Description
About Highland Park Peace Project
Highland Park Peace Project (HP3), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is building a non-political, free-market framework for change that empowers individuals and institutions to reduce the harm caused by assault weapons without relying on elected officials. HP3 developed the first-of-its-kind HP3 Scorecard that highlights corporate “Heroes” (entities that refuse to support assault rifle producers) and “Enablers” (retailers, lenders, lawyers and suppliers of gun companies), empowering consumers and institutions to make informed choices and drive impact through market signals.
HP3 is in a growth phase and is hiring its first full-time Executive Director to strengthen its mission, scale campaigns, expand outreach nationally, grow the Board, and increase audience growth through expanded communications and advertising.
Position Summary
The Executive Director will be the organization’s senior leader responsible for translating HP3’s mission into a clear strategy and executing it across programs, partnerships, communications, fundraising, and operations. This leader will work closely with HP3’s Co-Founders and Board and serve as the organization's primary operational driver, ensuring excellent execution, measurable growth, and disciplined management.
The role requires a visionary mindset: someone who can set priorities, establish systems, manage external vendors and consultants, and lead campaigns from concept to results.
Reports to: HP3 Board of Directors / Co-Founders
Direct reports: Initially a small team and/or consultants; expected to grow over time
Core Responsibilities
The Executive Director’s responsibilities fall into seven core areas:
1) Strategy, Planning, and Program Leadership
- Lead the development and execution of HP3’s annual strategy, including clear goals, milestones, and metrics tied to impact and growth.
- Refine and operationalize HP3’s theory of change rooted in consumer, institutional, and corporate decision-making (including procurement and policy choices).
- Translate HP3’s Scorecard and research into scalable campaigns and engagement pathways for supporters.
- Establish systems to track performance (audience growth, conversions, partner engagement, donor pipeline, and campaign outcomes).
2) Campaigns, Partnerships, and Market-Based Impact
- Drive campaigns that elevate “Heroes,” expose “Enablers,” and motivate concrete actions by individuals and institutions aligned with HP3’s framework.
- Build relationships with aligned organizations and national stakeholders to expand HP3’s reach and influence while maintaining HP3’s distinct, non-political positioning.
- Develop partnership strategies with companies, service providers, and institutions to encourage adoption of responsible policies and practices.
3) Communications, Brand, and Growth
- Oversee messaging, digital strategy, and content to grow awareness and support, including ongoing paid and earned media initiatives.
- Manage external communications partners, vendors, and consultants as needed (creative, media strategy, PR).
- Ensure HP3’s voice remains disciplined, credible, and accessible, with a focus on practical action rather than partisan framing.
- Scale HP3’s national supporter growth engine into a fundraising pipeline.
- Develop advocacy strategy for mission followers.
- Ensure HP3’s messaging to mission followers is efficient and supported by effective delivery infrastructure.
4) Fundraising and Development
- Lead fundraising strategy across individual donors, foundations, corporations, and other aligned funding sources; cultivate and steward major relationships in partnership with the Board, and identify, engage, and manage fundraising consultants/vendors as needed to extend capacity (e.g., grant writing, prospect research, donor communications, event support).
- Oversee and project-manage consultant-led development of the fundraising plan and cadence (prospecting, outreach, donor communications, reporting, renewals), including setting scopes, timelines, deliverables, and budgets; providing strategic direction and review; and ensuring on-time, high-quality outputs that align with organizational goals and Board priorities.
- Ensure donors and partners receive high-quality updates that connect contributions to measurable outcomes and momentum, and coordinate consultant-supported materials to maintain consistent messaging and standards.
5) Research & Data Strategy
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date research on gun violence and HP3’s Scorecard.
- Develop and operationalize HP3’s research and information-acquisition strategy, including identifying sources, setting standards for verification, and establishing a repeatable process to scale and maintain the underlying database over time.
6) Organizational Leadership, People Management, and Culture
- Lead and manage staff and consultants with clarity on priorities, outcomes, and accountability; recruit additional team capacity over time.
- Build effective cross-functional operations even in a lean environment (clear roles, strong documentation, high responsiveness).
- Establish a culture of integrity, empathy, and high standards appropriate to work connected to community trauma and public safety.
7) Operations, Finance, and Governance
- Oversee budgeting, forecasting, vendor management, and financial reporting in partnership with the Board and any finance/accounting support.
- Ensure sound governance rhythms: Board meetings, reporting, planning, documentation, and compliance best practices.
- Maintain organizational discipline on contracts, approvals, and risk management appropriate to a growing nonprofit.
- Engage with accountant and lawyer to maintain compliance with federal and Illinois requirements for 501(c)(3) charities.
Requirements
Ideal Candidate Profile
HP3 is seeking a leader who is both a strategist and a builder, someone who can set direction, execute rigorously, and build an organization with credibility.
Required / Strongly Preferred Experience
- Senior leadership experience (Executive Director, Deputy ED/COO, or comparable) in a nonprofit, advocacy, movement-building, or mission-driven startup environment.
- Demonstrated success leading multi-channel initiatives (campaigns, partnerships, communications, fundraising) from planning through execution.
- Experience managing budgets, vendors, and operational systems with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Strong external presence: comfort representing an organization with donors, partners, and media as appropriate.
Skills & Attributes
- Highly organized, execution-oriented, and able to prioritize in a fast-moving environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong judgment and message discipline.
- High emotional intelligence and comfort working in a mission space shaped by grief, community trauma, and urgency.
- Commitment to HP3's non-political, free-market approach and ability to communicate it clearly to diverse audiences.
- High level of confidence in maintaining accurate research and data strategy.
Location, Compensation & Benefits
- Location: Hybrid; Preferred Locations: Chicago, IL; Washington, DC; or New York, NY, with travel to Chicago, IL
- Type: Full-time, exempt
- Compensation: $110,000-$125,000
- Benefits: Includes competitive healthcare, retirement, PTO, and a professional development package.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- Resume
- Cover letter outlining your interest in HP3 and relevant leadership experience
- Optional: a short writing sample or campaign/initiative example you led
- Send materials to info@hppeaceproject.org with subject line: Executive Director Application
Equal Opportunity
HP3 is committed to building an inclusive organization. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.
