Data Director

About Southern Service Workers Education Fund, Inc.

SSWEF is a worker organization building power with low-wage workers across the South. We organize alongside workers and community partners to challenge exploitation, raise standards, and advance racial and economic justice. Our campaigns combine deep organizing, worker leadership development, and community solidarity to win real improvements in workers’ lives while building a broader movement for economic and racial justice in the South.

Position Overview

SSWEF is seeking a Data Director to develop a long-term vision and plan for using data and tools to strengthen the worker organizing and community engagement program of SSWEF. The ideal candidate brings a deep commitment to racial, economic, and social justice and is passionate about empowering low-wage workers to take action and join the labor movement, rooted in the South's long tradition of worker organizing and resistance.

Responsibilities

• Lead on data strategy:
  • Utilize data and tools to help align organizing, digital, and other areas of the organization to ensure a cohesive strategy
  • Participate in strategic planning and discussions
• Build out data systems and structure:
  • Establish and maintain data infrastructure that supports longevity, reliable reporting, and ease of use, including data structures within tools and SSWEF’s data warehouse
  • Recommend and lead the adoption and administration of tools, including leading necessary migrations
  • Ensure alignment between data structures and field work by shadowing organizers or spending time in the field at least twice per quarter
  • Lead the planning, development, and implementation of integrations between critical tools to ensure data consistency and integrity across the ecosystem
  • Manage relationships with external vendors
• Reporting and analysis:
  • Build high-quality and user-friendly reports that support the tracking of campaigns
  • Conduct analysis as needed to identify trends and opportunities
• Support the development of staff and the data department:
  • Create a department budget/work plan and be responsible for its implementation
  • Facilitate regular trainings for organizers and staff on tools
  • Mentor and support data staff to grow in their skills and be accountable to their responsibilities

Requirements:

• At least 5 years doing data work to support unions, campaigns, or other civic/member engagement organizations
• 2 years experience managing staff
• 3 years experience serving as a database admin
• Strong understanding of union organizing campaigns
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Experience building systems and workflows with longevity in mind
• Intermediate/Advanced SQL
• Intermediate Python
• Experience working with API endpoints
• Strong familiarity with Action Builder and Action Network
• Experience building dashboards and other visual reports using tools such as Looker Studio, Tableau, etc.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, economic, and social justice.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in union organizing, grassroots organizing, or campaign-driven base-building preferred.
• Experience working with community organizations preferred.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop and follow through on a work plan and manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Willingness to work long and irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Willingness to travel for extended periods.
• Spanish fluency is a plus but not required.

This is an in-person position based in Durham, North Carolina, and is not remote.

SSWEF is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve.

Salary is at least $100,000/year commensurate with experience. The position will offer benefits including fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for individual and family; 401(K); and paid time off.

The position will offer benefits including fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for individual and family; 401(K); and paid time off.