“Lead paradigm shift strategist”

Compensation for the Director of Organizing is up to a $115,000 salary with benefits. To apply, please send resume and cover letter to jobs@ruralorganizing.org.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Organizing reports to the Executive Director and is responsible for developing and implementing our paradigm and policy shift objectives. This director-level position serves as the lead on 501c3 paradigm shift and nonpartisan power-building projects. The Director of Organizing will work with internal and external stakeholders to build comprehensive and integrated community organizing campaigns, establish leadership opportunities for staff, colleagues, and locally based civic leaders, and develop appropriate political responses. The Director of Organizing will manage one staff person, the Ohio Organizer.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and coordinate work plans for offline and online organizing efforts.
• Identify professional and personal growth goals and training, fellowships, staff coaching, etc., for staff and colleagues.
• Lead nonpartisan campaign/issue assessment, research, policy development, advocacy, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Develop an effective paradigm shift plan that leverages our network, values, and public opinion research to challenge and alter dominant narratives that lead to trickle-down agriculture-based rural development politics.
• Builds strategic communication campaigns to educate the media and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels on our “bottom-up rural prosperity” legislation.
• Cultivate and maintain strong media relationships.
• Develop integrated communications products, including websites, newsletters, etc.
• Create and launch new media and marketing.
• Develop an integrated narrative plan to challenge stereotypes about rural people and places.
• Resolve public affairs issues and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences.
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide strategic communications counsel to program and department team leads.
• In collaboration with team leads, coordinate internal and external communications to promote the visibility of events and manage the production of communication materials.
• Serve as organizational spokesperson and liaison for public-facing events.
• Ensure smooth event and webinar coordination.
• Write, edit, compile, and prepare event materials and collateral: draft remarks, speaking points, and overall run-of-show guidelines.
• Ensure understanding and collaboration between all internal and external stakeholders.

• Prepare budgets and periodic progress reports to staff directors on paradigm shift-related activities.
• Support fundraising efforts for paradigm shift-related activities.
• Oversee vendor relationships and production staff; oversee budgets, timelines, etc., for the Organizing Department.
• Work with the communication team to manage media inquiries.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in community organizing.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing and proofreading.
• Thorough knowledge of the inner workings of all levels of government.
• Superlative interpersonal skills with a conflict-resolution orientation.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• The ability to forge positive working relationships with senior staff, partners, community stakeholders, vendors, and others.
• Strong data management and technology skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and follow-up.
• The ability to effectively multi-task and demonstrate responsiveness.
• Graphic design skills and a strong eye for crisp, clean design are preferred.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree and 8 years of work experience, and 5 years of Managerial experience.
• Experience managing staff and/or interns.