Director of Civic Engagement

JOB TITLE: Director of Civic Engagement

REPORTS TO: Deputy Political Director SALARY RANGE: $96,000-$116,000

JOB LEVEL: Management

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

MISSION STATEMENT: To help transform the social and economic conditions in South Los Angeles that foster addiction, crime, violence, and poverty by building a community institution capable of involving thousands in creating, influencing, and changing public policy.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW: Community Coalition (CoCo) is a non-profit social justice organization founded by now-Mayor Karen Bass that works to address social and economic conditions in South LA by providing a platform for everyday residents to fight for policy solutions that build up the community. Since 1990, CoCo has built a groundbreaking, community-driven approach to creating change. We elevate our members' voices, shift power to the community, and tackle the root causes of poverty, crime, and violence. Together we are creating a more prosperous, safer, and healthier South LA.

CoCo's projects and victories include, among others:

●      Stopping the expansion, and curbing the overconcentration of liquor stores in South LA

●      Innovating and implementing violence prevention programs and strategies

●      Leading child welfare campaigns to help keep more families together

●      Bringing joy and healing through multifaceted arts programming that creates spaces for everyday people to get involved in pertinent community issues and opportunities

CoCo is an equal opportunity employer. People of all races, religions, and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

ROLE CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW: For decades CoCo has trained and recruited individuals from South LA and other similarly impacted communities to build up their skills, leadership, and capacity to serve as change agents. At its core, CoCo fosters the capacity and ability of historically disinvested communities to catalyze change on their own behalf by investing in people. During this period, CoCo is launching a formalized and dynamic workforce initiative. It seeks to enhance its contribution to the movement by leveraging CoCo’s civic engagement programs as an explicit workforce strategy. This endeavor will proactively recruit, train, and eventually place underemployed, system-impacted, individuals with lived experience in permanent employment opportunities after they complete programming, training, and investments from CoCo. We seek a highly skilled, innovative, and thoughtful leader to advance and co-create the onboarding, training, and supervision strategies for part-time and seasonal canvassers that will result in increased success and advanced employment placement/retention of our community in the power-building ecosystem.

The Director of Civic Engagement is expected to: lead the organization’s Civic Engagement Department (including the workforce development component) which includes providing direction, support, training, and supervision to other team members; collaborating closely with managers, other directors, and senior leadership to accomplish the department’s and the collective goals of the organization; represent the organization with external stakeholders as appropriate; be knowledgeable of project budgets, and provide leadership to help effectively steward organizational resources; understand the compliance of HR systems with the ability to hold other team members accountable; create summaries/reports to synthesize and share information with the Board of Directors and executive team; directly support the community-facing work of the organization when a full organizational push is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES (other duties may be assigned):

Workforce Development Leadership (~50%):

●      Lead a workforce development endeavor anchored in the Civic Engagement workforce that prepares community leaders and residents (the workforce) for long-term, quality jobs in organizing and movement-building.

●      Strengthen coordination and solidarity between Community-Based Organizations, community residents, workers, and labor to implement strategies in support of the interests of low-income and working-class Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.

●      Core components of this effort include providing leadership and collaborating with Directors, Senior Leadership, and Human Resources to:

○      Train civic engagement canvassers on a curriculum focused on power-building strategies, theory, practice, the art and science of voter-integrated work, and praxis to understand their role and the opportunities for career advancement in the power-building ecosystem.

○      Strengthen systems to onboard and supervise canvassers

○      Support the professional and personal development of canvassers through case management

○      Engage targeted base-building and power-building organizations across the state to establish a hiring pipeline of individuals trained through CCO’s civic engagement programs

Voter Engagement Leadership and Supervision (~50%):

●      Collaborate with the membership, organizing and youth program departments to develop and implement plans for civic engagement programs that build political power.

●      Manage the recruitment and development of part-time temporary civic engagement canvassers and oversee the efficacy of civic engagement programs.

●      Inform mass-based event planning to embed civic education, power building, and mobilization strategies.

●      Supervise civic engagement staff to ensure that programs are meeting objectives.

●      Collaborate with Community Coalition Action Fund and management teams to forge a broader civic engagement strategy that strengthens Community Coalition’s political voice

●      Responsible for managing data, logistics, and administrative processes associated with general operations of the Civic Engagement Department

●      Support the President & CEO and Deputy Political Director in external alliance meetings as needed 

QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will have at least a 5+ year track record of successfully leading civic engagement teams/efforts, sophisticated knowledge of the political, social, and economic landscape in South Los Angeles, and at least a bachelor's degree in a related field.

Skills:

●      Skills in researching and analyzing issues to identify creative solutions

●      Exemplary customer service skills including the ability to identify needs, provide prompt responses, and exercise patience, respect, and professionalism in all interactions

●      Strong analytical verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on an ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences using multiple mediums.

●      Strong supervision experience with a proven ability to train and develop others.

●      Expertise in Microsoft Office, and Google Suite platforms.

●      Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team.

●      Able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet frequent deadlines.

●      Ability to prioritize and set goals by developing weekly, monthly, and quarterly work plans.

●      Outstanding organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure with a high degree of accuracy.

●      Ease at managing competing priorities and strategically problem-solving.

●      Skill in research and analysis.

●      Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Values and Community:

●      A deep belief in the power and science of organizing and respect and love for our stakeholders in South Los Angeles

●      Belief in CoCo's mission, approach, and core values and a commitment to improving the social and economic conditions of residents in South Los Angeles

●      Humility and respect for the lived experiences of South Los Angeles residents, and the ability to work with a diverse South Los Angeles population.

●      Reflective and a life-long learner

●      Strong work ethic

●      Highest level of integrity

●      Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills; willing to support team members as needed on the organizing team, civic engagement team, and across the organization for high-priority projects or events

●      Exemplary customer service skills including the ability to identify needs, provide prompt responses, and exercise patience, respect, and professionalism in all interactions

 Please note that only applications with cover letters will be considered. Cover letters should address the following:

●      Your core values and what shapes them

●      Your interest in working in South LA and for Community Coalition

●      Your experience and interest in the Director of Civic Engagement position