Opportunity Snapshot: The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), the nation's leading movement-lawyering organization, is seeking a liberation-minded Executive Director to guide the next chapter of an institution that has fought alongside social justice movements for six decades. Founded in 1966 by civil rights attorneys representing movements in the Jim Crow South, CCR has built a singular legacy of taking on the cases and issues that few peer organizations will, fusing strategic litigation, advocacy, and narrative shifting to dismantle systems of oppression regardless of the risk.

CCR enters this leadership transition from a position of remarkable strength. The organization has reinforced its financial footing, deepened movement partnerships, expanded its presence in the U.S. South, and maintained internationalist commitments through one of the most volatile political moments in recent memory. As CCR celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026, leadership and staff describe this transition as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor what has been built, sharpen organizational systems, and carry CCR's bold, movement-accountable practice into its next era.

Building on the long and distinguished tenure of Executive Director Vincent Warren, the next leader will inherit an organization profoundly shaped by Vince's twenty years at the helm. Across his tenure, Vince has guided CCR from what he has described as “a scrappy civil rights litigator” into a “bold, anticipatory force in constitutional and human rights advocacy.” Under his leadership, CCR successfully challenged the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy and the surveillance and profiling of Muslim communities, ended long-term solitary confinement at California's Pelican Bay State Prison, established the persecution of LGBTQIA+ people as a crime against humanity, and led the decades-long legal battle on behalf of the men detained at Guantanamo, organizing and coordinating hundreds of pro bono lawyers across the country in the process. He has also stewarded CCR's expanding presence in the U.S. South and its unwavering, public stance on Palestine, cultivated an extraordinary network of movement partners, peer leaders and donors, and served as a trusted spokesperson whose calibrated public voice has anchored the organization through complex political moments. Looking ahead, CCR’s next Executive Director is well-positioned to lead an organization Vince describes as “strong, principled, and battle-ready.”

CCR’s next leader will be invited to bring their own vision, lead the next phase of CCR's growth, and carry forward an institutional practice rooted in radical politics, movement accountability, and a refusal to cower in the face of power.

A J.D. and prior litigation experience are strongly preferred but not required. Candidates without a J.D. who have led organizations of comparable scope and complexity to CCR and built their careers in or alongside movement lawyering organizations are also encouraged to apply. This national search invites leaders who bring the courage and strategic wisdom to be at the forefront during a moment that demands vision, principle, and imagination.

Compensation and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $262,000 to $305,000, set on CCR's tiered management salary scale and commensurate with years of relevant professional experience. This approach is applied consistently across the organization, ensuring transparency in how CCR sets compensation at every level. CCR's framework includes annual step increases up to a defined maximum, additional incentive pay that accrues with years of service at CCR, and a generous benefits package that spans comprehensive health coverage, employer-sponsored retirement, paid family and parental leave, Winter Wellness Week, and select Summer Fridays.

Executive Director-specific supplemental benefits include uncapped professional development, discretionary meeting and conference funding, enhanced data privacy protections, and relocation reimbursement of up to $8,000 for new hires required to relocate to New York City.

Inquiries: Candidates may submit a resume and tailored cover letter via the Avra Search Partners website. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and priority will be given to those received by Monday, August 3.

We welcome confidential inquiries and expressions of interest by email to Chartise Clark, Founder and Managing Partner, at cclark@avrasearch.com.