Description:
The Executive Director will further refine and implement The Just Power Alliance vision and lay the groundwork for a vibrant and secure future for the organization. This person will work closely with The Alliance Board and Organizers to 1) establish a foundation for a healthy organization that prioritizes building and maintaining deep relationships across the network, 2) identify and pursue funding opportunities, and 3) ensure the evolution of high quality training in the art of power organizing.
The ED will help establish and maintain a democratic and transparent organization, with collaborative leadership that deepens the impact of member organizations, increases the power and sustainability of broad-based community organizing and ultimately builds a platform for action on a regional and/or national level.
Your responsibilities in Phase One (roughly the first year)
- Establish, maintain and grow a collective “we” in the organization, by
- acquiring intimate knowledge of each organization, its organizers and leaders through regular visits
- convening once or twice yearly gatherings of organizers and leaders across alliance and ensuring ongoing communication, connection, and development of leaders and organizers across organizations.
- cultivating relationships with other organizations in the field
- Grow the Alliance’s financial resources, in close collaboration with the Fundraising Team, by:
- Researching the funding landscape and develop an analysis highlighting most promising opportunities
- Developing and implementing a fundraising strategy, one that benefits both the Alliance and our member organizations
- Ensure high quality and culturally competent training
- Ensure that curriculum evolves as needed, combining the fundamentals of broad-based community organizing, with enhanced pedagogy and a focus on issues of race, class, and gender. NOTE: Training will be delivered by Alliance organizers; ED’s role will be to ensure that the work is sustained and grown, through twice yearly gatherings, followed by rigorous evaluation and revision.
- Ensure that advanced training for seasoned organizers and leaders is offered regularly.
Anticipated responsibilities for a later stage of the organization’s development
- Provide consultation and support on nonprofit management; guidance to local affiliates on a range of nonprofit management practices including HR and operations.
- Strengthen and expand the workforce of professional organizers
- Facilitate the process of building a platform for collective action across the member organizations.
WHO YOU ARE & KEYS TO YOUR SUCCESS
You have an entrepreneurial spirit and a great deal of initiative, while you also value and practice collaborative leadership. You have a passion for working closely with leaders to realize their vision. You adapt well to uncertainty, and are committed to an iterative process, as we collectively hone our vision and determine a path forward. Highly relational, you are curious about people, are a deep listener, draw energy from social interactions, and are adept at fostering and weaving connections among people.
You have all or most of the following:
- Commitment to the mission and values of The Just Power Alliance, including democracy and transparency, diversity, equity and inclusion through the Alliance’s internal and external practices, and building a healthy organizational culture.
- Familiarity with and appreciation for the field of broad-based community organizing.
- Ability to think strategically, and to balance immediate and short term tasks with a guiding, high level and long-term vision.
- Talent for establishing deep and trusting relationships, eliciting and appreciating the self-interests of others, and comfort in holding them accountable to their own, and to the Alliance’s interests.
- Ability to facilitate a group process to build cohesion and consensus.
- Capacity to attend to multiple priorities, highly organized and meticulous about follow-up
- Track record and/or a passion for fundraising.