential connectors. • Generate meetings and qualified introductions from day one rather than relying solely on founder or board relationships. • Build a program spanning major gifts, multi-year commitments, foundations, donor events, partnerships, and public campaigns. • Set portfolio ownership, revenue targets, and realistic forecasts with fundraising staff. • Develop a compelling case for support and equip the founder and board to fundraise effectively. • Ensure donors receive thoughtful stewardship, accurate reporting, and meaningful ways to stay engaged. Team and Culture • Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing staff and external partners. • Build a culture of initiative, direct communication, and ownership of outcomes. • Set practical goals and review progress through a consistent management cadence. • Address underperformance promptly and balance ambitious growth with realistic capacity. Platform, Technology, and AI • Oversee a credible, accessible platform experience for donors, supporters, and partners. • Align fundraising, marketing, community engagement, events, and technology around one growth strategy. • Use technology and AI to improve donor operations, reporting, and productivity, with human review and safeguards for sensitive and legal content. Programs, Partnerships, and Representation • Align priorities, resources, and donor communications with the litigation portfolio while respecting counsel's professional judgment and independence. • Build relationships with mission-aligned organizations, legal partners, philanthropic networks, and community leaders. • Represent WHEN Justice with donors, partners, and the public, ensuring campaigns are compelling, accurate, and responsible. • Serve as a primary public voice for WHEN Justice across television, podcasts, print, digital media, panels, and live events, translating complex litigation into compelling, accurate stories that drive donor and public participation. Finance and Board Partnership • Oversee budgeting, cash planning, financial reporting, controls, risk management, and compliance in partnership with the Chief Financial Officer. • Maintain visibility into costs, fundraising performance, restricted funds, commitments, and runway. • Give the board timely reporting on strategy, finances, fundraising, risks, and key decisions. • Build a transparent, productive board relationship that distinguishes governance from day-to-day management. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR • Significant senior leadership experience building or scaling a nonprofit, philanthropic initiative, mission-driven platform, or social enterprise. • A record of taking an organization from early stage to financially sustainable operation. • Experience in environmental protection, environmental law, or environmental advocacy is strongly preferred. • Proven personal fundraising success; experience closing six- and seven-figure and multi-year commitments strongly preferred. • Existing relationships with high-capacity donors, family offices, foundations, or philanthropic advisors, and a track record of converting them into commitments. • The ability to independently secure meetings, build trust, and advance donor conversations from first contact through solicitation and stewardship. • Strong operational and financial judgment: budgets, hiring, processes, and resource allocation. • A genuine ownership mindset: someone who notices gaps, takes initiative, raises concerns early, and follows through. • Comfort working with an entrepreneurial founder while bringing structure, independent thinking, and constructive challenge. • Practical fluency with technology and AI-enabled workflows. • Excellent communication, discretion, integrity, emotional intelligence, and judgment in sensitive legal and philanthropic settings. • Highly media proficient, with a track record of television interviews, podcasts, keynotes, and press engagements; able to handle tough questions live, stay on message, and speak carefully about active legal matters. • Background in litigation funding, public-interest law, consumer protection, or crowdfunding is a plus. A law degree is not required. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE First 90 Days • Assess priorities, staffing, finances, fundraising opportunities, technology, and operational gaps. • Align with the founder and board on an execution plan, decision-making structure, and measurable goals. • Implement a leadership cadence, fundraising pipeline review, and financial reporting process. • Establish a fundraising roadmap toward the near-term $10 million goal, with priority prospects, milestones, and clear ownership. First 12 Months • Show meaningful progress toward the near-term $10 million goal through secured gifts, documented commitments, and a qualified pipeline. • Build a stronger leadership team and reliable financial, operational, fundraising, and reporting systems. • Reduce execution bottlenecks and dependence on the founder for routine management. • Deliver measurable results against a board-approved operating plan and fundraising goals. COMPENSATION Base salary starting at $250,000 per year, plus benefits. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WHEN Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process.