Field Manager

Job Summary

People's Budget Birmingham (PBB) is working to make participatory budgeting a cornerstone of municipal governance and to empower Birmingham residents to challenge their city government to meet this end. We envision communities where neighbors are committed to their collective liberation, where power is held and exercised at the grassroots, and where governance is accountable, accessible, and transparent to the people.

At PBB, we empower people across Birmingham through community education and organizing, ensuring neighborhoods have direct and democratic control over local resources and municipal spending while holding our government accountable and responsive to community needs. We are developing organizers that can build relationships with Birmingham constituents, practice deep canvassing and popular education methodologies, and deepen their knowledge of data tracking and tools.

The Field Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for People's Budget Birmingham's grassroots organizing work, setting the field direction and building the infrastructure necessary to develop a robust base of community power. This is the first full-time Field Manager role at PBB, offering the opportunity to build field organizing systems and best practices from the ground up.

The Field Manager is responsible for managing field staff, developing and implementing base-building and advocacy programs, and maintaining direct relationships with grassroots supporters and community partners. Working in close partnership with the Executive Director, the Field Manager ensures PBB's organizing work is strategic, values-aligned, and responsive to community needs, particularly during Birmingham's city budget cycle when rapid mobilization may be required.

This position requires someone who excels at both strategic program design and hands-on community organizing, who can coach and develop staff while remaining connected to grassroots relationships, and who understands that sustainable change comes from building lasting community power rooted in authentic relationships.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Staff Management (~35% or 11 hours a week)

• Lead and manage field organizing activities, including supervising field staff, coordinating contractors, and building organizational capacity to advance PBB's field strategy
• Directly supervise Community Organizer(s) and other assigned field staff, providing coaching, feedback, and support for professional development
• Develop and evaluate performance expectations for field team members; this includes collaborating on workplans, conducting regular check-ins and annual performance reviews
• Support staff in achieving their professional development goals, creating pathways for leadership growth and skill development
• Mentor field staff in the development of strategic organizing plans, helping them connect day-to-day work to long-term goals
• Build and sustain an organizational culture at PBB that centers base-building, community accountability, and values-aligned organizing
• Facilitate regular field team meetings to ensure coordination, alignment, and shared learning across the team
• Recruit, onboard, and train new field staff and contractors as the organization grows

Program Development, Coordination, and Delivery (~35% or 11 hours a week)

• Develop and deploy base-building, education, and advocacy programming that advances PBB's mission and strategic goals
• Design field programs that create accessible entry points for residents to engage with participatory budgeting and municipal budget advocacy
• Set organizing strategy and programmatic goals in collaboration with the Executive Director, Deputy Director and field staff, ensuring alignment with PBB's Strategic Plan (2025-2027)
• Take the lead in troubleshooting organizing program challenges, adapting tactics based on what's working and what's not
• Coordinate across PBB's programmatic pillars (community outreach & education, budget advocacy, research & data collection, litigation & defense) to ensure field work supports and integrates with organizational priorities
• Collaborate on grant applications that support grassroots programs, ensuring proposals are informed by people on the ground and reflect the organization's strategic direction
• Track and evaluate field program outcomes, using data and community feedback to assess impact and inform future strategy
• Manage field organizing budget, ensuring resources are used effectively and aligned with programmatic needs
• Develop organizing tools, training materials, and resources that support field staff and volunteers in their work
• Plan and coordinate major organizing events including People's Movement Assemblies, community assemblies, canvassing campaigns, and public actions

Organizing & Relationship Building (~30% or 10 hours a week)

• Expand PBB's capacity to build strong partnerships and develop grassroots leadership capable of transforming municipal fiscal policy
• Engage in direct organizing work including canvassing, phone banking, one-on-one conversations, and other direct contacts with the grassroots base
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with mission-aligned organizations, community leaders, and institutional partners
• Identify and develop emerging community leaders, creating pathways for residents to take on greater responsibility in PBB's work
• Represent PBB at coalition meetings, community events, and partner convenings, building the organization's visibility and credibility
• Model relational organizing practices for field staff, demonstrating how to build authentic, lasting relationships with diverse communities
• Participate in People's Budget Hearings, public actions, and advocacy campaigns, mobilizing community members and representing PBB's priorities
• Stay connected to community sentiment, priorities, and concerns, ensuring PBB's organizing work remains responsive and accountable to the people we serve

