Director of Power Building

The Equity Alliance•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Director of Power Building leads The Equity Alliance’s organizing across its 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities. The role oversees year-round organizing and community engagement, community events, crisis response, and the electoral program, from field planning through election night. It also manages statewide partnerships and leads the Regional Organizing Managers, providing a clear plan, measurable goals, and coaching for regional teams. The director sets regional organizing and electoral plans; oversees community engagement events and calendars; leads nonpartisan voter registration and education; manages rapid response; runs field programs across paid and volunteer canvassing, phones, texts, and digital outreach; manages the electoral budget and reporting; supervises regional managers; and maintains partnerships with coalitions, Black Alliance partners, faith leaders, candidates, and community organizations. The role works with counsel and operations to maintain proper separation of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC activity and accurate time tracking across entities. The position requires statewide travel in Tennessee and a commitment to building power in Black communities across the state. Success includes written organizing and electoral plans for every region, events that develop volunteers and leaders, rapid crisis response, achievement of electoral contact goals, timely election debriefs, accurate entity time tracking, strong partner relationships, and supported regional managers.

Requirements

Seven or more years of experience in community organizing and electoral field work.
At least three years managing managers or a multi-region program.
Track record of building and running field programs at scale, meeting goals, and honestly reporting results.
Working knowledge of 501(c)(4) and PAC rules and cost sharing with a 501(c)(3), with judgment to consult counsel when needed.
Fluency in VAN and EveryAction, including building universes, cutting turf, and using data to adjust programs.
Experience building coalitions and working with funders, candidates, and partner organizations.
Experience running community events and turning attendance into an organized base.
Experience leading emergency response or a fast-moving campaign moment.
Experience managing a program budget.
Experience organizing in Black communities in the South and commitment to building power in Black communities across Tennessee.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel statewide.

Responsibilities

Set year-round organizing plans for each region, including base-building, deep canvassing, one-on-ones, and volunteer and leader development.
Oversee regional community engagement events, including Feed the Block, Harambe Happy Hours, CommuniTEA meetings, and cultural activations.
Own the statewide community engagement calendar, ensuring each event has an owner, turnout goal, and follow-up plan.
Ensure events capture participants, log conversations, and create next steps for engagement.
Maintain standards for deep canvassing scripts, training, and debriefs.
Lead nonpartisan voter registration and voter education, separate from the electoral program.
Lead regional crisis response and maintain a standing rapid response plan for each region.
Mobilize staff and volunteers for wellness checks, canvassing, and distribution of food, generators, and other emergency resources.
Follow crisis response with organizing to address underlying causes.
Build and manage The Equity Alliance Fund’s statewide electoral plan for each cycle, including priority races and geographies, voter universes, regional contact goals, staffing, and timelines.
Coordinate paid and volunteer canvassing, phone, text, and digital outreach as a layered program.
Lead voter guide distribution, early vote, and Get Out The Vote operations in Memphis, Nashville, Clarksville, and other priority counties.
Translate network endorsements into field programs in partnership with the Advocacy Manager.
Manage the electoral program budget and report against it monthly.
Report field metrics weekly during election cycles and provide a written debrief after each election.
Supervise and coach Regional Organizing Managers through weekly one-on-ones, goals, and feedback.
Oversee organizer and canvass corps hiring, training, and management through the Regional Organizing Managers.
Support team wellbeing and address burnout.
Represent The Equity Alliance at state and regional coalition tables and coordinated campaign planning.
Manage the BlackPrint partner engagement system, including the partner list and structured one-on-one cycles with community organizations, faith leaders, and candidates.
Coordinate outreach with Black Alliance partner organizations in their communities.
Draft partner agreements and MOUs and route them for executive approval before signature.
Work with counsel and operations to maintain appropriate separation of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC activity.
Ensure staff working across entities track their time accurately each week.
Understand and train the team on coordination rules for work with candidates and campaigns before each cycle.
Travel statewide as needed.