National Field Organizer - Loan Fund

Ideal start date: May 1, 2021

About The Right To The City Alliance (RTTC)

Right To The City Alliance (RTTC) emerged in 2007 with a strong and powerful vision to 1) halt the displacement of low-income people, people of color, LGBTQ communities, and youth of color, and 2) protect and expand affordable housing in tandem with a broader movement to build democratic and just healthy communities for the 21st century. Since its inception, Right To The City has quickly grown to encompass over 90 community-based racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice organizations located in 26 states and 45 cities. Representing true grassroots power and leadership of the most impacted, RTTC’s member organizations weave together local on-the-ground policy advocacy campaigns to build a robust and unstoppable national movement for inclusive, healthy housing and community development. 

Position Summary

The RTTC National Field Organizer will guide and support the development of RTTC’s “Our Homes Our Land” strategy to multiply models of democratically-owned, permanently affordable housing removed from for-profit speculation. This position will build infrastructure to facilitate and resource the decommodification and democratization of land and housing on a mass scale; provide guidance to RTTC member organizations leading local campaigns and supporting member groups in setting up local rotating loan funds to provide non-extractive financing to such initiatives. This position will be supervised by RTTC’s Director of Organizing. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Support the development of the Our Homes Our Land translocal strategy to win long-term community control of land and housing. 
• Guide RTTC members in developing long-term (25-year) strategy for organizing land and housing out of the speculative market and into democratic ownership/stewardship. 
• Provide staff support to the member-led Our Homes Our Land Translocal Strategy Committee. Assist the committee’s member anchors to prepare agendas, identify opportunities, document decisions, and align committee priorities with the priorities set by the HFA Leadership Assembly. Promote peer learning, skill sharing, collaboration, and movement-building among members.
• Facilitate the integration of the Our Homes Our Land translocal strategy with other priority program areas.

• Strengthen the capacity of members to advance the Our Homes Our Land strategy.
• Conduct one-on-one check-ins to mentor and guide member groups in engaging the Our Homes Our Land strategy, including how to set up a local loan fund to finance their community-driven project.
• Assist member organizations to identify, research, and develop local, state and federal policy solutions to advance the Our Homes Our Land translocal strategy, including joint policy campaigns to secure public financing for community controlled land and housing.
• Develop and maintain a virtual rolodex of technical assistance providers; connect member groups to tools, training, and other opportunities for support.
• Develop political education curriculum and co-lead trainings that broaden collective understanding, alignment, and capacity around the Our Homes Our Land strategy.

• Build and maintain partnerships to advance the Our Homes Our Land strategy.
• Initiate and maintain partnerships with movement allies and technical assistance providers in a range of fields (policy, legal, research, real estate, financial, etc). 
• Identify and build partnerships with prospective investors, foundation staff, individual donors, and other collaborators interested in supporting this area of work.
• Represent RTTC’s vision, strategy, principles, and values in external spaces while remaining ultimately accountable to RTTC member organizations on the ground.
• Articulate a clear and irresistible vision for democratically-owned, permanently affordable housing, as well as the organizing strategy it will take to get us there.

• Develop and implement infrastructure systems to advance the Our Homes Our Land strategy.
• Maintain an accurate database of contacts related to this area of work.
• Development of local, state, and national loan fund infrastructure and redistribution mechanisms aligned with RTTC values and principles
• Ensure legal and fiscal compliance of all loans and loan infrastructure.
• Provide regular reports to other staff teams and member leadership bodies.

The Skills & Competencies We Are Looking For In Our National Field Organizer:

• Organizing & Campaign Experience. At least five years of grassroots organizing, base-building and/or campaign organizing experience. Familiar with member organizing, leadership development, campaign development & planning, grassroots policy analysis and/or leading electoral data analysis, cutting turf, and training on voter data access platforms. Experience and familiarity with housing justice campaigns and/or grassroots base-building organizations and transformative organizing a plus.
• Building Cooperative Infrastructure. At least two years of experience in small business development, cooperatives, land trusts or locally-controlled economic development. Knowledge of common computer applications: Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Dropbox, and Zoom video tele-conferencing systems. Access to reliable internet, phone and remote office arrangements. RTTC provides for costs of home offices.
• Training & Leadership Development. Prefer 2+ years supervisory experience, team leadership background. 
• Resource Development. Experience leading fundraising efforts, liaising with foundation funders, pitching to investors, 

Qualities We Are Looking For In Our National Field Organizer

1. Bold Vision. You bring fierce imagination and deep commitment that we can and will create the world our communities need. You can share that vision in ways that inspire and compel.
2. Swiss Army Knife. You are resourceful and creative, willing to do what it takes to make a project succeed. You can handle a lot in a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment.
3. Interdependent. You are able to work independently, self-managing your time, while maintaining close communication with remote teams
. You are flexible and know that changing the world doesn't always happen between 9am and 5pm.
4. Low ego, high impact. You are disciplined, rigorous, and more group-centered than self-centered. You have an excellent attention to detail and keep your eyes on the big picture.

Location & Travel: Location is negotiable. RTTC has concentrations of staff in the following areas: Philly, Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, and the SF Bay Area. Travel is required; frequency and duration of travel is negotiable. On average, this position will be expected to travel 1-2x per month for a total of 5-10 days per month. During the pandemic, RTTC staff are not required to travel.

Salary and Benefits: This is a full time, non-exempt position. The salary for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 commensurate with experience, with room for growth in subsequent years. RTTC offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package including 100% medical, dental and life insurance, employee-matched 401k retirement plan as well as sick and vacation PTO. 

How To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample through our hiring portal at: righttothecity.bamboohr.com/jobs/. References will be asked for candidates who advance in the process. Candidates will only be contacted if our hiring team chooses to pursue an interview.

Right To The City Alliance is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from communities heavily impacted by gentrification, displacement and housing insecurity are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.