Community Organizing and Power Building Specialist

San Diego LGBT Community Center • San Diego, CA

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center, a community non-profit established in 1972, serves the San Diego LGBTQ+ community with targeted programs and services. Its mission is to enhance the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, nonbinary, immigrant, and HIV communities, aiming to create a welcoming, valued, and supported environment. The Center focuses on advocacy, critical health and social support services, guided by values of equity, social justice, and client-centered, trauma-informed care. With over 100 staff across seven facilities, The Center has a history of organizing community electoral power through its civic engagement and advocacy program. This program works to promote LGBTQ+ health and wellness, combat discrimination, and advance human rights by amplifying marginalized voices. A core belief is that community health and wellness depend on strong advocacy and power.

This position, under the Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement, supports and implements community organizing, engagement, empowerment, and advocacy efforts. It collaborates with the Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing and the Chief Impact Officer to advance LGBTQ+ organizing priorities and political power campaigns. The role also facilitates a Community-Led Civic Engagement Model for LGBTQ+ Systems Change in San Diego (CLCEM), a research initiative with San Diego State University. This involves coordinating a Community Research Advisory Council, supporting research activities, and developing civic engagement tools.

Requirements

• At least three years of experience in community organizing, civic engagement, advocacy, or campaign work (paid or volunteer).
• Experience recruiting, training, and managing volunteers or community members.
• Experience facilitating meetings and groups with people of different backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort working with data, including spreadsheets, databases, and participation tracking.
• Knowledge of and commitment to LGBTQ+ communities and racial, gender, and economic justice.
• Availability for some evenings and weekends.
• Reliable transportation for local travel across San Diego County.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with community-based participatory research, surveys, focus groups, or program evaluation.
• Experience with PDI, VAN, GetThru, or similar voter contact tools.
• Experience supporting community members in public testimony, storytelling, or narrative change work.
• Familiarity with San Diego's LGBTQ+ community, coalitions, and local government.
• Familiarity with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonpartisan compliance.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, onboard, and coordinate the Community Research Advisory Council, including managing meetings, participation tracking, and communications.
• Partner with the San Diego State University Institute for Public Health to support research activities like focus groups and surveys.
• Co-develop and refine the civic engagement model and narrative reframing toolkit with the Community Research Advisory Council.
• Document continuous quality improvement cycles for the model and toolkit.
• Maintain project activity records and support grant reporting.
• Support community members in testing the narrative reframing toolkit during public testimony and advocacy opportunities.
• Contribute to the development of the civic engagement model guide, narrative reframing toolkit, and policy recommendations brief.
• Support the dissemination of project findings to other LGBTQ+ community centers nationally.
• Manage, track, and analyze voter data using Political Data Inc. (PDI) to inform campaign performance.
• Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing team to develop organizing and outreach materials.
• Produce post-campaign reports tracking work outcomes and political impact.
• Lead the Fierce Advocacy and Civic Engagement (FACE) Volunteer Team to build and sustain a volunteer base.
• Coordinate community events and leadership programs with the advocacy and civic engagement team.
• Complete administrative data reporting on civic engagement strategies.
• Lead the implementation of the Center's civic engagement strategy for nonpartisan campaigns (elections, census, redistricting, voter empowerment).
• Organize and mobilize the LGBTQ+ community for engagement efforts to influence the San Diego region.
• Engage volunteers by hosting regular FACE-branded social events.
• Serve as the point of contact for and process incoming outreach requests.
• Represent The Center at external community events and coalition tables.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with external organizations.
• Coordinate The Center's presence at major mobilizing events in the region.
• Work with the Communications team to effectively communicate community organizing efforts to various stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure organizing efforts are communicated through social media platforms.

Benefits

• Competitive Pay Scales
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (with company match)
• Full Medical, Dental, Vision, and Chiropractic Health Coverage
• Out-of-Pocket Optional Coverage for Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Dependent Children
• Full-time and Part-Time Schedules
• Generous Vacation and Holiday Benefits
• Professional Training & Development Experiences
• Opportunities for Promotion & Advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed