Community Organizing and Power Building Specialist
About The Position
The Center, established in 1972, is a community non-profit dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of the San Diego LGBTQ+ community. Its mission is to create a welcoming, valued, and supported environment for all, acting as a beacon for the regional LGBTQ+ community. The Center provides 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 aims to promote LGBTQ+ health and wellness, combat discrimination, and advance human rights by amplifying marginalized voices. The organization believes that community health and wellness are inseparable from strong advocacy and community power. The Community Organizing and Power Building Specialist, reporting to the Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement, will support, coordinate, and implement The Center's community organizing, engagement, empowerment, and advocacy efforts. This role will advance LGBTQ+ organizing priorities in partnership with the Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing and the Chief Impact Officer, and will coordinate the strategy and execution of LGBTQ+ political power campaigns. Additionally, the Specialist will facilitate a Community-Led Civic Engagement Model for LGBTQ+ Systems Change in San Diego (CLCEM), a three-year research initiative with San Diego State University. This involves coordinating a Community Research Advisory Council, supporting research activities, and developing a civic engagement model and narrative reframing toolkit.
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
- Lead on-the-ground organizing and implementation of The Center's civic engagement campaigns and activities.
- Coordinate closely with colleagues to organize and implement community engagement and empowerment strategies aligned with agency goals.
- Build and sustain a community research council that integrates lived experience into research, policy, and civic action.
- Contribute to The Center's growth to deepen the impact of advocacy and civic engagement goals.
- Represent The Center externally at movement building efforts, coalition tables, and community events.
- Work closely with the Chief Impact Officer and Director of Advocacy & Civic Engagement to achieve civic engagement, organizing, and LGBTQ+ power building goals.
- Recruit, onboard, and coordinate the Community Research Advisory Council (up to 20 paid community research partners).
- Schedule and facilitate Community Research Advisory Council meetings, track participation, and manage logistics.
- Partner with San Diego State University to support focus groups, surveys, and interpretation of needs assessment findings.
- 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 live testing of 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 dissemination of project findings to peer LGBTQ+ community centers nationally.
- Work with Political Data Inc. (PDI) to manage, track, and analyze voter data.
- 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.
- 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.
- Engage volunteers by hosting regular FACE-branded social events.
- Serve as the point of contact for and process incoming outreach requests for the Public Affairs Department.
- Represent The Center at external community events aligned with the Public Affairs Department.
- Develop and maintain working relationships with external organizations.
- Coordinate The Center's presence at major regional mobilizing events.
- Work with the Communications team to communicate organizing efforts to staff, donors, volunteers, and the community.
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
