Executive Director - Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

Chicago, IL, United States

Organizational Overview: Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

For more than 30 years, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) has been a leading force for environmental justice, community health, and grassroots organizing in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and across the Midwest. Founded by community residents and organizers, LVEJO advances environmental justice through community-driven organizing, advocacy, coalition building, youth leadership development, food justice initiatives, and policy change rooted in the lived experiences of frontline communities.

LVEJO works at the intersection of environmental justice, public health, food access, and community empowerment. The organization has led transformative campaigns that have reshaped the environmental and political landscape of Chicago, including the closure of the Crawford Coal Plant, the transformation of contaminated land into public green space and community assets such as La Villita Park, and advocacy efforts that expanded public transit access along the 31st Street corridor. Through initiatives focused on environmental health, water justice, urban agriculture, youth leadership, and land reclamation, LVEJO has become one of the most respected and influential environmental justice organizations in the region.

Today, LVEJO operates with a staff of eighteen full-time and two part-time employees and a budget of approximately $2 million. The organization maintains deep partnerships with community members, grassroots coalitions, philanthropic partners, and environmental justice networks throughout Chicago and nationally.

LVEJO is entering an important moment of organizational transition.With strong community recognition, a respected legacy of advocacy victories, and increasing opportunities for policy impact at the local and state levels, LVEJO is poised to enter a new chapter of sustainability and renewed community leadership.

For more information, visit: lvejo.org

Position Summary: Executive Director

The Executive Director (ED) is the chief executive leader responsible for the overall strategic direction, organizational leadership, financial sustainability, and community impact of LVEJO. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with staff, community members, coalition partners, funders, and public officials, the ED will guide the organization through its next phase of organizational stabilization, strategic growth, and renewed community-centered organizing.

The ED will lead both internal operations and external engagement, ensuring that LVEJO maintains strong financial health, operational transparency, effective people management, and mission-aligned programmatic impact. This leader will serve as the organization’s primary external representative, strengthening relationships with community stakeholders, philanthropic partners, coalition allies, elected officials, and movement organizations across Chicago and beyond. Equally important, the ED will work collaboratively with staff to cultivate a strong, values-driven organizational culture that empowers leadership at all levels, elevates staff voices, and supports the continued growth and development of the team as trusted advocates and leaders in the environmental justice movement.

The Executive Director will inherit an organization with a proud legacy of advocacy victories and deep community trust, while also helping the organization navigate a critical period of transformation. The next leader must balance strategic vision with operational rigor, bringing strong communication skills, financial acumen, people-centered leadership, and a deep commitment to grassroots organizing and environmental justice principles.

The ideal candidate will bring a demonstrated commitment to collaborative leadership, grassroots power building, coalition-based organizing, and decision-making practices rooted in the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. They will bring demonstrated experience leading teams, building sustainable fundraising strategies, supporting staff development, and navigating complex organizational and political dynamics with integrity and humility. Preferred candidates will bring bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

Key responsibilities for the position include, but are not limited to:

Leadership & Organizational Strategy

Providing visionary leadership and guiding the implementation of organizational priorities that strengthen LVEJO’s long-term sustainability, community impact, and organizational effectiveness.
Leading organizational rebuilding and transformation efforts by strengthening internal systems, administrative infrastructure, communication practices, and cross-functional collaboration.
Re-centering community organizing as a core component of LVEJO’s mission and ensuring programs and campaigns remain deeply rooted in community voice and participation.
Serving as the primary spokesperson and external representative for LVEJO, articulating a compelling vision for environmental and food justice as well as community power.
Supporting organizational alignment across advocacy, organizing, development, communications, and operations.

Staff Leadership & Culture Building

Leading, coaching, and supporting a team of eighteen full-time and two part-time staff members within a collaborative and community-centered organizational culture.
Building strong management systems and staff development practices that support accountability, communication, professional growth, and retention.
Fostering an organizational culture grounded in equity, transparency, collaboration, and respect for lived experience.
Supporting cross-departmental collaboration and reducing silos across organizing, food justice, policy, operations, and development work.
Creating systems and communication practices that strengthen trust and clarity during periods of organizational change.
Building and maintaining a constructive, collaborative, and respectful relationship with union leadership and represented staff, including supporting collective bargaining processes and fostering strong labor-management communication.
Assessing organizational capacity and helping establish clear strategic priorities that align staff workload, organizational resources, and community impact goals

Fundraising & Financial Sustainability

Developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that strengthens foundation support, individual giving, major donor engagement, and long-term financial sustainability.
Building and stewarding relationships with institutional funders, philanthropic partners, grassroots donors, and community supporters.
Expanding fundraising infrastructure and systems to support consistent donor cultivation, grant management, forecasting, and revenue diversification.
Ensuring strong financial management and oversight, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and transparent financial reporting.
Exploring opportunities to increase unrestricted and multi-year funding support while maintaining strong alignment with organizational mission and community priorities.

Board Development & Governance

Partnering with the Board of Directors to strengthen governance practices, strategic planning, organizational accountability, and board engagement.
Supporting the continued development and expansion of the Board of Directors with an emphasis on community representation, leadership capacity, and strategic expertise.
Providing clear and transparent reporting to the board regarding organizational priorities, finances, fundraising, and operational performance.
Supporting onboarding and development opportunities for board members to strengthen governance effectiveness and organizational stewardship.

Community Organizing, Advocacy & Program Impact

Supporting and strengthening LVEJO’s environmental justice, food justice, and youth leadership campaigns.
Building authentic relationships with community members, coalition partners, grassroots organizations, and public sector stakeholders.
Ensuring that organizational priorities remain grounded in community needs and lived experiences.
Representing LVEJO in local, regional, and national coalitions focused on environmental justice, climate justice, public health, food systems, and community development.
Supporting continued advocacy efforts related to environmental remediation, public transit equity, urban agriculture, clean air and water, and equitable development.
Helping elevate community storytelling, public awareness, and strategic communications efforts that strengthen understanding of LVEJO’s impact and mission.
Maintaining a visible and active presence within the Little Village community and broader environmental justice movement.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is based in Chicago, Illinois and requires a strong in-person community presence, including regular evening and weekend engagement throughout the Little Village community. The salary for this position is $150,000 - $160,000 with a generous benefits package.

How to Express Interest

To express your interest in this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter on Maneva Group's website.

All inquiries and discussions will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. This position is available immediately, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the role is filled.

We look forward to receiving your interest.

About Maneva Group

Maneva Group is a leading woman- and minority-owned executive search firm dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with organizations committed to making a meaningful impact. Through a consultative and client-focused approach, Maneva Group partners with mission-driven organizations to build transformative leadership teams.

Our name, Maneva, comes from the combination of two Sanskrit words: “Mānav” meaning mankind & “Sevā” meaning service. We are driven by the ideal of our name - service to humanity.