we're hiring

Lead Organizer

POSITION OVERVIEW AND ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

The Black Futures Lab is a 501(c)3 that transforms Black communities into constituencies that wield independent, political power at the municipal, state, and federal levels. The problems Black communities face are complex; the solutions to those problems require imagination, experimentation, and political power. The Black Futures Lab combines strategies that help us imagine the alternatives we deserve while building political power at the local, state, and national levels to implement those alternatives.

The Black Futures Lab is hiring for a shared Lead Organizer position. This is a shared position with Black Futures’ sister organization Black to the Future Action Fund.

In addition to being an experienced community organizer and campaigner, the Lead Organizer is also a coalition-builder and strategist who believes deeply in the importance of building community leadership, capacity, and power for Black people. The Lead Organizer carries out the programmatic work of the Black Futures Lab by building strong relationships with activists, Black voters, volunteers, organizers, and organizations in North Carolina; activating and mobilizing those relationships to meet the programmatic and strategic goals of the organization; and developing new relationships, partnerships, and collaborations. The Lead Organizer is supervised by the State Manager.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizing

  • Actively engage, educate and activate the Black community, with a particular focus on engaging rural living North Carolina residents in Durham, Guilford, Orange, Mecklenburg, and Wake.
  • Identify, develop & maintain new organizing relationships with Black-led grassroots organizations
  • Maintain regular communication with and engagement of partner organizations
  • Expand the electorate by motivating and inspiring new people to become politically engaged and build independent Black political power
  • Execute strategic campaigns to help the Black Futures Lab build independent Black political power.
  • Develop and lead activities that connect current and potential supporters to the Black Futures Lab community, while moving them up a ladder of engagement
  • Identify prospective grassroots donors and funders and develop strategies to cultivate those relationships
  • Conduct nonpartisan voter registration efforts targeting Black voters
  • Achieve assigned metrics and goals, building out Black Futures Lab supporter community through outreach, 1-1’s, relationship building, leadership development, political education, and regular engagement.
  • Advance the campaigns of the Black Futures Lab through relational organizing, issue research, power analysis, 1-1’s with volunteers and other stakeholders.
  • Build local volunteer teams while developing the capacity of communities to build and wield political power

 

Partnerships

  • Develop, sustain, and expand active relationships with Black Futures Lab and the partner organizations
  • Regularly track and document active campaigns and priority issues of Black Futures Lab and the Black to the Future Action Fund’s partner organizations, while identifying and implementing ways for the Black Futures Lab to support
  • Represent Black Futures Lab at local coalition tables

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Understands and can demonstrate and teach the mechanics of grassroots organizing — minimum of 5 years of grassroots organizing in Black communities in North Carolina required
  • Established relationships with and familiarity with North Carolina’s issue landscape, organizing groups, and institutions
  • Understanding of North Carolina’s voter registration process with nonpartisan voter registration experience
  • Experience developing and implementing issue campaigns in Black communities across North Carolina
  • Excellent interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to relate, establish and cultivate respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Comfortable with non-traditional routes to mobilizing, organizing, fundraising, and leadership development
  • Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and proven ability to work with emotional intelligence, receive feedback, work through conflict with integrity, and operate within principles of solidarity when working in partnership with groups representing constituencies impacted by oppression.
  • Basic understanding of how social change happens and an analysis of the role that organizing plays in social change efforts
  • Experience carrying out grassroots fundraising campaigns.
  • Ability to establish credibility and respect with partners, and an understanding of how to build and maintain strong, long term relationships
  • Demonstrated ability to manage details and follow-through
  • Strong time management skills and the ability to monitor progress towards goals, and track metrics.
  • Team player who inspires collaboration, lifts up the work of others, and maintains balance and perspective with patience and a sense of humor; ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems and contribute to decisions that enhance the organization’s effectiveness
  • Proven ability to build and nurture a calm and positive working environment, even in high-intensity situations.
  • Proven ability to work in a manner that respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance
  • Experience with organizing databases, VAN, Every Action, Hustle, etc.
  • Proficiency with G-suite
  • Ability to work irregular hours, including evening and weekend events as necessary. Willingness to travel.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay for this position is commensurate with experience and responsibilities. The salary for this position is $95,000. This position comes with medical and dental benefits, generous paid vacation, sick time and holidays. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

 

 

DEADLINE

We will begin reviewing applications ASAP. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website.

How to Apply: 

Please send a cover letter and resume through the designated application portal located at https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=c858a322-00a0-4526-9713-59699ec1e4bf&ccId=9200104414316_2&jobId=445122&source=CC3&lang=en_US&selectedMenuKey=CareerCenter.

Applications received via email or outside of the designated process will not be considered. Black Futures Lab, Black to the Future Action Fund, and Resilient Strategies LLC are equal opportunity, affirmative action employers. Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.