Position: Northwest Organizing Consultant

Location:  West (preferably San Francisco Bay Area)
Post Date:  August 1, 2009
Closing Date:  Open until filled

About the Center for Community Change

The Center for Community Change is a national social justice non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1968 to honor the life and values of Robert F. Kennedy, we are one of the longest standing champions for low-income families and communities of color. Throughout our history, the Center has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.  Our work has contributed to the creation of the food stamps program, the enactment of the Community Reinvestment Act, the growth of community development corporations, and the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Today we are leading efforts to advance fair and humane immigration reform, increase voter participation in communities of color and develop the next generation of social justice organizers. The Center has brought the issues and values of low-income communities to the forefront of the political debate with presidential candidate forums in the 2004 and 2008 election cycles. For further information please visit our website at: www.communitychange.org.

Position Description:

The Northwest Organizing Consultant will provide coordination and support to community-based organizations in the region, with the ultimate goal of increasing the power and scale of those organizations and ensuring that underrepresented populations and geographic areas are organized as participants in the Campaign for Community Values.  The consultant will work to link grassroots organizations to national organizing initiatives of the Center for Community Change.   Consultant will work primarily with the CCC Campaign for Community Values (CCV) Team and the specific issue campaigns that are run under the banner of the CCV on immigration, healthcare and worker justice.  The consultant will be asked to do work primarily in the following state: Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nebraska and potentially additional Western states based on campaign needs.

Principal Responsibilities:

Coordinate and be responsible for moving a body of work including developing an overall strategy and work plan for campaign strategies in targeted NW states.

• Responsible for building on  existing partnerships with local organizations in the NW as well as creating new relationships in the NW as part of the Campaign for Community Values.
• Help grassroots organizations to develop strategies for building alliances, partnerships, and coalitions with other organizations to enhance their power and to achieve their goals.  This may include organizational and strategic development work, fundraising, leadership training, and non-partisan electoral work.
• Collaborate with national organizing campaigns, training, and technical assistance for partner organizations in the NW.
• Support coordinated national and/or local, state or regional initiatives as part of the Campaign for Community Values on specific issues which bring together grassroots strategies with media, research and policy tools to achieve federal policy change.
• Represent the North West at all the Field Staff meetings and participate in Campaign for Community Values meetings as well as possible participation in regional and other staff meetings.
• Represent CCC in a professional manner within the organization, among community organizations and allies in a region, and within the philanthropic world.
• Perform other duties as necessary to forward the goals of the Campaign as coordinated by the Director of Organizing or the Western Field Leader. 
  

Qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of issues related to the Southern region as defined above.
• Background in community organizing.  Preference is to have extensive experience working within the community organizing field in one or more of the states within the Southern Region.
• Minimum of five years experience in community organizing and in implementing local, state or national policy initiatives on poverty issues.  Experience in non-partisan electoral work is helpful.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational assessment and development; ability to provide significant organizational development assistance.
• Familiarity with and openness to different approaches to grassroots organizing and policy work.
• Strong facilitation and coalition building skills.
• Financial expertise and budget management.
• Ability to work democratically and effectively with diverse groups and people.
• Willing to work long, flexible hours and to travel extensively.
• Ability to operate at different plateaus. Mindful of broader vision for the Center, but also of the specific mission of the team itself. Able to constantly reconcile the difference between the two.
• Experience and comfort working as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team and know how to combine assets available to the team in a way that maximizes ability of the team to function at a high level.
• Ability to deal with grassroots groups and organizing strategies. Some on-the-ground political and/or organizing experience.
• Strong team player, familiar with team dynamics and willing to work in a team environment.
• Strong commitment to social justice and social change.
• Knowledge of key issues that the Center currently works on, such as jobs and income support, healthcare, housing, immigration, education etc.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are a must.
• The ability to produce consistent, quality work in a fast-paced environment is essential.
• Ability to speak a second language a plus. 

The work of the Northwest Organizing Consultant will be coordinated by the Western Field Leader.

Submit proposals with qualifications and compensation requirements to:

Human Resources
Attn: Northwest Consultant
Center for Community Change
1536 U. Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
(Fax) 202-387-4891
employment@communitychange.org