About GWC: Founded in 2001, the Garment Worker Center is a worker rights organization leading an anti-sweatshop movement to improve conditions for tens of thousands of Los Angeles garment workers. Through direct organizing, GWC develops leaders who demand enforcement of strong labor laws and accountability from factory owners, manufacturers, and fashion brands. We center immigrant workers, women of color, and their families who are impacted by exploitation in the fashion industry.
Position description: GWC seeks an experienced Organizing Director to lead the strategic direction of GWC’s base-building, factory organizing, and leadership development efforts. The Organizing Director will supervise a team of 5 Organizers across four regions in LA County, with plans to grow the team by 4. Industry training will be provided. For this position, the Organizing Director must be able to work flexible hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends. Must be fluent in English and Spanish.
Duties:
- Collaborate with Organizers to develop annual strategic plans and benchmarks.
- Support Organizers to develop and implement their individual annual work plans.
- Train and provide consistent mentorship to new organizers. Includes
- Consistent evaluations.
- Shadowing outreach.
- Shadowing 1-1s and house visits.
- Facilitate or support weekly Organizers’ meetings to assist Organizers in planning and evaluating:
- Leadership development
- General Membership meetings
- Factory committees
- Quarterly evaluation sessions
- Provide feedback and guidance on the Leadership Development Organizer’s curriculum.
- Represent GWC’s Organizing Team and communicate the team’s goals in our CA Strategic Enforcement Partnership (CSEP) with the Bureau of Field of Enforcement (BOFE) and our Public Health Councils (PHC) partnership with the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH), and other coalition spaces as needed.
- Collaborate consistently with GWC’s Campaigns, Clinic, and Member Support teams to ensure cohesion and clear lines of communication with the Organizing Team.
- Coordinate and support direct actions and in-field rapid response efforts.
- Collaborate in a team of Directors for organizational strategic planning, administrative, and HR needs.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
- 8-10 years of experience in labor or community organizing.
- At least 3 years of experience training, directing, and supervising organizing staff.
- Strong commitment to social, racial, gender, and economic justice.
- A desire to grow and build worker power.
- Ability to lead projects and facilitate collaborative decision-making.
- Self-motivated, able to set priorities and goals, excellent planner, can execute organizational plans, and works well in collective settings.
- Must be proficient with LA’s public transportation system, or able to drive their own car.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Calendar, Google Drive.
- Fluent in Spanish - both written and oral skills.
- Speaks Zapotec or Mayan language (ideal but not required).