Power Building Co-Director at Southern Vision Alliance

About SVA

Southern Vision Alliance (SVA) is a values-based “grassroots intermediary” organized to provide infrastructure, capacity-building, coaching, and technical assistance to groups and projects led by directly impacted communities. SVA supports emergent grassroots groups and efforts organizing for social, racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice in the U.S. South. We build movement infrastructure, mobilize resources, and incubate collaborative solidarity. SVA is headquartered in Durham, NC, and supports a diverse cohort of fiscally sponsored projects, groups, and funds across the US South.

Job Description

Power Building is a program that involves people and groups taking collective action to improve collective material conditions. Power Building is building organizations and movements that fight for democratic control of resources, for equity and liberation. The ultimate goal is a society where all people can live free from poverty and hunger, set priorities, and where resources are used for the health, well-being, and benefit of all, rather than the profit and leisure of a few. We believe that lasting change is bottom-up and comes from progressive social movements making demands on power and articulating a better vision for the future. The Power Building program will have two Co-Directors sharing some responsibilities described in this job description.

Working alongside the other Power Building Co-Director, this role co-leads SVA’s Power Building Department and is responsible for planning and implementing the organization’s power-building strategies. The Power Building Co-Director works closely with grassroots organizations, frontline leaders, and fiscally sponsored projects to strengthen their capacity to grow their membership bases, develop leadership, build movements, respond in times of crisis, and run campaigns.

This role combines strategy, relationship-building, and hands-on support. The Co-Directors collaborate closely with organizations to support their organizing and power-building efforts. They help connect groups to training, resources, and each other, and support the infrastructure needed to build lasting power. Alongside the other Co-Director, they support staff, coordinate across teams, and help keep SVA responsive to movement needs in the South.

How We Do Our Work

All staff are expected to adhere to the organizational values and culture described in the personnel handbook. How we do our work is as important as what we do. Staff are expected to:

• Be a cooperative and supportive teammate
• Respond promptly to all communications via email, Slack, and other organizational communication methods
• Work the hours committed to every week
• Share concerns clearly, directly, and respectfully
• Be receptive to feedback
• Be solution-oriented toward challenges
• Act with honesty and integrity
• Treat colleagues and community members with respect

Job Responsibilities:

• Be part of the Sponsored Project Team, serving as the primary point of contact (Project Liaison) for a designated group of fiscally sponsored projects, maintaining strong, consistent relationships and meeting with each project at least quarterly.
• This is a supervisory position. The Power Building Co-Director will manage staff consistently, exercise independent judgment to transfer, evaluate, assign work, require tasks and deliverables, set deadlines, approve PTO requests and schedules, approve or alter work plans, evaluate, discipline, handle complaints and conflicts among supervisees in accordance with SVA’s policies, and recommend promotions or terminations. Supervisors are held accountable for the performance of the employees they direct. The Power Building Co-Director will supervise employees on the Power Building team and potentially other employees. For the employees they direct, supervisors will hold regular check-in meetings, provide annual evaluations, and may institute disciplinary action as needed.
• The Power Building Co-Director will:
  • Use independent judgment to transfer, evaluate, assign work, require tasks and deliverables, and set deadlines;
  • Approve PTO requests and schedules;
  • Approve or alter work plans and track progress;
  • Evaluate and discipline supervisees;
  • Handle complaints and conflicts among supervisees in accordance with SVA’s policies; and
  • Recommend promotions or terminations.
• Create opportunities and events for collaboration across sponsored projects and the broader SVA ecosystem.
• Engage in analysis and movement strategy related to power building and movement infrastructure.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and partner recruitment within SVA’s ecosystem and the broader movement.
• Provide rapid response support to designated Fiscally Sponsored Projects as needed, remaining flexible while upholding core responsibilities.
• Uphold security protocols, risk awareness, and de-escalation practices across all in-person and digital spaces.
• Support planning and implementation of key power-building initiatives, including the Power Building Cohort, the Block and Build Rapid Response Fund, youth organizing support, and movement defense work.
• Support staff with clear priorities and coordinated work planning across the Power Building Department and in coordination with other SVA programs.
• Help plan and support major convenings such as the All Member Gathering and Southern Summit.
• Maintain clear documentation, notes, and updates in internal systems, including Airtable and shared drives.
• Work with the Co-Director to manage the department budget and payments.
• Support fundraising and reporting in partnership with the Development team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in grassroots organizing, power building, movement infrastructure, or related work, including direct work with frontline groups or directly impacted communities.
• Experience in developing organizing strategies, base-building plans, leadership development trainings, or campaigns.
• Strong facilitation and convening skills, with experience supporting collaborative learning spaces.
• Solid project management skills, with the ability to plan, coordinate, and follow through on projects with multiple partners and timelines.
• Knowledge of the Southern organizing landscape, particularly in North Carolina.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships across organizations, leaders, and networks.
• Experience balancing strategy and implementation, including hands-on coordination and follow-through.
• Experience with budget management and program-level financial oversight.
• Experience supporting fundraising, grant writing, and/or reporting for programs or organizations.
• Strong organizational systems thinker with the ability to create clarity in dynamic environments.
• Strong strategic planning, facilitation, and project management capabilities.

Personal Attributes

• Steady, grounded leadership style with follow-through.
• Ability to balance visionary thinking with operational discipline.

SVA is headquartered in Durham, NC, and supports a diverse cohort of fiscally sponsored projects, groups, and funds across North Carolina.

People of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to a diverse workplace and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.

SVA is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discriminatory employment actions and treatment against employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, and/or past incarceration.

Generous health, dental, and vision insurance, health reimbursement account, dependent care reimbursement account, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, 401k retirement plan with a 3% employer match, optional employee-paid short and long-term disability insurance, optional additional employee-paid life insurance coverage, annual professional development funds, generous leave policies, and more.