Mobilization Coordinator and Trainer

Job Description

Strong Towns, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, is seeking a full-time Mobilization Coordinator and Trainer to help train and equip thousands of Strong Towns group leaders and members across the country.

The mission of Strong Towns is to replace America’s postwar pattern of development, the Suburban Experiment, with a pattern of development that is financially strong and resilient. We advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable and inviting. We work to elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments. We focus on five core campaigns: ending highway expansion, safe and productive streets, incremental housing, transparent local accounting, and ending parking minimums and mandates.

Our goals are wildly ambitious, but we’ve made meaningful progress:

• Our media site, YouTube channel and other social platforms reach millions of people a year and are shaping the national conversation on growth, development and the future of cities.
• More than 6,500 people across the world financially support Strong Towns as members, including at least one person in each U.S. state and hundreds more around the world.
• We have more than 300 active Local Conversation groups across North America and hundreds more in the start-up process across the world.
• Each day, we witness Strong Towns advocates step up and do extraordinary things to make their places more prosperous.

Strong Towns Local Conversations are groups of advocates that put Strong Towns ideas into action in their places. Local Conversations turn Strong Towns principles into real-world change: driving local policy reform, advancing place-based projects, building a shared identity rooted in place, and amplifying the movement’s credibility and reach. The Local Conversations program helps groups move through four stages as they develop: 1) Learn to Gather, 2) Learn to Communicate, 3) Learn to Advocate, 4) Transform Your Community.

We are looking for someone to support these efforts by coaching Local Conversations groups through this multi-stage process to grow their leadership and achieve Strong Towns goals in their communities. This could be you if:

• You love to teach — drawing up a lesson plan, getting students together and engaging them in a lively discussion is your bread and butter.
• You have experience organizing local groups, campaigns or other community-based efforts that have resulted in real change on the ground.
• You’re not afraid to try something new and adapt in response to feedback.
• You lean more extroverted; you get energy from engaging actively with a variety of people on a daily basis.
• You have an interest in and some knowledge about our five core campaign issues (see above list).
• You are motivated to be part of a nonpartisan nonprofit that works across political, social and cultural differences to help people make their cities and towns more economically resilient.

Location and Work Environment

This is a remote position open to anyone in the U.S. Our team collaborates digitally from locations around the country, and we get together 1-3 times per year for in-person staff retreats. (All travel expenses are covered.) We have content deadlines and occasional evening or weekend (virtual and in-person) events, but generally keep a flexible schedule. We are an equal opportunity, family-friendly organization. Our work is rewarding and our organization is making a difference. This role has a great opportunity for advancement and career growth.

Duties

The Mobilization Coordinator and Trainer will be part of our Movement Building team, reporting to the Director of Movement Building. The position's duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Planning and leading weekly virtual trainings, office hours and other educational sessions on topics related to our five core campaigns and the key skills needed to create and sustain a local movement for change. (This may include evening or weekend sessions.)
• Serving as the first point of contact for new and existing group leaders.
• Doing one-on-one calls with new and existing group leaders to orient them to the Local Conversations process and troubleshoot ongoing issues.
• Regularly communicating with Local Conversation leaders to check in on their progress and help advance them through a four-stage process of group development.
• Working with the Director of Movement Building to review and approve groups advancing through the stages.
• Discerning what resources would be most helpful to Local Conversation groups and working collaboratively with colleagues to get those created.
• Helping plan strategically for the future of the Local Conversations program and what will best serve our groups.

Compensation

This is a full-time position with a salary of up to $60,000 annually, based on experience. In addition, Strong Towns provides a 401(k) retirement plan, a flexible QSEHRA healthcare plan, a communications and equipment stipend, paid time off, and parental leave.

To Apply

If you are interested in this position, please fill out this form to apply.

Only applications submitted through this form will be accepted. Please do not send us a resume or cover letter. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 26. We are looking to fill this position by the end of November with the hope that our new hire can join us for our annual staff retreat in Orlando, December 8-11.

Hiring Timeline

We encourage you to visit strongtowns.org/employment to learn more about our unique hiring process.

• October 22 at 1 p.m. CT: Zoom briefing and Q&A on this role. Sign up here. (Even if you cannot attend, we encourage you to submit your question and register on the form. We will email out the recording afterward.)
• October 26 at 11:59 p.m. CT: Round 1 Questionnaires due.
• November 3: Select candidates invited to complete Round 2 Questionnaire.
• November 9 at 11:59 p.m. CT: Round 2 Questionnaires due.
• November 17-20: Interviews with select candidates.

Commitment to Inclusion

Jane Jacobs described cities as co-creations. We agree with her when she wrote that “cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” A strong town can only be created by everybody.

To that end, we must ensure that everybody is able to witness, within the Strong Towns movement and message, a meaningful part of themselves and their experiences. As an organization, we make a concerted effort to expand the diversity of our movement (racial, geographic, political, economic, gender, ability, religion, etc.) so our understanding can be informed by the full spectrum of American life. We warmly encourage anyone who would bring a new background and perspective to our organization to apply for this role.

In addition to the base salary, Strong Towns provides a 401(k) retirement plan, a flexible QSEHRA healthcare plan, a communications and equipment stipend, paid time off, and parental leave.