Co-Instructor

Regional Organizers for Community Change (ROCC) North Carolina

Job Description: Co-Instructor Position (Part-Time)

Two schools at the City University of New York (CUNY) – the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies – have established a national institute to recruit, develop and connect diverse leaders for social change who can imagine and implement visionary solutions for the enormous challenges we face in the 21st century. Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ) sees a compelling opportunity in the abundant talent of an emerging generation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and will meet a vital need for a scaled initiative that prepares leaders early in their careers in social justice traditions, ideology, literature and history in order to achieve power in all sectors.

Overview of the ROCC Fellowship

A state-specific, and sometimes regional fellowship, Regional Organizers for Community Change (ROCC) brings together movement leaders across sectors to develop long-term strategy. The fellowship is designed to give social justice leaders an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, deepen their understanding of power and strategy — principally through academic study — and expand their networks. This semester-long program provides an intensive cohort experience, granting Fellows the chance to connect and build relationships — including through in-person retreats — and collectively to develop a shared analysis, a long-term vision, and a winning strategy for their state or region. This year, ROCC will be taking place in North Carolina.

Co-Instruction Position

LDSJ is hiring a contracted Co-Instructor for its ROCC Fellowship to serve as a curriculum developer and lead trainer for the upcoming fellowship cycle, which will be held in the fall, and which, this year, is specifically for organizers and leaders in North Carolina. Our ideal instructor is a movement leader, high-level strategist, and trainer/facilitator with 10+ years of social justice leadership experience, who has done considerable organizing and campaign work in North Carolina. We seek a skilled and experienced trainer/facilitator, with a deep understanding of power and strategy, and a passion for leadership development and mentorship. The successful candidate will need to be available to co-design and facilitate at two week-long retreats in North Carolina — one in September, and the other in December — and to serve as a mentor to fellows throughout the course of the fellowship.

Core responsibilities:

• Together, with the LDSJ staff member responsible for ROCC, act as the primary curriculum developer for and facilitator at two week-long, in-person retreats in North Carolina:
  • Retreat #1: September 14-19, 2025
  • Retreat #2: December 7-12, 2025
• Together, with this LDSJ staff member, develop the pedagogical approach for the retreats and help to plan and lead weekly curriculum development meetings with LDSJ staff and other trainers and facilitators who will be leading sessions at the retreats
• Help to build out the Training Team for the retreats, identifying potential speakers and trainers in North Carolina, and work with LDSJ staff to schedule and invite them
• Attend monthly meetings (beginning in June) of the Advisory Committee for ROCC North Carolina, and integrate the Committee’s feedback into program design
• Assist LDSJ’s Operations Team with matters relating to the planning of the two retreats by, for example, visiting potential accommodation and conference venues in North Carolina
• Have at least one 1:1 with each Fellow over the course of the fellowship
• Serve as a mentor for Fellows, ensuring they have an overall positive experience, that LDSJ’s unique DNA is being communicated at all times, and valuing and being responsive to participants’ feedback, questions, and concerns
• Attend at least two sessions of the weekly academic course, “Power and Strategy,” that Fellows participate in

Qualifications:

• Based in North Carolina and doing work that primarily impacts the state of North Carolina
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, including 10-15 years’ experience in the social justice sector, ideally as an organizer with training experience
• Extensive experience with movement building, campaigns, and strategy development
• Track record of leading and organizing groups, even when not in positional power, and building community and relationships across lines of difference.
• Strong facilitation, mentorship, and problem-solving skills
• Strong network of movement professionals (including organizers and trainers) in North Carolina
• Demonstrated commitment to equity based on race, gender and class; demonstrated cultural competency skills and ability to connect with people from historically marginalized identities
• Available to be fully present (i.e. no other work commitments) for two in-person week-long retreats programs (September 14-19 and December 7-12, 2025)
• Flexible, positive attitude and someone who brings rigor and joy to their work
• Bachelor’s degree

This is an independent contract position that pays $20,000. Benefits not included.

This position is based in North Carolina.

Weekly hour expectations vary depending on program cycle stages.

A simple overview of the expected hours for this part-time Co-Instructor are as follows:

• The two months leading up to the retreats include working roughly 10 hours a week, spent mainly on curriculum design and in meetings with other team members.
• During the retreat, Instructors are expected to work 8-10 hour days for four days straight, co-leading the program.
• Post retreat involvement expectations will be participating in one-to-two team evaluations.
• One-on-ones with each member of the cohort during the fellowships can range from 19-25 hours.

Full-time, in-person retreats: September 14-19 and December 7-12, 2025

Contracted months: June-December 2025

How To Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter (PDF) via the Movement Talent Opportunity Board application portal by clicking the "Apply To This Job" button:

https://recruitcrm.io/apply/17455964192340060944jxM

Deadline: Applications are to be submitted by May 16, 2025:

Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership

The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership includes all of the social science departments at CCNY as well as most of the core leadership development and public service programs of the College. Graduating the most CCNY students annually, the Colin Powell School promotes the values of service and engagement. The School supports a faculty of more than 250 tenure, tenure-track, and adjunct professors dedicated to the highest standards of research and to the university’s democratic and public obligations; the School is committed to disseminating research in usable forms, especially that which furthers equality, prosperity, stability, and peace for all people—in Harlem, in New York, and around the world. The School’s annual budget is $14 million.

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Labor Studies and Urban Studies that are designed to meet the needs of working adults as well as traditional-age college students who seek to learn more about the challenges confronting poor and working class populations in the workplace and in the community. It also collaborates with other units of CUNY to offer a range of college-credit programs designed to give workers the academic and technical skills they need for professional advancement. Its faculty includes distinguished scholars in the social sciences as well as expert practitioners in government, labor, and public service. In addition to its academic programs, SLU sponsors research; organizes forums and conferences; and publishes a national journal, New Labor Forum: A journal of ideas, analysis, and debate.

EEO Statement

The Colin Powell School is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to equity and inclusion and strongly value the experiences of historically marginalized people and encourage them to apply. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.