Executive Director at The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

About The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project:

The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) is a mission-driven organization working to end discriminatory surveillance. Through a unique virtual law firm model, we partner with New York’s largest law firms to provide free legal services and impact litigation for communities targeted by surveillance abuse. We advocate for systemic change and surveillance abolition by pushing for progressive legislation, like state / local bans of facial recognition and geofence warrants, by crafting policies that protect civil rights in the digital age, and by publishing research on emerging surveillance threats. S.T.O.P. also empowers impacted communities through privacy trainings and public education, and uses media advocacy to hold institutions accountable and amplify the voices of those we serve.

About the Executive Director Role:

S.T.O.P seeks a visionary and justice-driven leader to serve as its next Executive Director, guiding the organization into an ambitious new chapter. S.T.O.P. is at the forefront of the fight against discriminatory government surveillance in New York and beyond—working to protect privacy, advance civil rights, and set a global standard for confronting the harms of policing technologies. Our mission centers the communities most impacted by law enforcement’s abuse of surveillance technology: Black communities, Muslim Americans, immigrants, abortion seekers, protestors, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The Executive Director will steward a dynamic and growing team of staff, interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys. They will provide strategic oversight across all facets of the organization—including litigation, advocacy, policy, research, communications, development, and coalition building—with clarity, compassion, and bold leadership. The ideal candidate is a compelling storyteller with the foresight to confront emerging technologies and the ability to translate complex issues into urgent, accessible calls to action, with a vision of rapidly scaling organizational funding from foundations, individuals, and fee-for-service work.

This role reports directly to the Board of Directors and offers a rare opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most cutting-edge civil rights organizations at a critical time in the fight for digital justice and police accountability.
 

Areas of Leadership

Strategic Organizational Leadership:

• Ensure each function of the organization (litigation, research, advocacy) has the resources, capacity, and professional development opportunities to maximize their work and grow in their abilities; 
• Partner with Legal Director to develop impact litigation and FOIL cases;
• Partner with Legal Director and Advocacy Manager to develop strategic lobbying plan, including shaping legislative priorities at the city and state levels and building cross-organizational alliances;
• Partner with Research Director to develop publication priorities and discuss S.T.O.P.’s framing of critical surveillance issues;
• Partner with the Advocacy Manager to develop training curricula.

Organization Building:

• Develop long-term plan for organizational growth in coordination with staff and board, with clear goals, priorities, and benchmarks;
• Develop internal systems and processes that allow sustainable growth and support prioritization, optimization, and efficiencies for the team and departments;
• Ensure an organizational culture that respects the indispensable need for staff to use evenings, weekends, holidays, and vacations to rebuild their energy for this work;
• Maintain organizational compliance with all legal/regulatory obligations.

Fundraising:

• Work with Founder in Residence to transition organizational relationships with key funders, coalition partners, and supporters;
• Partner with Development Manager to design and refine S.T.O.P.’s annual development strategy and organizational budget;
• Raise funding from foundations and high-net-worth individuals; diversifying our current portfolio of funders to reach national funders, ex-Big Tech workers, and high-net-worth individuals with a passion for our mission.

Storytelling & Field Leadership:

• Work closely with the Communications Director to develop press strategy and expand audience;
• Represent S.T.O.P. in frequent press appearances, including press conferences, print, radio, and television;
• Partner with Communications Director in website management, branding, and social media strategy on an ad hoc basis;
• Partner with Communications Director in editorial strategy on an ad hoc basis;
• Work closely with the Development Manager to refine language for philanthropic efforts, such as grant applications, letters of intent, proposals, and more;
• Partner with the Advocacy Manager to identify new training subjects and develop public education curricula, presentations, and materials.

Qualifications:

• Professional commitment to protecting the civil rights of marginalized communities and passion for dismantling systems of mass governmental surveillance;
• Experience fundraising from foundations, government, and/or high-net-worth individuals;
• Demonstrates an ability to pick up new subject matter expertise and has a particular interest in or knack for understanding technology;
• Demonstrated ability or experience in developing novel case strategies;
• Experience leading strategy and multiple teams in growing organizations;
• Passion for storytelling, with the ability to transform technical and legal issues into broadly engaging, emotionally rooted, and informative narratives;
• Demonstrated leadership approach that builds a sense of community and mutual support within an organization;
• Knowledge of New York City and State politics and community-based organizations is strongly preferred;
• Law degree and active New York State bar membership.

Compensation & Location:

S.T.O.P. provides a generous benefits package, including an array of employer-funded medical, dental, and vision insurance plans with no employee premium contribution. Our current pay scale for this position ranges from $125,000-$150,000, but we include cost-of-living and seniority pay rises for all positions. S.T.O.P. is a fully remote organization, with one optional, in-person co-working day each week. Candidates based in New York City are strongly preferred, but exceptional candidates based outside of New York City and New York State will be considered, especially if they have an established understanding of New York legislation and civil society. The executive director would be expected to travel out of state occasionally for fundraising, public speaking, and other opportunities.  Access our community handbook and full list of human resources policies here.