Deputy Organizing & Training Director

About the organization 

Citizen Action is a statewide grassroots movement organization that fights for political, social, racial, economic and environmental justice. We work at the grassroots to give people a sense of their own power. We collaborate with organizations and coalitions in communities throughout New York to address critical issues at the local, state and federal levels. 

About the position 

Citizen Action is looking to add a Deputy Organizing and Training Director to our team. This position will report to the Statewide Organizing Director. The purpose of the Deputy Organizing and Training Director position is to ensure that the organizing staff  have the training and support they need to continually develop their skills and worldview, to be able to train the members and leaders and volunteers of the organization, and to work with the Statewide Organizing Director to build community leadership and advance Citizen Action’s campaigns. 

We take pride in hiring staff who share our values & characteristics:

• Strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization.
• Strong alignment with our theory of change
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to solve problems;
• Willing to create and support a culture of accountability that is not punitive but supportive.

What you’ll do and the impact you'll make

In collaboration with the Statewide Organizing Director, work with organizing staff to build large active leadership teams that are advancing Citizen Action’s campaigns

• Through systems of accountability and metrics for staff.
• Partner with the Statewide Organizing Director to evaluate and analyze staff skills and training needs consistently, providing support and feedback for improvement, while also uplifting the work that staff do well.  
• Ensure that staff center and focus membership in their day-to-day work through leadership development and governance of regions.
• Integrate and promote political education, racial justice, and organizing skills training programs internally and externally alongside the statewide organizing director.
• Operationalize a regular training program that ensures regional staff and members are well trained and will execute strategic issues and electoral campaigns.    
• Mentor staff in building political power, train staff in political organizing, fundraising growth, new member organizing, and coordination of multiple campaigns.
• Make strategic assessments about where to use organizing and political resources.
• Work independently, exercising judgment within the scope of responsibility.
• Partner with our Program Manager on organization wide events where training is a large component of the agenda such as our Leadership Summit. 

Skills/Qualifications

• Minimum five years experience with grassroots member-based organizing, with professional experience in community, issue, and electoral organizing. Demonstrated excellence in and the ability to train on organizing skills including: field planning, script development, door knocking, membership recruitment, phonebanks, power analysis, campaign planning, leadership development, meeting facilitation, supervision and delegation, time management, and the strategy chart. 
• Preferred experience in leadership position at a power building organization and/or extensive supervision experience.
• 5 or more years of experience with leading participatory workshops and training in large and small groups. Includes, in person, virtual, and hybrid. 
• Ability and willingness to fully adopt use of Google Drive, EveryAction, Asana, VAN, Slack, Action Network, Scale to Win, Spoke, and any other tools used by the organizations.
• Superior communication skills, including by telephone, email, and in-person as well as a commitment to follow up.
• Ability to think critically and proactively and remain effective under pressure. Skilled at managing their own time, including the ability to be flexible and work with shifting priorities. Skilled at managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Highly functional as both a collaborative team player and a self-motivated independent agent.
• A proven ability to connect and relate to people from diverse backgrounds and a strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization.
• Significant experience with successful facilitation of campaign planning, organizational processes, and meetings.
• Willingness to travel across the upstate regions regularly. 
• Must have a vehicle and a valid driver’s license. 
• Must live in upstate New York or be willing to relocate. 

Preferred:

• Able to speak Spanish fluently. 
• A willingness to work with the Statewide Organizing Director and leadership to identify funding opportunities for staffing, training, and other relevant departmental needs. 
• A willingness to work with the Statewide Organizing Director to formalize higher education partnerships for a structured field placement/internship program. 

Location

This job requires frequent travel across New York State to conduct training with staff and leaders. Overnight and weekend travel may be occasionally required. Travel may include multiple day trips and over weekends. The position requires owning a vehicle and a valid driver’s license.

Our Benefits

• Working collaboratively in an organization at the forefront of building power across NYS 
• Competitive salary
• 100% paid employee monthly medical and vision premiums
• Access to mental health and dental plans
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Generous paid holidays, vacation time, and paid sick leave
• Organization shutdown weeks in July and December, and Summer Fridays

Please note, all benefits are subject to change.

Salary: $80,000-$85,000

Equal Opportunity Employer

Citizen Action of NY and The Public Policy and Education Fund are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. We are looking for the most passionate people who want to join our team. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Applicants may be entitled to reasonable accommodations under the terms of the ADA and state/local laws. Please let us know if you need assistance participating in the interview process.