Organizing Director

About Us

The Black Organizing Project (BOP) is a Black member-led community organization working for racial, social, and economic justice through grassroots organizing and community-building in Oakland, California and across the Bay Area. In addition to caring for our community, BOP has adopted a more sustainable philosophy for our staff. BOP takes pride in caring for its staff by providing competitive salaries, 4-day work weeks, 3 paid company-wide seasonal rest periods each year, as well as other perks that promote a healthy work-life balance. Building on our significant campaign wins in the last few years, BOP is excited to bring on a skilled and experienced Director of Organizing who is ready to help take our work and organization to the next level as we grow.

The Ideal Candidate

You  are passionate about developing a shared political analysis of, by and for Black people that is based in our history, our activism and our vision for getting free. You believe that transformative organizing is the path toward liberation for Black people. You understand that policy wins are only as great as the grassroots people power that fuel their success. You are the go to resource for staff and members about freedom dreaming, organizing skill and theory.  You understand that building relationships is central to organizing. You are rigorous about data collection as a tool to gauge our level of service to our people. You are excited to be in the community doing outreach and you are able to engage in organizational level planning and implementation. You can connect the dots, coach and support staff who lead teams and work with our member leaders.  You skillfully manage the contradictions of using the nonprofit industrial complex to build towards freedom and you are always ready to be on the frontlines of our work.

Organizing Director Overview

The Organizing Director is responsible for providing direction and support for the mission of the whole organization, while working to develop members and the Organizing Team to be actively engaged in the organization’s mission and vision.  The Organizing Director will coach and support staff, increase funding through ensuring program deliverables are assessed and met, developing campaign plans and ensuring implementation of the deliverables.  Participate and support programmatic, internal committee’s and strategic coalition work.  They will advance the work of  BOP’s campaign(s), support chapter development and manage programmatic budgets.  The Organizing Director will assess and ensure that the work in the field and internal organizing is actively happening and tracking systems are being maintained.  They will also work alongside members and staff to provide strategies for the campaign while implementing organizational and campaign goals.  By participating in and coaching meetings, rallies, and actions, the Organizing Director will engage members in advancing the organizing goals of the organization.

BOP Organizing:

• Support rigorous work planning and data collection for the Organizing Team 
• Participate in weekly outreach alongside the organizing team and members 
• Coach/Develop organizers
• Facilitate & oversee the development and engagement of members and community members in the organization
• Work with core leaders, staff and members on campaign strategy, implementation, negotiations, and actions
• Maintain/report on systems of tracking outreach, target areas and follow up
• Develop recruitment of and opportunities for community members to be engaged in the organization
• Along with leaders, represent BOP to media and outside agencies
• Oversee Organizing budget 
• Act as an ambassador for BOP in strategic spaces
• Participate in panels/webinars/presentations as needed
• Participate in key activities ie: support in grant reporting and funder site visits as needed
• Participate in regional, statewide, national and international coalition spaces
• Assess/evaluate potential allies 
• Manage/Monitor Organizing & Programmatic Budgets 

Membership/Leadership Development:

• Identify and ensure members have leadership development tracks 
• Support & facilitate training for development of staff and members

Provide Coaching and Supervision:

• Build positive relationships and team comradery
• Support development of Organizers & Program Coordinator
• Cultivate work plans, assessments & evaluations 
• Conduct weekly supervision meetings w/Organizers
• Create, Implement, develop and coordinate ongoing training opportunities of organizers
• Attend bi- monthly leadership meetings 

Documentation and Reporting:

• Document qualitative and quantitative data related to programs and reports to other members of the leadership team [D-Squad] & Board
• Research, analyze data and facilitate community based participatory research  
• Other support as needed 
• Weekly Reports to D-Squad 

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 4-6 years of experience in community, labor or other relevant grassroots organizing 
• Demonstrated success in growing and developing an organized base of members, constituents or community members
• Team player attitude
• Vision, Strategize & Implement development of a team 
• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to multi task and generate solution based  ideas
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerbase, Google Docs and Powerpoint are a plus
• Flexibility to work on weekends and evenings, as necessary
• Willingness to travel, as necessary
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required

Benefits

This is a full-time (32 hours a week), exempt, at-will position with a 90 day probationary period. Hybrid work schedule with the expectation of frequent in person outreach, meetings and team building. This position requires a candidate who lives in or near Oakland

• 100% organization paid medical, dental, vision coverage for the employee and family
• 401K organization matching
• Accrue 14 vacation days in the first year with incremental increases thereafter, 7 sick days annually, 14 paid holidays, 2 unrestricted floating holidays
• 3 paid seasonal closures; 1-week long break in spring, 1-week long break in summer and 1 in winter between Christmas and New Year’s Day 
• Eligibility for a fully paid 3-month sabbatical program after 5 years of full time service with the organization based on the discretion of the Executive Director. 
• Professional development funds