San Diego Pride
Executive Director – San Diego Pride
Location: San Diego, CA About San Diego Pride San Diego Pride has grown from a small grassroots march in 1974 into one of the most respected and philanthropic Pride organizations in the world. It is a year-round LGBTQ+ education, advocacy, and cultural institution with a global footprint. Each July, San Diego Pride produces the city\'s largest civic event, welcoming more than 250,000 participants to its parade, festival, and week-long programs. Revenue from festival ticket sales, beverage sales, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees sustains Pride\'s community philanthropy, and to date, Pride has distributed more than $3 million in grants. Pride has engaged delegates from over 125 countries through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State and the San Diego Diplomacy Council. It helped establish InterPride and delivers year-round programs in leadership development, youth engagement, and advocacy. Mission:
Fostering pride, equality, and respect for all LGBTQ+ communities locally, nationally, and globally.
Vision:
A world free of prejudice and bias.
Values: Diversity
– being inclusive, accepting, and respectful of differences. Respect
– valuing others and demonstrating courtesy and mutual regard. Honesty + Integrity
– communicating factual information and staying true to our values. Accountability
– responsible for the effects and consequences of our words and actions. Position Summary
San Diego Pride seeks a transformational executive leader to meet this moment with grace, compassion, resilience, and humility. The Executive Director must reinforce operations, rebuild trust, and advance the organization\'s mission. The ideal candidate will demonstrate LGBTQ+ movement and social justice competency, crisis management skills, strategic vision, self-awareness, and the ability to earn stakeholder confidence while driving sustainable growth rooted in queer theory, anti-racism, and decolonization. The Executive Director is the senior staff member, providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and external representation. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the role supervises a Director-level staff across Finance + Operations, Marketing + Communications, Development, Programs + Events, and Entertainment. The non-director staff are represented by a collective bargaining agreement with OPEIU. This is a unique opportunity to lead a major LGBTQ+ Pride organization during a transformative period and shape the future of LGBTQ+ advocacy while stewarding a well-established organization committed to community philanthropy and large-scale events. Essential Position Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership : Develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans aligned with organizational mission; lead transformation and change management; build and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, government entities, and sponsors. Reputation Building + Crisis Management : Navigate reputational challenges with transparency; rebuild stakeholder trust; participate in coalitions; manage crisis communications and public relations. Fundraising + Philanthropy : Grow fundraising strategies to support year-round programming and grants; cultivate major donors; expand corporate sponsorships; oversee grants and foundations; diversify revenue streams. Event Leadership + Entertainment : Provide executive oversight for Pride Parade, Festival, and Pride365; ensure successful events with thousands of volunteers; coordinate with officials, vendors, and partners; manage contracts to align with values. Operational Excellence : Oversee day-to-day operations, leadership development, budgeting, compliance with legal and nonprofit governance; coordinate with external consultants. Board Leadership + Development : Cultivate relationships with the volunteer board; communicate goals and metrics; support fiduciary governance practices. Qualifications + Characteristics
Core Competencies Organizational Leadership: champion staff and drive transformation and cultural change. Strategic Vision: develop and lead long-term strategic plans for a community-based organization. Crisis Leadership + Resolution: navigate challenges and rebuild stakeholder confidence. Community Engagement: engage diverse constituents and uphold inclusion principles. Fundraising Excellence: secure major gifts, sponsorships, and grants; understand philanthropy in LGBTQ+ ecosystems. Board Leadership + Development: experience managing nonprofit boards and governance structures. Essential Skills Strong community connections in the San Diego LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Experience with historically underrepresented communities; restorative justice and trauma-informed leadership. Effective public-facing communication with cultural awareness