Director of Community Organizing

Make the Road New York builds the power of Latino and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road NY operates neighborhood-based community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island, Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester. With a membership of more than 24,000 low-income New Yorkers, Make the Road tackles the critical issues facing our community: workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights, language-access, LGBTQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform.

Make the Road New York (MRNY) is seeking to hire a Director of Community Organizing. This is a full-time position that will require travel around our five office sites.

Overall Role Description:

Make the Road New York seeks an experienced and energetic Director of Community Organizing to support a team of veteran community organizers in developing and sustaining grassroots campaigns to achieve a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, pro-TGNCIQ, racial and economic justice agenda. The staff person will work closely with MRNY Lead Organizers (adult and youth) on all aspects of growing the department, including base-building, leadership development, resource development, developing issue campaigns and strategic communications. ­

Keys Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Direct our organizing work in New York State; supervising a team of lead organizers (managers) to support strategizing and executing issue-based campaigns at the local, state, and federal level;
• Direct the implementation of outreach and recruitment efforts to grow our organization’s membership base of 24,000 members statewide;
• Identify policy research and advocacy opportunities in alignment with the vision, mission and core values of MRNY and grow our pool of coalition allies in those efforts;
• Oversee the tracking and reporting of organizing program goals and outcomes;
• Collaborate closely with key local, statewide and national coalition partners and elected leaders;
• Collaborate effectively with MRNY’s legal services, health access, adult literacy and communications departments to ensure thoughtful integration with our full array of work;
• Support coordination of civic engagement initiatives, including, but not limited to, voter registration efforts and Get Out the Vote efforts;
• Fundraise (grant writing, individual donor cultivation, etc.) to cover and expand the organizing department’s budget;
• Coordinate monthly department level meetings with key staff;
• Serve as the main point of contact between MRNY and Make the Road States (501c3 Make the Road sister organizations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and Nevada) Organizing Directors;
• Represent the organization at external meetings, coalition tables and conferences.

Job Requirements:

• Eligible to work in the US
• A dedicated commitment to social justice and an understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and moderate-income families;
• At least five years organizing experience and a demonstrated ability to design, run and win policy campaigns alongside community organizing and/or labor organizing institutions;
• Experience developing the skills and capacity of staff and member leaders of community organizations or labor unions;
• At least three years staff management experience;
• Demonstrated strong research, writing, policy analysis, and communication skills;
• Experience in curriculum development for social justice/movement organizations;

Job Competencies:

• Excellent organizational skills and good attention to detail;
• Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations;
• Ability to work flexible hours including some weekends;
• Be willing to travel throughout our five New York State offices;
• Spanish/English bilingual required; ­

Make the Road New York is a multi-faceted organization, and this position requires flexibility, a positive attitude, and hustle. This is a full-time position. The salary is competitive and will depend on relevant work experience and education. Excellent benefits are provided.

How to Apply: 

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to diroo@maketheroadny.org by March 8^th, 2021. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please write “Director of Community Organizing” in the subject of the e-mail.

MRNY is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.