Job Opening: Organizing Director

The People’s Action/Institute Organizing Director will drive the organization forward with extraordinary passion and focus toward a powerful vision of long-term structural change and ambitious annual campaign, policy, communications, electoral and power-building goals.

Position Overview

People’s Action (501(c)(4)) and People’s Action Institute (501(c)(3)) are seeking an Organizing Director to drive an ambitious program that is going on offense on bold progressive policy change at the local, state and national levels, playing stifling defense against the Trump and right-wing agenda, and building power together with affiliates and our national individual membership. The Organizing Director will invest deeply in a team of talented staff and work with them to align issue campaigns, policy, movement politics, communications, power building, and leadership training. This is the dream job of someone who wants to be on the front line of the opposition to Trump and the right, in an organization deeply committed to building power at scale through organized people, money and ideas. This position reports to the Executive Director(s) and works in partnership with the Managing Director.

Job Responsibilities

  • Drive, drive, drive. Own the project of aligning the big four elements of integrated campaigns – next generation issues and policies, civic engagement and elections, narrative and communications, and building power. Then drive the organization forward to build power and win in the biggest ways possible.
  • Create razor-sharp campaigns. Use your deep campaign, power analysis, issue-cutting skills to help campaign directors and the policy director and their staff create and execute razor sharp campaign strategies. There should be clarity in the organization and across the network about who our targets are and how we’re going to win. This is about building a culture of campaigning that electrifies and focuses people.
  • Build independent political power. Together with our network and allies, we are building toward bold progressive governing power in cities and states. This focus should be baked in to all of our programmatic work.
  • Invest in staff and network leadership. Demonstrate how a team approach – with a sharp vision and clear responsibilities – is the right way to realize our ambitious campaign goals. Use agitation and compassion to bring out the best in people. Build a following on the staff and in the network that you are in deep relationship with.
  • Make No Small Plans. But do make well-written ones. Own the project of having well written campaign plans and supporting documents that project our work out eighteen months in advance. The staff and network should really own these plans.
  • Look to the long-term. Push every campaign to address not just the short-term gains but how they interact to win long-term agenda – especially on the state level.
  • Assist in setting strategy and goals. Work closely with the Executive Directors, Managing Director Board and senior staff to develop and articulate overall organizational strategy, goals, and plans.
  • Manage effectively. Supervise the leadership of Movement Politics and Power Department, Communications Department, Policy Department and Campaign Directors. Make staffing, structure and resource decisions critical to achieving organizational goals; recruit, hire, develop and retain high-performing senior staff and manage them to achieve People’s Action annual goals; ensure the right people are in the right roles and that there is role clarity at all levels; ensure adequate communication and coordination across departments; build and model performance-oriented culture.
  • Manage up effectively. Accurately determine what issues the Co-Executive Directors need to (help) address and make key operational decisions in their absence.
  • Be a public leader. Manage a portfolio of external ally and donor relationships, and represent the organization with a variety of audiences.
  • Build deep trust. Invest in relationships with staff in order to deeply understand their self-interest, including in-person time.
  • Be inclusive. Recognize and appreciate different ways of working and being.
  • Model our values and culture. Model optimism inside and outside the organization, and reinforce our core values and culture. Model transparent and accountable decision- making, and build this culture on staff.
  • Integrate new ideas and work. Take the hand off of ideas, deals, relationships, and new areas of work from the Co-Executive Directors and Managing Director and move them through the implementation stage with appropriate staffing and adjustments to roles.
  • Be an innovator and prospector. Cast around for the next big issue and specific issue cut, electoral strategy, power building plan, etc.

Experience

The ideal candidate should have the following experience and qualifications:

  • A minimum of 10 years experience working with community, labor, or electoral organizations where you had success in developing and winning campaigns. Similar level of experience supervising staff, with a strong track record of building teams and developing staff leadership.
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational communication skills.
  • Management training and experience.
  • Commitment to racial, gender and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside organizations.
  • Ability and willingness to travel regularly.

 

Salary and Benefits

Salary is based on experience; you should put your desired range in your cover letter. Our competitive benefits package includes family medical, dental and vision insurance; 401(k) plan with 3% employer contribution after six months of employment; flexible spending account; life insurance; and paid time off at the end of December in addition to paid vacation.

Application Process

Send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to [email protected] with “Organizing Director” in the subject line. Visit our website to learn more about us at peoplesaction.org.

Position is open until filled. People’s Action Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer; women, people of color and LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Posted 2.13.17 and open until filled.