Action for Equity--Jobs Director

Action for Equity is looking to hire the senior person leading its jobs and income campaigns. This role reports to the Executive Director and will play a significant part leading Action for Equity. Our preference is to hire a BIPOC individual with community ties.

Who is Action for Equity? We are the leading coalition focused on racial and class equity in housing, transit and jobs in the Greater Boston area. We are led primarily by people of color. Take a look at action4equity.org.  

Why is this an opportunity for you? Want to help lead the fight for our residents of color to have access to Greater Boston’s good jobs, in spite of hundreds of years of exclusion baked into the labor market? Want to help build the movement for equity in the region? This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution at a time when we are growing and adding capacity. At this time we have 3 years of committed funding.

Primary responsibilities

The person in this position drives the campaign to increase access to good jobs in BIPOC communities at scale to make structural change in the labor market, particularly using mechanisms in addition to unions and training.

• Win hiring/retention and job quality commitments from key employers including teaching hospitals and major tech, fintech, and life science/biotech companies
• Drive building a pool of residents actively interested in good jobs and also willing to advocate for them.
• Guide the use of resources dedicated to services or winning access to additional resources, help lead the development of the services and supports needed by residents, including working closely with Action for Equity’s lead services provider.
• Lead the organizing through staffing and helping lead the Jobs Action Network and its various committees and working groups that will undertake this overall campaign, including establishing a regular orientation program for growth, coordinate and support the advocacy work of network community organizations.
• Lead or support campaigns for policy as appropriate.
• With Communicator and others, implement a communication plan that both supports the development of this major campaign and Action for Equity.
• With others develop a list of proposed reports, developing relationships with academic and other policy leaders, to develop a multi-year plan for issuing reports and issuing both reports and putting out information.
• Join Action for Equity leadership fundraising for this work and building relationships with funders.
• Focus on measurable outcomes of additional residents in good jobs and retaining those good jobs and additional residents taking action and hold power.

Additional responsibilities

• Be part of team defining the role Action for Equity can have making structural change, increasing equity
• Help to shape public image and communication strategy
• Engage at Steering Committee meetings and strengthen Steering Committee role and capacity
• Have significant independence on own work
• Work closely with Communicator, consultants, lead service provider, Steering Committee and Network members

Experience and strengths

• At least 4 years organizing experience
• Demonstrated understanding of labor markets including racial division
• Knowledge of Greater Boston’s BIPOC communities
• Great determination and commitment
• Capacity and competence to carry out work or identify who else can bring capacity and competence to bear
• Ability to put available resources to use, making clear plans to use budgeted resources