and political acumen. Financial acumen, budgeting, and fiscal planning. Experience with large-scale event planning and execution; strong contract negotiation. Philanthropy strategies, donor stewardship, and donor database proficiency. Brand management, marketing, and communications for a community-based org. Personal Attributes Integrity, ethical leadership, transparency. Resilience, emotional maturity, adaptability, kindness, curiosity. Collaborative leadership that inspires board, staff, volunteers, and communities. Cultural competency and ability to work with diverse communities. Alignment with San Diego Pride\'s Justice Pillars: Disability, Economic, Environmental, Gender, Health, Racial, Reproductive Justice. Passion for LGBTQ+ advocacy and social justice; respectful in discussions with all community members. Educational + Experience Requirements
Bachelor\'s degree required; advanced degree(s) or certifications welcomed. 7+ years of executive leadership and organizational management. Experience in organizational turnaround and crisis management. Proven track record in reputation building and community healing. Experience leading organizations with budgets >$2M. Fundraising and development experience with major gifts, sponsorships, and grants. Previous leadership in LGBTQ+ movements preferred. Existing relationships within San Diego\'s nonprofit, corporate, government, and foundation communities preferred. Bi/multilingual preferred. San Diego Pride is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring. If you meet most expectations but not every qualification, you should consider applying. Working + Reporting Relationships
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director oversees directors, managers, and staff under a collective bargaining agreement, and interfaces with board committees. The ED will engage with external consultants and be a visible representative in the San Diego LGBTQ+ community and with donors. The ED supervises the following full-time staff: Director of Operations and Finance; Director of Marketing and Communications; Director of Development; Entertainment Director; Director of Events and Programs; and a forthcoming Director of Advocacy and Education. Compensation + Benefits
The starting salary range is $190,000-$210,000. Relocation expenses may be included. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision; 403(b) retirement plan; PTO and 16 holidays; professional development stipend of $250 annually. Note: Pride does not offer additional leave beyond legal requirements at this time. Location + Travel: Based in San Diego, with relocation as needed. On-site work at the Pride office near Balboa Park. Some travel for donor/sponsor meetings regionally and nationally. EEO and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
San Diego Pride is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to racial justice and equity in programming and internal culture. The organization acknowledges and addresses white supremacy and anti-black racism within its movement. Sections of the Racial Justice and Equity Statement cover Human Resources, Internal Trainings, Operational Metrics, Programming, Entertainment, and Visible Representation. In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. Submission Instructions
Cooper Coleman is leading this search. To apply, please visit the online application. Nominations can be sent to J. Michael Durnil, PhD at michael.durnil@coopercoleman.com. A cover letter is welcome but not required initially; candidates invited for interviews will be asked for a letter of interest outlining qualifications and connection to the mission. Background checks and credential verification will be conducted. All rights reserved.
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Location: San Diego, CA About San Diego Pride San Diego Pride has grown from a small grassroots march in 1974 into one of the most respected and philanthropic Pride organizations in the world. It is a year-round LGBTQ+ education, advocacy, and cultural institution with a global footprint. Each July, San Diego Pride produces the city\'s largest civic event, welcoming more than 250,000 participants to its parade, festival, and week-long programs. Revenue from festival ticket sales, beverage sales, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees sustains Pride\'s community philanthropy, and to date, Pride has distributed more than $3 million in grants. Pride has engaged delegates from over 125 countries through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State and the San Diego Diplomacy Council. It helped establish InterPride and delivers year-round programs in leadership development, youth engagement, and advocacy. Mission:
Fostering pride, equality, and respect for all LGBTQ+ communities locally, nationally, and globally.
Vision:
A world free of prejudice and bias.
