Executive Director

The Just Power Alliance

Executive Director

4/3/2024

The Just Power Alliance seeks to hire a founding Executive Director to launch our new organization.  This position reports to the Executive Committee of The Just Power Alliance Board.

WHO WE ARE:

The Just Power Alliance is locally rooted with national impact, working on some of the most important issues of our time. Our vision of a better world is one where all people have a seat at the table when decisions are made in our democracy. We believe that people—tenants, school parents, frontline workers, people impacted by the criminal justice system, and community members—have the best ideas about how to solve the most challenging problems. Achieving racial justice is central to our mission.

Though the Alliance is brand new, our 8 current member organizations have been firmly established in our local communities for years, winning victories in such areas as housing, affordable health care, criminal justice reform and many more. Together, we have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people by engaging and training citizen leaders and catalyzing powerful and strategic organizing. 

The Alliance is being created by, and is accountable to our member organizations, to enhance, strengthen and expand the field of broad-based, multi-issue organizing and to marshal our collective power to address today’s urgent issues on a broader scale.

The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are strongly encouraged to apply

WHY WORK FOR The Just Power Alliance:

● Big Impact: We have impacted hundreds of thousands of people through organizing power

with people to shape education, housing, jobs, youth, racial equity and economic justice.

The Alliance is a vehicle for community leaders to act together for a seat at the table to shape their local communities, states, and the country.

● Great People: Work alongside and in the service of a talented, visionary, inspiring,

dedicated and diverse team of leaders. We take our drive to build power for the people

seriously and we work hard. We take the work seriously but try to not take ourselves too

seriously. We also strive to do so with joy, a sense of humor and balance.

● Opportunity to grow: We strive for a work culture of learning, growth and development.

We strive to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to work on projects that

stretch them and are deeply meaningful. Be a part of a team made up of interesting,

smart, driven and diverse colleagues and leaders who are deeply committed to their

own growth and the growth of each other. 

WHAT YOUR ROLE WOULD BE

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)

A. Establish, maintain and grow a collective “we” in the organization, by

1. acquiring intimate knowledge of each organization, its organizers and leaders through regular visits
2. 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. 
3. cultivating relationships with other organizations in the field

B. Grow the Alliance’s financial resources, in close collaboration with the Fundraising Team, by:

1. Researching the funding landscape and develop an analysis highlighting most promising opportunities
2. Developing and implementing a fundraising strategy, one that benefits both the Alliance and our member organizations

C. Ensure high quality and culturally competent training

1. 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.  
2. Ensure that advanced training for seasoned organizers and leaders is offered regularly.

Anticipated responsibilities for a later stage of the organization’s development

1. Provide consultation and support on nonprofit management; guidance to local affiliates on a range of nonprofit management practices including HR and operations. 
2. Strengthen and expand the workforce of professional organizers 
3. 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. 

Systemic inequities in hiring have caused many women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. If you do not have all of the qualifications listed above, but are extremely organized, passionate about our mission, and believe you have applicable and transferable skills from other fields or experiences, we encourage you to apply. We’d love to hear from you. In your cover letter, be sure to highlight how your experience, skills, and personal qualities have set you up to succeed in the role.

This is a hybrid position. While it is largely virtual, periodic travel is required to the communities where member organizations are located; currently in Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee and the DC, Maryland and Virginia areas. Candidates should be based somewhere in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic/Great Lakes regions.

Salary and Benefits

Salary Range is $90,000 - $120,000, based on relevant work experience.  

Comprehensive benefits package including  paid time off, professional development, health coverage, retirement and parental leave.

How to apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to thejustpoweralliance@actioninmontgomery.org. We will accept applications until May 10. We apologize that due to the expected interest in this position, we will only be able to respond to those candidates granted an interview. Our plan is to conduct first round interviews in late May. Our ideal start date for this position is as soon as possible,