Director of Organizing and Systems Change

Job Description

Job Description

Our Mission:

The mission of Bread for the City is to help Washington, DC residents living with low income to develop their power to determine the future of their own communities. We provide food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to reduce the burden of poverty. We seek justice through community organizing and public advocacy. We work to uproot racism, a major cause of poverty. We are committed to treating our clients with the dignity and respect that all people deserve.

Position Profile:

The Director of Organizing & Systems Change works with our clients, community members and staff to lead the Advocacy & Organizing Department's work. As the Director, this leader is responsible for building out and shaping the direction of the Advocacy & Organizing Department in partnership with client leaders. In addition, this person is responsible for base building among our clients and community members, as well as supervising the incoming Advocacy & Organizing staff member who will focus on supporting Bread’s organization-wide and departmental advocacy efforts.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a depth of experience in local community organizing and demonstrated expertise in driving social change. Preferred candidates will bring lived experience relevant to our work, as well as a strong understanding of the DC governmental and organizing landscape. The candidate is expected to excel in building trusting relationships with community members experiencing poverty and in coaching and developing leadership among individuals who have accessed social services in the DC metro area.

Requirements:

The Director’s Responsibilities and Tasks include:

1. Systems Change: Build out the new shape of the Advocacy & Organizing Department.

• Develop a map of the Advocacy & Organizing (Systems Change) department's scope of work.
• Set up systems and processes to bring this scope of work to life, aligned with our commitment to anti-racism and systems reform as articulated in Bread for the City’s Strategic Plan.
• Participate in and build relationships with Bread’s team of leadership Directors, Bread staff who participate in Advocacy & Organizing, Client Advisory Council (CAC), Client Organized for Racial and Economic Equity (COREE) members, and key partners and coalitions to deepen our commitment to educating through advocacy, organizing and systems reform.

1. Community Organizing & Campaigns: Guide and support the COREE team of client leaders in creating and executing organizing campaigns around issue areas important to them.

• Support COREE team members in planning and running organizing campaigns.
  • Guide the team through campaign phases of visioning, strategy, planning and executing tactics, as well as debriefing and learning.
  • Support the team to organize community members into campaign roles and tasks.
  • Track team member roles and tasks that come out of meetings, and support follow-through.
  • Recruit and support client leaders to recruit and outreach to peers and community members to join COREE and base building for organizing work at Bread for the City.
• Support the COREE team to strengthen their overall cohesion and personal leadership skills.
  • Facilitate the team in strategizing who to recruit and how to recruit them.
  • Support team members to participate in the organizing trainings (e.g., TMOI).
  • Work with each COREE team member to identify growth areas (e.g., content knowledge, skill development, personal growth) and structure a learning plan.

1. Client Leadership & Support: Support BFC client leadership bodies (COREE and CAC) to plan and facilitate COREE and CAC team meetings, events and community engagement opportunities:

• Share meeting facilitation responsibilities (e.g., rotating or scheduling).
• Work with assigned members to plan team meeting agendas.
• Coach members to improve their facilitation skills.
• Conduct retreats for relationship building
• Identify training and funding opportunities for client leaders.
• Support COREE leaders to facilitate Terrence Moore Organizing Institute (TMOI) classes.
• Help lead the CAC initiatives and planning events such as Juneteenth, and facilitating community partnerships between CAC & BFC.

1. Supervisory Responsibilities: Hire (within six months of taking on the role) and supervise a Staff Advocacy Manager.

• Offer effective support and accountability through active supervision.
• Practice giving and receiving feedback to cultivate a strong working relationship and effective work outcomes.
• (With the Staff Advocacy Manager) Facilitate collaboration meetings and mechanisms between the COREE and Bread staff members who engage in Systems Change work.
• (With the Staff Advocacy Manager) Organize political, personal, and skill development of COREE members, CAC leaders, and engaged Bread staff.

And other duties as assigned, e.g., CAC support and Fair Budget Coalition.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage large-scale campaigns.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience in organizing, coalition building, implementing direct actions, and/or leadership development with people living on low incomes.
• Minimum 3-5 years of supervisory experience.
• Innovative, creative thinker who likes to move theory into action.
• Excited by teaching political theory in ways that are easy to understand.
• Reliable, with a high degree of follow-through
• High degree of flexibility.
• Strong organizational, oral and written communication skills.
• Inclusive people, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other staff & volunteers and interact with a wide variety of people in a professional manner.
• Intimate knowledge of Black and Brown communities in DC preferred.
• Willingness to work flexible long hours, sometimes weeknights and weekends.
• Willingness to learn and carry out Bread for the City's commitments to social justice and racial equity.
• Proficient with email and web-based technology for organizing and communication purposes; Google Organization & Productivity Tools (Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar) and/or ability to learn new technology systems in the first 90 days.
• Demonstrated facilitation skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Sense of humor.
• Black people in DC are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Understanding of DC governance and politics.
• Understanding and / lived experience in public housing.

Bread for the City is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental disability, medical condition, status as a veteran, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000 annually, with offers being made based on existing skill set, qualifications, with training and development needs being taken into consideration. Bread for the City also offers a generous benefits package.

To apply:

You must complete an application through Bread for the City's ADP portal. Click here to review available openings and click on " Director of Organizing and Systems Change " position. Select "apply" at the top right-hand corner to register for a login and apply for the position. Kindly upload a resume and cover letter through this online application process. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please.