Faith Organizer & Programs Manager

The Faith Organizer and Programs Manager is a forward thinking, passionate leader for change who is excited to collaborate with a dynamic team and organization, working together to fight for freedom without favor, and equality without exception. 

You’ll be helping grow and mobilize a sustainable, collaborative network of educated and engaged individuals and organizations that support church-state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and their dependent issues through visibility, education and activation efforts that are interconnected, impactful, and build upon each other.

This role focuses on creating, managing and growing dynamic in person and remote initiatives, organizing and activation within the faith community (including faith leaders, people of faith and congregations), as well as significant engagement with the pro-democracy space or other key constituencies. You’ll also have opportunities to collaborate across the organization around the intersections of other key issues and communities (e.g. LGBTQ+, communities of color, reproductive rights, public education, fighting christian nationalism and other forms of extremism). 

This is a full-time, exempt position. This position is a union role; it is included in the bargaining unit represented by AU Collective in connection with SEIU Local 500.

Background

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead faith organizing and initiatives
  • Create, manage and grow a dynamic and impactful portfolio of programs, projects, and organizing within the faith community that grows awareness, support, and activation/collaboration around AU, church state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and their dependent issues
  • Work across AU departments to represent the shared interests of the faith community and proactively identify and implement internal opportunities for their activation
• Co-lead partnership initiatives
  • Develop and manage a dynamic and impactful portfolio of partnerships in the pro-democracy space or other key constituencies & community spaces that elevate and connect AU, church state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and our issues
• Create, collaborate, and consult across the department and organization
  • Create, collaborate and consult with colleagues across the department, both proactively and responsively, including: events, the Summit for Religious Freedom, education & training, advocacy and activism, and other efforts as needed
• Be a public leader
  • Support AU’s public engagement portfolio (e.g. conferences, webinars) including:
    • Represent AU at these events with fluency on our organization, church state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and our core issues, especially those in your portfolio
    • Engage with a variety of audiences at tabling, organizing, public speaking and other public engagement events

Skills and Experience

*Research shows candidates from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for positions when they don't meet 100% of listed requirements; please consider applying even if you don’t match 100% of these criteria.

• Minimum of 4 years of organizing, advocacy and coalition building experience primarily within faith communities
  • AU considers all full- and part-time work that does not overlap with full-time school attendance, and volutneer work with substantial responsibilty, toward the minimum experinece requirement
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Proven ability and excitement for organizing and activating the faith community (including faith leaders, people of faith and congregations), both remotely and in-person, and a profound belief in their role for positive change
• Experience and imagination to create, manage and grow new and existing programs (long-term/ongoing) and projects (short-term/campaign) including delegating, multi-tasking and managing up
• Strong belief in church-state separation and inclusive religious freedom 
• Ability to collaborate productively with stakeholders of differing viewpoints, work across diverse communities (e.g. race, age, class, LGBTQ+, religious/nonreligious), and integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into our work.
• Is proactive, can work independently, and demonstrates a strong attention to detail
• Excellent writing, communication and public speaking skills
• Experience with or willingness to learn relevant technologies (e.g. VAN, Basecamp, Google Drive, Slack, Zoom, conference management tools)

The following skills and experience are preferred, but not required:

• Knowledge, experience, and/or existing networks related to any of our key constituency and community spaces:
  • church-state separation and/or inclusive religious freedom
  • pro-democracy
  • LGBTQ+ rights, public education, reproductive rights, young people and/or communities of color
• Fluency in Spanish or another language

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range is $76,500 to $93,850 for a candidate with 4 to 16+ years of experience. The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined by the number of years of relevant experience they bring to the role and their qualifications. Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Work Location

This role can work remotely from anywhere in the United States or from our Washington, DC office. The role requires travel to represent AU at events around the country, as well as occasional night and weekend work. 

How to Apply

Please submit a resume. In lieu of a cover letter, you will be asked to provide brief resopnses to three role-related questions when submitting your application. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.