Values: Diversity
– being inclusive, accepting, and respectful of differences. Respect
– valuing others and demonstrating courtesy and mutual regard. Honesty + Integrity
– communicating factual information and staying true to our values. Accountability
– responsible for the effects and consequences of our words and actions. Position Summary
San Diego Pride seeks a transformational executive leader to meet this moment with grace, compassion, resilience, and humility. The Executive Director must reinforce operations, rebuild trust, and advance the organization\'s mission. The ideal candidate will demonstrate LGBTQ+ movement and social justice competency, crisis management skills, strategic vision, self-awareness, and the ability to earn stakeholder confidence while driving sustainable growth rooted in queer theory, anti-racism, and decolonization. The Executive Director is the senior staff member, providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and external representation. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the role supervises a Director-level staff across Finance + Operations, Marketing + Communications, Development, Programs + Events, and Entertainment. The non-director staff are represented by a collective bargaining agreement with OPEIU. This is a unique opportunity to lead a major LGBTQ+ Pride organization during a transformative period and shape the future of LGBTQ+ advocacy while stewarding a well-established organization committed to community philanthropy and large-scale events. Essential Position Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership : Develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans aligned with organizational mission; lead transformation and change management; build and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, government entities, and sponsors. Reputation Building + Crisis Management : Navigate reputational challenges with transparency; rebuild stakeholder trust; participate in coalitions; manage crisis communications and public relations. Fundraising + Philanthropy : Grow fundraising strategies to support year-round programming and grants; cultivate major donors; expand corporate sponsorships; oversee grants and foundations; diversify revenue streams. Event Leadership + Entertainment : Provide executive oversight for Pride Parade, Festival, and Pride365; ensure successful events with thousands of volunteers; coordinate with officials, vendors, and partners; manage contracts to align with values. Operational Excellence : Oversee day-to-day operations, leadership development, budgeting, compliance with legal and nonprofit governance; coordinate with external consultants. Board Leadership + Development : Cultivate relationships with the volunteer board; communicate goals and metrics; support fiduciary governance practices. Qualifications + Characteristics
Core Competencies Organizational Leadership: champion staff and drive transformation and cultural change. Strategic Vision: develop and lead long-term strategic plans for a community-based organization. Crisis Leadership + Resolution: navigate challenges and rebuild stakeholder confidence. Community Engagement: engage diverse constituents and uphold inclusion principles. Fundraising Excellence: secure major gifts, sponsorships, and grants; understand philanthropy in LGBTQ+ ecosystems. Board Leadership + Development: experience managing nonprofit boards and governance structures. Essential Skills Strong community connections in the San Diego LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Experience with historically underrepresented communities; restorative justice and trauma-informed leadership. Effective public-facing communication with cultural awareness and political acumen. Financial acumen, budgeting, and fiscal planning. Experience with large-scale event planning and execution; strong contract negotiation. Philanthropy strategies, donor stewardship, and donor database proficiency. Brand management, marketing, and communications for a community-based org. Personal Attributes Integrity, ethical leadership, transparency. Resilience, emotional maturity, adaptability, kindness, curiosity. Collaborative leadership that inspires board, staff, volunteers, and communities. Cultural competency and ability to work with diverse communities. Alignment with San Diego Pride\'s Justice Pillars: Disability, Economic, Environmental, Gender, Health, Racial, Reproductive Justice. Passion for LGBTQ+ advocacy and social justice; respectful in discussions with all community members. Educational + Experience Requirements
Bachelor\'s degree required; advanced degree(s) or certifications welcomed. 7+ years of executive leadership and organizational management. Experience in organizational turnaround and crisis management. Proven track record in reputation building and community healing. Experience leading organizations with budgets >$2M. Fundraising and development experience with major gifts, sponsorships, and grants. Previous leadership in LGBTQ+ movements preferred. Existing relationships within San Diego\'s nonprofit, corporate, government, and foundation communities preferred. Bi/multilingual preferred. San Diego Pride is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring. If you meet most expectations but not every qualification, you should consider applying. Working + Reporting Relationships
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director oversees directors, managers, and staff under a collective bargaining agreement, and interfaces with board committees. The ED will engage with external consultants and be a visible representative in the San Diego LGBTQ+ community and with donors. The ED supervises the following full-time staff: Director of Operations and Finance; Director of Marketing and Communications; Director of Development; Entertainment Director; Director of Events and Programs; and a forthcoming Director of Advocacy and Education. Compensation + Benefits
The starting salary range is $190,000-$210,000. Relocation expenses may be included. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision; 403(b) retirement plan; PTO and 16 holidays; professional development stipend of $250 annually. Note: Pride does not offer additional leave beyond legal requirements at this time. Location + Travel: Based in San Diego, with relocation as needed. On-site work at the Pride office near Balboa Park. Some travel for donor/sponsor meetings regionally and nationally. EEO and Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
San Diego Pride is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to racial justice and equity in programming and internal culture. The organization acknowledges and addresses white supremacy and anti-black racism within its movement. Sections of the Racial Justice and Equity Statement cover Human Resources, Internal Trainings, Operational Metrics, Programming, Entertainment, and Visible Representation. In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify identity and eligibility to work in the U.S. Submission Instructions
Cooper Coleman is leading this search. To apply, please visit the online application. Nominations can be sent to J. Michael Durnil, PhD at michael.durnil@coopercoleman.com. A cover letter is welcome but not required initially; candidates invited for interviews will be asked for a letter of interest outlining qualifications and connection to the mission. Background checks and credential verification will be conducted. All rights reserved.
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