Organizing Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Durham, NC or Atlanta, GA preferred

About Us

Southern Service Workers Education Fund (SSWEF) is a worker organization building power with low-wage workers across the South. We organize alongside workers and community partners to challenge exploitation, raise standards, and advance racial and economic justice. Our campaigns combine deep organizing, worker leadership development, and community solidarity to win real improvements in workers’ lives while building a broader movement for economic and racial justice in the South.

Position Summary

The Organizing Director is a senior leadership role responsible for the long-term growth, scale, and sustainability of SSWEF. The Organizing Director builds the permanent, local, and regional infrastructure of the organization. This role oversees the development of chapters, membership systems, and deep leader engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure & Membership

• Design and implement the long-term growth strategy for chapters.
• Oversee membership recruitment systems, data infrastructure, and dues collection processes.
• Oversee worksite organizing campaigns at large corporate employers.
• Ensure the organizational "ground game" is scalable and sustainable across multiple Southern states.

Staff Supervision & Strategic Leadership

• Manage a team of organizers and field staff focused on chapter building and infrastructure.
• Provide regular coaching, accountability, and political development to field staff.
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team, contributing to organizational goal-setting and resource allocation.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to long-term organizational strategy, governance, and resource allocation.
• Act as a primary representative of the organization in national and regional movement spaces, building strategic alliances and elevating the organization's public profile.

Qualifications:

• Proven ability in community or labor organizing.
• Proven track record of building membership-based organizations and permanent infrastructure.
• Expertise in movement building and managing complex, multi-stakeholder coalitions.
• Strong commitment to racial and economic justice and the mission of worker organizing in the South.
• Experience supervising staff and building high-performing field teams.
• Demonstrated resilience, grit, and high emotional maturity in high-stakes campaign environments.

Preferred:

• Experience organizing in the South.
• Experience working with service sector workers.
• Spanish fluency is a plus but not required.

SSWEF is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve.

Salary is at least $100,000/year commensurate with experience. The position will offer benefits including fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for individual and family; 401(K); and paid time off.

To apply for this position, send a resume and cover letter discussing interest and relevant experience to info@southernorganizing.org. Please include Organizing Director in the subject line.

The position will offer benefits including fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for individual and family; 401(K); and paid time off

Spanish fluency is a plus but not required.