Senior Community Organizer

Core Responsibilities

• Member Recruitment and Retention: Recruit women with incarcerated loved ones to join our membership and use effective techniques in relational organizing to continuously engage and create a political home for our members.
• Track and proactively respond to trends in member retention.
• Plan and track member leadership development via committee participation.
• Get to know members’ strengths, stories, passions, and interests in order to support them in assuming more leadership in relevant program/campaign-related activities (e.g. committee leadership, spokesperson training, etc.).
• Actively problem-solve and support with logistics to reduce barriers to member participation.
• Hold complex spaces and facilitate discussions with skill, fostering inclusive and meaningful participation.
• Member Activation & Engagement in Campaign Tactics: Carry out activations, mobilizations, and other tactics to achieve advocacy objectives.
• Implement campaign tactics (direct actions, press conferences, rallies, meeting with electeds, etc.) in a way that is aligned with the overall campaign strategy.
• Engage members meaningfully in the planning for and execution of campaign tactics.
• Prep members to speak at public hearings, actions, or with electeds.
• Create member- and partner-facing written materials.
• Support in holding relationships with select partners.

  Strategic Stewardship & Data-Driven Project Ownership

  • Lead high-level planning and execution of member engagement and campaign initiatives by leveraging data and insights to inform strategy.
  • Analyze trends in member participation, campaign outcomes, and community engagement to make actionable recommendations for program improvement and growth.
  • Develop and manage complex projects end-to-end, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, timelines, and resource needs.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to set priorities, define metrics for success, and track progress toward strategic objectives.
  • Serve as a thought partner in shaping campaign strategy, identifying opportunities for innovation, and recommending solutions to strengthen member impact and organizational effectiveness.

    Ideal Qualifications

    • 3-4+ years of experience in organizing (community-based, issue-based, electoral, and/or labor); previous experience in decarceration advocacy a strong plus.
    • Commitment to supporting the leadership of women and gender expansive people with incarcerated loved ones and our families.
    • Excellent time-management, organizational, and event-planning skills.
    • Effective writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
    • Track record as a collaborative team player who excels in managing multiple projects and is comfortable working in a fast-paced and non-traditional work environment.
    • Adept with Mac operating systems, Google Suite, and MS Office Suite (especially Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
    • Commitment to the beliefs and values of Essie with a demonstrated passion for progressive politics, specifically in gender justice, race justice, and ending mass incarceration.

      Qualities

      • Connecting with others is your superpower. You find tremendous joy in building relationships and supporting the leadership development of others.
      • A determined, methodical executor. You are extremely organized and coordinate meetings and events with skill and grace, especially in a fast-paced, focused environment.
      • You anticipate needs and take initiative to address them. "I persist despite obstacles" is one of your mottos.
      • Discernment and honesty we can trust. You are a thoughtful team member who acts in alignment with your integrity and are unfailingly trustworthy.
      • Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility.
      • You easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
      • Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey.
      • You carry a positive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

        The Position

        • The Senior Community Organizer is a full-time, salaried, exempt position.
        • This position is supervised by the Director of Organizing Programs.
        • The salary for this position is between $75,000- $80,000 depending on experience, with full medical, dental, and vision benefits, optional 401(k), a substantial vacation package, and a monthly personal wellness stipend.
        • The position is based at Essie’s Los Angeles office.
        • To Apply Please address a personal, specific, and thoughtful cover letter to the “Essie Hiring Committee” and submit along with a resume through our hiring portal (https://essiejusticegroup.bamboohr.com/jobs).
        • Your resume tells us what you can do; your cover letter should tell us who you are and why you want to work with Essie.
        • Essie Justice Group provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members.