Organizing Director

Californians for Justice is a statewide, youth-powered organization fighting to improve the lives of people of color, immigrants, low-income families, LGBQiA2S+/TGNC youth and other marginalized communities. Through organizing in schools and in their neighborhoods, youth who join Californians for Justice become leaders in their own communities. They deepen their knowledge on issues like systemic racism, gender and sexuality, and education inequity, and organize and activate their peers to take action.

CFJ is the only grassroots, youth-powered organization in California that organizes students to have a voice in both local and statewide education policy. Our campaign and policy reform goals include adequate and equitable school funding, increased access and success in K-12 and higher education, and creating Relationship Centered Schools - schools that invest in youth voice, in staff, and in creating space for youth and adults to build positive relationships with one another. CFJ currently has four regional offices in Fresno, Long Beach, San Jose and Oakland, 35 full-time equivalent staff and a budget of $4 million.

Californians for Justice has been successful because of our strong, dedicated staff team. CFJ staff are unwavering in their commitment to youth power and racial justice, to building connection and trust with their teams, and have a strong sense of purpose and dignity in their work. 

Position Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior-level community organizer or director who is committed to racial and educational justice and wants to expand the impact of their work. The Organizing Director plays a key role in leading statewide and regional campaigns. This includes oversight and supervision of three to four staff, designing and implementing regional and statewide power building strategy and tactics, and supporting civic engagement work with young voters. 

The Organizing Director supervises two to three regional organizing staff, reports to the Strategy Director, and is a member of Californians for Justice’s leadership team, and the statewide campaign team that directs Californians for Justice’s organizing, narrative and policy work. The position is full-time and exempt. In all duties and responsibilities, this position exercises discretion and independent judgment. (We are currently working remotely due to COVID-19.) 

Organizing Director Responsibilities 

Regional & Statewide Campaigns and Alliances (45%)

• Build organizational power and visibility with key influencers and organizations in the region by developing and leading the regional power building strategy.
• Lead or contribute to regional alliances (civic engagement, education justice, etc.) 
• Work closely with the Long Beach organizing team and Strategy Director to develop strategy, implement, and strengthen local campaign and alliance work. 
• Support regional campaign implementation through research, documentation, internal learning and training, and external capacity building and network development.  
• Serve as an active member of the Statewide Team (work with Executive Director, Senior Strategy Director, Organizing Directors, and Policy and Alliance Director) to develop strategy, implement, and strengthen our statewide unified campaign. 

Regional & Statewide Power Building (25%)

• Support statewide youth base building strategy and tactics through base building drives, regional support and accountability, and developing and maintaining shared tools and systems.
• Support statewide civic engagement strategy and field campaigns to engage young voters of color and CFJ alumni in electoral organizing.
• Support statewide & regional ally and decision-maker engagement to build relationships and power for organizing priorities. 

Regional Leadership and Supervision (20%)

• Supervise and support regional organizing staff to reach regional and organization-wide goals.
• Ensure regional outcomes are met for campaigns, base building, and leadership development through regular support, tracking, and accountability with regional staff.
• Ensure regular planning and evaluation takes place with regional and statewide work, including coordinating and facilitating regular regional team meetings 
• Schedule and develop agendas and tools for regional team check ins, evaluation and tracking, planning, and accountability 

Organizational Leadership & Responsibilities (10%) 

• Serve as an active member of the organizational Leadership Team to support and provide leadership for overall organizational development needs 
• Participate in shared staff responsibilities, including:
• Participate in all grassroots fundraising campaigns. 
• Engage in select foundation fundraising, including proposal development, providing report information, general stewardship and leading site visits
• Participate in cross-department committees and teams, and rotating meeting facilitation and note-taking in all-staff spaces 
• Provide support and participation for organization-wide campaign and events

Essential Qualifications 

• Minimum of 2 years in a senior level staff position and 3 years of staff management and supervision experience 
• Minimum of 3 years in youth, community or labor organizing
• Experience and ability to design and implement effective: campaign strategy, alliance building, and strategic communications 
• Ability to work effectively with public officials and a variety of stakeholders from grassroots groups to advocates and unions
• Excellent oral and written communication, problem-solving, project management, and organizational skills 
• Excellent supervision skills
• Advanced skills in facilitation of small and large group meetings 
• Strong commitment to social justice, racial justice and youth empowerment 
• Strong accountability and rigor in meeting the mission and values of the organization including centering and developing youth of color & racial justice moving the strategies forward
• Alignment on an inside strategy (building partnerships with institutions including school districts, city and state officials and other strategic partnerships and allies 
• A team player; a commitment to being responsive and flexible to emergent needs and strategic opportunities 
• Technology knowledge and experience working with various platforms and tools including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Slack, Zoom, etc.
• Able to travel to Sacramento 4-6 times a year (when in person is permitted)

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of California education policy and landscape 
• Familiarity with Google apps 
• Familiarity with Macs 

Work Environment

The position will be located in Long Beach. 

Physical Demands

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard. 
• Able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids 
• Able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in person and be understood by others. 
• Able to hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone. 
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions. 
• Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

Compensation:

$68,224 - $85,088 depending on experience and qualifications. CFJ provides a generous benefits package including substantial vacation and full medical, vision, and dental coverage.

How to Apply:

Send your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and qualifications, and at least three references to jobs@caljustice.org with the subject line “Organizing Director – Your Name.”

CFJ is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. People of color, women, people who identify as lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.