Skills and Qualifications

Experience & Expertise

• 5+ years of proven experience with grassroots base-building, advocacy campaigns, and building lasting relationships with diverse communities
• 3+ years of experience managing staff, volunteers, or organizing teams in advocacy, campaign, or community organizing contexts
• Demonstrated success winning concrete victories through community organizing and collective action
• Significant experience with door-to-door and phone canvassing, issue-based organizing, and maintaining grassroots relationships over time
• Experience developing and implementing organizing programs, including setting strategy, managing budgets, and evaluating outcomes
• Knowledge of participatory budgeting, municipal budgets, or local government advocacy (or demonstrated ability to learn quickly)
• Experience working in the Southern United States and understanding of the region's civic and political landscape preferred

Leadership & Management

• Position is based in Birmingham, AL with flexibility for some remote work arrangementsProven ability to ethically and respectfully manage staff and volunteers to achieve base-building goals
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, with ability to develop staff capacity and leadership
• Experience making strategic decisions, setting priorities, and adapting tactics based on changing conditions
• Ability to balance hands-on organizing with program management and staff leadership responsibilities
• Skilled at facilitating meetings, building team alignment, and navigating interpersonal dynamics
• Track record of building healthy, values-aligned organizational culture

Skills & Competencies

• Highly organized with strong project management skills and ability to meet expectations and deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate clearly with diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to have meaningful, difficult conversations with grace and directness
• Experience with organizing databases, CRM systems (e.g., VAN, EveryAction), and data tracking tools
• Ability to analyze program data and community feedback to inform strategy and improve organizing effectiveness
• Comfortable with public speaking and representing the organization at external events and in coalition spaces
• Skilled at working across differences and building multiracial, cross-class solidarity
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with Executive Director and staff team
• Strong attention to detail combined with ability to see big-picture strategy

Values & Commitments

• Deep and demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice and pre-existing commitment to improving the material conditions of our communities
• Alignment with PBB's values: community commitment, anti-racism, anti-capitalism, anti-carceral stance, gender equity, disability justice, anti-colonial perspective, global solidarity, intergenerational inclusion, and accountability & reflection
• Belief in participatory democracy, community control of resources, and grassroots power-building
• Commitment to centering the leadership and priorities of Black, Brown, queer, and working-class communities
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, one-on-one and in a group
• Belief in leadership development of self and others and that growth relies on an individual's ability to own important projects and achieve success for themselves
• Commitment to work in a collaborative organizational culture while providing clear direction and accountability
• Understanding of and commitment to base-building organizing approaches that prioritize long-term relationship-building and community power

Preferred Qualifications

• Position is based in Birmingham, AL with flexibility for some remote work arrangements
• Lived experience as a Birmingham resident or deep familiarity with Birmingham's neighborhoods and civic landscape
• Experience with ballot measure campaigns, electoral organizing, or direct democracy initiatives
• Background in popular education methodologies and curriculum development
• Experience with participatory budgeting models or democratic governance innovations
• Multilingual skills, particularly Spanish
• Experience with program evaluation and using data to drive strategy
• Connections to Birmingham's community organizing, civic, or advocacy networks
• Reliable transportation (able to get to canvas launch sites, community events, and meetings reliably)
• Reliable communication (has reliable access to communication for coordinating with staff, volunteers, and community members)
• Strong preference given to those who live within the Birmingham City limits

Benefits:

• 32-hour work week
• Flexible work hours
• Employer-paid Health and Dental Benefits
• “Work From Anywhere” stipend
• Paid Vacation and Wellness Leave
• Paid Family Leave
• Professional Development

Work Environment & Expectations

• Position is based in Birmingham, AL with flexibility for some remote work arrangements
• Regular in-person presence required for team coordination, field organizing, community events, and organizational activities
• Frequent fieldwork including canvassing, community meetings, and grassroots relationship-building
• Some evening and weekend work required, especially during budget season and major campaigns
• Physical requirements may include canvassing, setting up for events, tabling at community events, and extended periods of standing during assemblies and public hearings
• Must be able to work in dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities based on organizing opportunities and community needs
• Commitment to long-term organizational development and building sustainable field infrastructure

How To Apply

AI Use: We want to get to know you as a person, therefore AI use should not obscure or replace your judgement, creativity, or personality. If you use AI in preparation of your application materials, you should disclose that you used AI and describe how.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ~ COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORKPLACE

Employees and job applicants are protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

People's Budget Birmingham is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color; women; LGBTQ people; immigrants or refugees; people with disabilities; and people from low- or moderate-income backgrounds. Our work is led by and centers Black, Brown, queer, and working-class communities.

Benefits:

• 32-hour work week
• Flexible work hours
• Employer-paid Health and Dental Benefits
• “Work From Anywhere” stipend
• Paid Vacation and Wellness Leave
• Paid Family Leave
• Professional Development

English - Native Level Mastery