Community Organizing Manager

About the role

SOMOS Mayfair’s Community Organizing Department builds power in East San Jose to effectively challenge the system and create sustainable systemic change in schools, neighborhoods, and communities. We do this through a base-building and grassroots community organizing approach that educates, agitates, organizes, mobilizes, and centers multigenerational Raza families to be the leaders of change. We support and build policies by centering the needs of the most impacted and shifting power and resources back to the people living in neighborhoods like Mayfair.

The Community Organizing Manager works with the Community Organizing Director in the development and implementation of a community-driven and neighborhood-wide agenda. In tandem, they are the leader of impacting change through SOMOS Mayfair and our partners. The Community Organizing Manager works with the Community Organizing Director in policy development with an early education, immigration, youth, and racial/economic justice perspective.

The ideal candidate must be excited at the prospect of growing with our organization and welcome the opportunity to be a leader, a thought partner, and team member to our exceptional staff. This position requires an individual who likes leading and working in a team, able to manage multiple responsibilities, and can stay on top of information and tasks in a fast-paced organization.

Responsibilities

The following duties are approximate percentages of time:

• Organizing Campaign Strategy & Execution (20%)
  • Ensures SOMOS Mayfair organizing teams develop action campaign plans, power mapping strategies, campaign activities and actions, and base building.
  • Supports organizing teams in the development and implementation of outreach strategies to build a robust and active base of leaders and supporters.
  • Supports organizers in developing effective messages and use of social media to uplift community voice and enhance campaigns.
  • Ensures organizing teams are working as part of a larger programmatic strategy.
  • Supports the development and/or update of the SOMOS’ community-led neighborhood-wide policy agenda.
  • Assists in policy research and advocacy opportunities in alignment with SOMOS Mayfair’s vision, mission, and core values.
  • Assists in researching and learning about promising solutions, organizing trends, policies, and political theory.
• Civic Engagement Management (10%)
  • Executes Civic Engagement campaigns including developing effective campaign plans, social media strategies, coordination of campaign activities and actions, and recruiting coalition allies.
  • Supports the coordination of community-based governance structures, systems, and processes that support community decision-making, leadership, and voice in local ballot initiatives and electoral processes.
• Coalition Engagement & Leadership (20%)
  • Co-represents SOMOS and provides leadership at the Sí Se Puede Collective’s Policy and Advocacy Committee.
  • Serves as liaison with local and regional collaborations, community allies, policymakers, and organizational stakeholders as needed.
  • Alongside Program Director, identifies and builds coalitions with key community partners.
  • Represents SOMOS at community gatherings; workshops, training, and presentations; to community, political, and government leaders; to other community-based organizations; and in the media.
  • Participates in countywide efforts to support promotores and community organizers working in neighborhoods like Mayfair.
  • Proactively promotes mission, vision, strategic goals, and community impact amongst partners, allies, and potential allies.
• Relationship with Director of Programs (10%)
  • Consistently reports status of work plans and emerging issues to Director.
  • Provides information and recommendations to the Director for consideration by the SOMOS Mayfair Management Team.
  • Keeps abreast of best practices in promotor models, popular education, community organizing, and literacy trends to support ongoing programming.
  • Creates an annual plan to develop or strengthen essential skills critical to the Program Manager’s success.
• Program Management and Evaluation (20%)
  • Participates in the organizational development process at SOMOS as needed.
  • Tracks and reports organizing and policy program goals, outcomes, and performance metrics.
  • Supports the evaluation of community organizing programs, practices, and initiatives to ensure quality and effectiveness; makes recommendations for improvement.
  • Conducts pre- and post-program surveys across all participants and programs to measure SOMOS impact.
• Supervision & Professional Development (15%)
  • Fosters a team-oriented environment focused on community organizing and power building.
  • Develops and supervises a unified and effective organizing team of 3.5 SOMOS program employees and program assistants (if applicable).
  • Regularly monitors and evaluates team performance and provides opportunities for learning and growth.
  • Executes a Learning & Professional Development Plan to develop or strengthen essential skills and seek opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development of staff members.
  • Uses a strengths-based or coaching approach to support and hold teams accountable.
  • Supports staff in program planning and effective and sustainable execution.
  • Recruits and retains a diverse and talented staff that has wide skills represented, ethnicity and gender diversity to be consistent with SOMOS’ target population.
  • Ensures that job descriptions are current, regular performance evaluations are completed in a timely manner, proper recognition and disciplinary actions are taken, and when necessary, termination procedures are properly followed.
• Administrative (5%)
  • Develops work plans, budgets, program monitoring, data tracking, and reporting systems in support of the program budget.
  • Creates and executes an annual work plan that includes organizational strategies and milestone deadlines.
  • Participates in agency-wide decision-making arenas and in regular internal political education as needed.
  • Contributes to the development of organizational world-view and execution of the current Strategic Plan.
  • Participates in SOMOS Mayfair staff meetings and training and supports major organizational campaigns and projects.

Requirements

• B.A. degree in a related field (such as Social Work, Sociology, Housing, Immigration studies, Ethnic Studies, Public Health, Public Interest Law, Youth Development, or Mental Health, etc.) or 3 years of significant, related community organizing experience.
• 1 year of experience supervising projects and employees to effectively move campaigns and projects.
• Valid California driver’s license and proof of auto insurance required.
• Available to work flexible hours, including afternoons and occasional evenings and weekends.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English (preferred).

Qualifications

• Deep passion and commitment to advancing racial, economic, and social justice in immigrant, working-class, and multigenerational Raza communities.
• The Community Organizing Manager should see themselves as a visible, vocal leader who is fiercely dedicated to addressing systemic injustices.
• A commitment to take action to sustain a culture of grassroots organizing led by Raza families impacted by injustice.
• Enthusiasm for SOMOS’ mission, vision, values, and policy platform.
• Experience working across teams, organizations, and communities to effectively move campaigns.

Skills

• Deep understanding of root causes impacting marginalized and poor communities.
• Experience running campaigns using popular education, storytelling, and mobilizing coalitions.
• Ability to motivate community members and staff to move them towards action.
• Time management, project management, and delegation skills.
• Excellent individual and group rapport-building and communication skills (written and verbal) in a range of relationships and environments, including with co-workers, colleagues in the field, youth, program participants, parents, health and human services professionals, teachers, school leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Computer skills (particularly Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, programs including Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets, and Outlook/Gmail), proficiency in utilizing the internet, and familiarity with Survey Monkey or other online evaluation tools.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid holidays.
• 401k plan.

Pay

USD $77,625 - $79,953 per year, paid semi-monthly.

Location: On-site, San Jose, CA, USA.