The Campaign for Southern Equality is hiring for a new Full-Time Staff Position – the Program Director of the Trans Youth Emergency Project. Details on the position and how to apply are below.
About Campaign for Southern Equality:
The Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) is working to build a South where LGBTQ people are equal in every part of life. A South where your zip code doesn’t determine your rights. Where all of us are free to be who we truly are and love who we truly love. CSE’s work is rooted in commitments to empathy and equity. At this unprecedented time of anti-LGBTQ attacks – and as public support for LGBTQ equality across the South and nation continues to grow – CSE is meeting the moment through a combination of rapid response work and longstanding programs that include direct services, advocacy, organizing, grassroots grant making, research, and public arts. CSE is based in Asheville, NC and works across the South. Learn more about our work and current priorities at www.southernequality.org.
Position Summary:
This new position will play a key leadership role in the Trans Youth Emergency Project (TYEP), which provides direct navigation support, grants, and programming to support trans youth and their families across the country in accessing safe, legal gender affirming care. TYEP launched two years ago and has scaled quickly since then into the only program of its kind nationally, serving any family experiencing barriers to care related to state-level bans or federal policies.
As Program Director, this position will be immersed in both daily management and implementation of the program and working with CSE’s leadership team to steer the program’s strategy and growth against the backdrop of an ever-shifting legal and political climate.
This is a full-time staff position.
Location:
This position is hybrid based out of our office in Asheville, NC. The person in this role will either live within an hour’s drive to our office in Asheville or commit to spending a set portion of days in the office per month with travel costs covered by CSE. Relocation assistance is available if the right candidate lives outside of Western North Carolina.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, project management, social sciences, or related field (Master’s preferred), or equivalent training and professional experience
- 3+ years of project management or operational experience, preferably in a health, direct service, or nonprofit setting.
Things this position would be doing right now:
- Management and Supervision: Managing a 4-5 member program team and coordinating alongside a 15-member TYEP cross departmental team in order to collaborate with grants, operations, communications and other program teams to design and implement programming to support trans youth and their families. Supervising a 3 person team of Navigators (CSE staff who work directly with trans youth and their families).
- Tracking and managing data: Managing the TYEP program dashboard in collaboration with the program team to accurately capture data and communicate internally and externally about metrics.
- Program operations: Working closely with our operations team to ensure streamlined program operations, including an “under-the-hood” approach to managing systems related to family communication, provider and partner communication, data and process tracking, and digital security.
- Rapid-response programming: Collaborating with the TYEP team to make strategic decisions for the program based on a dynamic legal and political climate.
- Program design: Creating plans to continue scaling TYEP as need, resources and community interest grows. This role will have a high degree of input into the vision of how the program will expand.
- Media interviews: You’ll be a key spokesperson for the TYEP program, collaborating with our communications team to respond to interview requests.
- Organize virtual town halls: You’ll spot opportunities to plan virtual programming to educate and support our community as the political landscape continues to evolve and work with the program team to develop and facilitate content.
- Support fundraising for the program: You’ll collaborate with our Engagement Team to help pitch the needs and impact of the TYEP program to secure resources for the program’s funding.
- Cross-program coordination: Work collaboratively with other Program Directors at CSE to align strategies, share insights, and amplify collective impact. This includes contributing to shared initiatives, identifying areas of cross fertilization across programs, and co-developing approaches that respond to urgent political moments while advancing long-term sustainability.
Skills and Attributes:
- A commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and to equity in race, gender, and class
- Subject matter expertise:
- Health access and equity; transgender health
- Statistics and data analytics for presentation and tracking
Staff and Program management
- Manages a high volume of work with efficiency: Has, or can create, a system for keeping tasks from slipping through the cracks. Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize without sacrificing quality. Plans backwards to make deadlines. Asks for help when needed.
- Program conception, planning, and execution: You have experience and a track record of conceiving strategy and overseeing implementation for a large team, function, program, or project. You have taken a concept from idea to execution with success.
- Systems orientation with experience in management of a program data or project dashboard: You bring a systems mindset and thrive in environments where clear, well-organized data informs action. You have 3–5 years of hands-on experience managing program or project data not as a developer, but as someone who understands how to structure and maintain dashboards that track outcomes, spot trends, and drive decision-making. You’re known for your ability to translate complex data into accessible language, helping teammates and partners understand what the numbers are saying. Experience with tools like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or other dashboard platforms is strongly preferred. Familiarity with form-based data systems (e.g., Gravity Forms) and tools like Zendesk or Salesforce is a plus. Your love of data isn’t just technical, it’s practical and strategic, powering the real-world impact of programs like TYEP.
- Inclusive leadership and management: Brings a clear vision and recognizes the value of divergent perspectives. Approaches leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly includes others in planning and decision-making. Able to make and communicate difficult decisions in the best interest of the organization.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Attentive, empathetic leadership: Enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people. Empathizes with the communities we serve. Able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. Listens closely to understand needs or concerns and takes steps based on that input. Responds to people in a timely manner. Takes pride in providing clear, helpful information. Can set appropriate boundaries regarding hearing private and confidential information from community members.
- Relational: You build authentic relationships with others (colleagues, external partners, and other stakeholders) based on mutual trust and respect. You are able to do so across lines of difference (such as race, ethnicity, status, sexual orientation, ability, or gender identity).
- Clear, precise, compassionate communication: Speaks clearly on behalf of the organization and advocates for/with community members. Communicates well with others, including sharing context and asking questions to understand others’ perspectives. Writes compellingly about the program for fundraising and informational purposes.
- Ownership and resilience: You care deeply about getting results. You gather information, seek input, and drive work forward to the finish line. You think 3 (or 30) steps ahead to develop solutions, anticipate problems, and course-correct when needed. You hold a high bar even when things are hectic and bounce back from setbacks by turning each hurdle into a learning opportunity.
- You thrive while working collaboratively in a remote or hybrid team environment
- You bring a sense of humor and joy to all that you do
Compensation:
The salary range for this position is competitive, starting at $90,000, and is commensurate with experience. CSE’s benefits and compensation structure reflect our commitments to pay equity and to offering competitive packages within the nonprofit sector.
How to Apply:
Send resume and cover letter to our team by emailing [email protected] with the subject line “Application for TYEP Program Director” Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with the expectation that the initial round of interviews will begin the week of July 28.
We are excited to hear from candidates with a diverse range of relevant lived experience and community-based, educational, or professional experiences. Individuals who are transgender and BIPOC are particularly encouraged to apply.
Commitments to Equity and Non-Discrimination Policy:
CSE is committed to the values of equality and equity in employment and programming. CSE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or veteran status in its hiring practices, programs, services or activities.
