Organizing Director

Sacred Heart Community Service•San Jose, CA

5d•$105,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

Sacred Heart Community Service (SHCS) is seeking an experienced manager of organizers to lead, develop, innovate, and integrate efforts to build a base of grassroots leaders and allies. The role spearheads campaigns to address the root causes of poverty and inequality. The ideal candidate must be highly organized, possess an ability to work flexibly and creatively, and demonstrate superior organizing, training, and communication skills. This position is committed to SHCS's vision of a community united to ensure every child and adult is free from poverty, an approach of driving policy change through transformational leadership development, and developing programs through an anti-racism and anti-oppression worldview. SHCS has a 60-year history of addressing poverty in Santa Clara County by meeting basic needs, offering tools for self-sufficiency, and building power for systemic change. The Organizing Director will continue this tradition by playing a key role in planning and supporting successful community-shaped policy campaigns and developing sustained, democratic organizing committees. The Organizing Director guides SHCS’ efforts to make change and fulfill its vision, leading efforts to develop the skills, consciousness, and involvement of low-income communities and their allies, while spearheading policy campaigns to exercise grassroots power for material changes. The position supports the training of staff and membership on the root causes of poverty and systems of oppression, and develops staff capacity to organize and mobilize membership for committees and policy campaigns. The Director supports the development and implementation of a policy advocacy agenda, working with and increasing the capacity of grassroots leadership, organizational stakeholders, and community allies.

Requirements

Strong commitment to our vision of uniting the community to ensure every child and adult is free from poverty
Ability to work with diverse people, communities, and cultures, with understanding of culturally competent practices
Five to seven years of experience working in community/labor organizing
Three years of experience in management
Ability to motivate and inspire members to take action
Demonstrated experience in grassroots leadership development programs, including curriculum development, training, and tracking systems
Demonstrated experience in campaign planning and public policy advocacy
Willingness to meet people where they’re at and work with new and prospective allies
Demonstrated experience with both volunteer recruitment and popular education techniques
Superior facilitation, verbal, written, and presentation skills
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, ability to multitask, provide quick responses and highly organized
Excellent work ethic with flexibility for occasional long hours during peak campaign periods, and some evenings and weekends
Computer literacy with proficiency in database systems (i.e., Salesforce or similar relationship management software), web-based communications, and Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Bilingual in Spanish/English

Responsibilities

Directs the development and implementation of outreach and organizing plans, including training, communications systems, databases, strategic and tactical plans.
Develops and leads efforts to recruit leaders through door-to-door canvassing, one-on-one meetings, social service program outreach, and house meetings.
Leads planning and coordination of action committees to build an effective, ongoing organization and maintain the involvement of grassroots leaders.
Directly organizes federated committee structure, focusing on developing advanced leadership to set campaign priorities, coordinate training efforts, and provide input into staff hiring and evaluation.
Designs and oversees training on leadership/organizing topics: member recruitment, facilitation and public speaking, issue development and analysis, media relations, campaign planning, and power analysis.
Oversees participatory action research and analysis efforts with leaders.
Oversees and facilitates the development of grassroots action campaigns, including developing effective campaign strategy, coordination of campaign tactics, and recruiting coalition allies.
Facilitates the training, support, and professional development of organizers and program staff to run and win community organizing campaigns at the local level.
Supports the development and implementation of the SHCS policy advocacy strategy, working with the Policy Director and the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships to ensure coordination with organizational stakeholders in planning, campaign development, partner cultivation, and web-based advocacy efforts.
Supports the identification of policy advocacy opportunities aligned with SHCS's vision, mission, and core values.
Collaborates on efforts to engage and build the capacity of organizational stakeholders and community allies in policy advocacy campaigns.
Oversees the development, tracking, and reporting of advocacy and organizing program goals, outcomes, and performance metrics.
Leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of advocacy and organizing policies and procedures.
Oversees the recruitment and management of organizing volunteers and interns.
Manages organizing staff by providing program structure, direction, training, support, and feedback; oversees recruitment and hiring of organizing staff.
Supports media relations efforts, including press cultivation, coordination of media events, and securing media coverage.
Facilitates and supports resource development efforts for the organizing program, including proposal preparation, funder presentations, direct solicitation, and reporting.
Identifies and builds coalitions with key community partners.
Serves as liaison with local and regional organizing collaborations, community allies, policymakers, and organizational stakeholders.
Supports the implementation of trainings and support systems for coalition partners.
Supports the planning and implementation of SHCS programs, events, training, and outreach efforts.
Serves as a member of the Senior Management Team and as an on-site manager as needed.
Acts as a “mandated reporter” by maintaining strict adherence to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Law.
Attends Board of Directors meetings and Board committee meetings as assigned.
Performs other duties as assigned.