Executive Director

Organization Overview:

Trans Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing our trans peers with the connection, care, and advocacy we need and deserve. Founded in 2014, Trans Lifeline operates three core program areas that serve the trans and gender-nonconforming (GNC) community:

1. Our Hotline program, which operates a confidential peer-support hotline for trans and (GNC) folks, staffed by trans and GNC folks, where we provide emotional support, crisis intervention, and referrals to resources such as healthcare, housing, and legal assistance.

2. Our #SafeHotlines campaign, which aims to end counterproductive and dangerous police-involvement in crisis intervention.

3. Our Microgrants program, which distributes small grants to trans and GNC folks to cover costs associated with legal name changes, identity document updates, and other trans-specific needs.

At Trans Lifeline, our guiding principle is the belief that trans people deserve the opportunity and resources to determine our own futures, to be given the chance to live meaningful lives, and to do so with dignity and confidence. We believe that all trans communities can be places of imagination, liberation, and joy– free of prisons and police. 

Position Overview:

Trans Lifeline is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and visionary Executive Director to lead the organization in its mission. The Executive Director will report to the Board of Directors and will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, overseeing day-to-day operations, driving advancement initiatives, and serving as the public face of the organization. The ideal candidate will have a deep and personal understanding of trans issues, a history of leading transformative social justice initiatives, a high degree of emotional intelligence, and robust leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to advance Trans Lifeline's mission and goals. This includes leading the development and execution of strategic plans.

• Build strong, trust-based, and informed relationships with the Leadership Team.

• Directly lead, facilitate, and supervise the Leadership Team.

• Foster a positive, affirming, and inclusive organizational culture that values open communication, trust-building, curiosity, and accountability.

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including volunteers, donors, partner organizations, and community leaders.

• Establish effective decision making at all levels to ensure that voices are heard and that short- and long-term goals are met.

Board Partnership:

• Build strong, trust-based, and informed relationships with the Board of Directors.

• Actively engage with the Board to help identify and recruit prospective board members who bring the skills, attributes, lived experience, and community networks necessary for the board to be the best partner it can be.

• Provide the Board of Directors with the resources, information and training necessary to fulfill their duties and be organizational ambassadors.

• Support the Board of Directors with their annual goals

Programs:

• Collaborate with the Leadership Team and program management to envision and execute a sustainable management structure for Trans Lifeline’s programs, including:

  • Producing a management plan and structure that will ensure that programming can meet the needs of our community while remaining realistic in regards to org capacity.

  • Implementing and evaluating the plan, and revising as needed.

  • Oversee the ongoing development, management, and evaluation of Trans Lifeline’s programs, ensuring that program service provisions and strategic plan goals are on track with expectations.

  • Leading and directing the organization’s commitment to providing services to the BIPOC community.

  Fundraising:

  • Provide top-level oversight of Trans Lifeline’s fundraising strategy, ensuring that it is resourced, executable, and aligned with our values as an organization. 

  • Strengthen existing relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and other funders.

  • Partner with the Director of Advancement to prospect, solicit, and grow new relationships for major gifts and board recruitment.

  • Oversee and attend fundraising events and activations, as needed.

  • Monitor and evaluate fundraising efforts to ensure revenue targets are met and resources are allocated effectively.

  Communications:

  • Serve as the primary spokesperson for Trans Lifeline, representing the organization in media interviews, public speaking engagements, and other public forums.

  • Provide top-level oversight of Trans Lifeline’s communication, marketing, and press strategies, with the aim of positioning Trans Lifeline as the United States’ leading direct-support organization for trans and GNC folks, as well as an expert authority on trans and GNC peer-support.

  • Build lasting beneficial relationships with key stakeholders in both national and local media outlets. 

  • Connect organizational vision to communications strategy ensuring a common vision and brand for TL in key conversations.

  • In partnership with key staff, oversee the development of the organization's annual report.

  Administration and Operations:

  • Directly supervise the Administration Director, ensuring that they are adequately resourced to provide top-level oversight of Trans Lifeline’s day-to-day operations.

  • Ensure the organization is resting on a fiscally sound foundation, that relevant parties are informed about fiscal status, and that financial information is communicated in a clear and accessible manner.

  • In partnership with the People & Culture team, develop position descriptions and performance review guidelines while ensuring that employee policies are consistent with federal and state requirements.

  • In partnership with the Finance and People & Culture teams, annually determine compensation/benefits for all staff and independent contractors in accordance with approved annual budgets, consistent with market and internal equity.

  Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in senior leadership at a service-providing organization, with a proven track record of success in fundraising, communications, and strategic planning.

  • Demonstrated experience with staff management.

  • Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.

  • Demonstrated experience in financial management, budgeting, and resource allocation.

  • Ability to work collaboratively in a remote-work environment.

  • Knowledge of and experience working within direct-service crisis intervention, mental health, and/or social services sectors.

  • Proficiency in or willingness to quickly learn tools that we currently use such as Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, CRM/fundraising platforms, Quickbooks, and Bill.com.

  • Ability to lead a workplace of inclusion with particular skill in understanding and working across differences in class, race, gender, sexuality and other forms of diversity. 

  Experience and Personal & Professional Attributes:

  Research shows that members of underrepresented groups and marginalized identities may not apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. While we feel strongly about and stand behind the qualifications we’ve listed above, if you are missing a couple requirements but still meet the majority of qualifications and/or have some of the attributes listed below, we encourage you to apply: 

  • A deep belief in and passion for our organization’s mission and values.

  • A comprehensive understanding of both current and historical issues relevant to the trans and GNC community, and how they intersect with Trans Lifeline’s mission.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills that facilitate efficacy, passion and persuasiveness in representing our organization both internally and externally, in public and private.

  • A high degree of emotional intelligence: Awareness of your strengths and limitations, the ability to let go of mistakes, the willingness to accept and embrace change, and an understanding that accountability is a good thing.

  • Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues and engage diverse audiences.

  • A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and experience in multi-racial organizations like Trans Lifeline, where dismantling white supremacy is a stated guiding principle.

  • The desire and ability to navigate conflict constructively and compassionately, with resolution as a goal. 

  • A belief that nobody is irredeemable, that all people are capable of learning and growing. 

  Location

  This is a remote role open to candidates located in the United States. Expect to travel 10 times per year, with all travel expenses covered by the organization.

Application Process:

The preferred application deadline is Thursday, August 24, 2026. Please submit a resume and answer the application questions in a cover letter. For any questions please reach out to our People & Culture team at people@translifeline.org.   

1. What relevant direct service experience would you bring to Trans Lifeline?

2. What is your experience working  with the transgender community?

3. Why do you want to work with Trans Lifeline? 

4. Tell us about an organizational development process you led that you're proud of? Please include what style of organizational leadership you used and how you measured success. 

5. Tell us about your relevant fundraising experience and how you build new stakeholder relationships.

6. What is your leadership philosophy and how do you bring that into working relationships?