Community Engagement & Policy Organizer (VCLI)

Southwest Washington Equity Coalition; Vancouver (WA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits package

Hybrid work environment

Generous time-off schedule

Paid holidays

Job summary

Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC) and the Love and Justice Alliance seek a Community Engagement & Policy Organizer to coordinate the Vancouver Community Leadership Institute, developing BIPOC leaders for municipal boards and commissions. This role reports to the Director of Power and Politics and works across SWEC and LJA on policy and organizing.

You will build strategic partnerships, organize alumni, and engage community partners at city, county, and state levels while advancing

Qualifications

• No educational degree is required, but candidates must demonstrate deep knowledge of the impact of white supremacy culture and systemic racism.
• Training in community organizing, labor organizing, policy-development, and program management is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee the Vancouver Community Leadership Institute.
• Develop partnerships with facilitators, fellows, alumni, and local boards.
• Organize institute alumni to inform policy and advocacy agendas.
• Engage with community partners to advise on civic issues at city, county and state levels.

Skills

Community organizing

Policy advocacy

Alumni organizing

Partnership building

Event logistics

Office productivity tools

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Publisher

Google Docs

Google Hangout

Job description

The Southwest Washington Equity Coalition (SWEC) and the Love and Justice Alliance are a pair of newly formed nonprofit organizations who work to advance racial justice through community organizing policy advocacy, leadership development and political power building among communities of color and working-class folks.

We’re looking for a highly skilled Community Engagement & Policy Organizer to coordinate our flagship program; The Vancouver Community Leadership Institute. This position reports to the Director of Power and Politics and collaborates on a small team across both 501c3 and 501c4 organizations. The position will develop municipal leaders, organize within our base, and recruit new potential fellows.

The Community Engagement & Policy Organizer (VCLI) requires a strategic thinker with experience in both community organizing and policy advocacy (on the municipal, county and state level), a deep commitment to racial equity, and strong leadership and communication skills. This includes being able to utilize adaptive leadership skills, remain organized and collaborative despite navigating a fast-paced work environment, and the ability to understand the nuance and multi-layered challenges of dismantling white supremacy culture through avenues aligned with philosophies and practices of Pro-Blackness, Pro-brownness and radical love.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership Institute Coordination and Oversight : The Community Engagement & Policy Organizer (VCLI) facilitates, coordinates and manages SWEC’s Vancouver Community Leadership Institute, responsible for recruiting, resourcing, and training emerging BIPOC leaders for service on municipal boards and commissions.
• Strategic Partnerships : The Community Engagement & Policy Organizer (VCLI) supplements VCLI by cultivating partnerships with facilitators, Fellows, alumni, and local boards and commissions. They coordinate with allies, governmental staff, and local leaders to deliver relevant skill-building training.
• Alumni Organizing: The CE&PO is responsible for organizing institute alumni to inform the organization’s policy and advocacy agenda. This looks like meeting with alumni in one on one and small group meetings regularly, moving alumni up a leadership ladder towards direct action and in alignment with the Organization. CE&PO is responsible for planning annual Alumni engagement events and connecting alumni to ongoing SWEC and LJA opportunities.
• Community Engagement: The Community Engagement & Policy Organizer will work closely with key community partners to facilitate opportunities for VCLI Fellows and Alumni to engage in, and advise on, civic issues at the city, county and state levels. They will also support the work of the SWEC Membership Bloc.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate logistics for events, including venue booking, catering, set up, and participant communication.
• Collaborating with team members on cross-programmatic advocacy and organizing opportunities
• Support financial development of the organization, staffing fundraisers, assisting with grant reporting, etc.
• Navigating ambiguity is an expected core competency for working with the organization.
• Other duties as assigned and related to the position.

EDUCATION

• No educational degree is required, but candidates must demonstrate deep knowledge of the impact of white supremacy culture, systemic racism, internalized and interpersonal racism on individuals and communities from an intersectional and nuanced perspective.
• Applicants with training in community organizing, labor organizing, policy-development, and program management are encouraged to apply, even if they do not have academic experience.

EXPERIENCE

• 3+ years of experience in community or labor organizing and/or community-based policy development and delivery.
• Demonstrated experience, commitment, and humility in working with diverse communities of color and culture, with an intimate understanding of power-building as a strategy and tactic to disrupt systems of oppression.
• Possess proficiency in multiple computer applications, including word-processing software, presentation applications, and online research.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Be a people-person whose first instinct is to engage with people and community in face-to-face conversations.
• Understanding Local and State lawmaking processes.
• Familiarity/experience with c3/c4 operations.
• Familiarity with Clark County/ SW Washington.
• Engage with and demonstrate understanding of principles of accountability, integrity and belonging, and collaboration.
• Experience with and desire to work with diverse cultures and the ability to engage people from a variety of backgrounds on a one-on-one basis or group format.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate courageous conversations about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status, citizenship status, and other socially charged identities and lived experiences.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to set own work priorities, manage responsibilities and time.
• Experience using common office computer programs (Microsoft Word, Publisher and Excel) as well as web-based Google applications (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Hangout).
• Adapt to the myriad challenges of working in a start-up non-profit organization.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Valid drivers’ license and dependable access to a car to drive for work required.

Access to cell phone required; phone calls with alumni, fellows and potential fellows are a mandatory requirement for this role.

WORK SCHEDULE:

This is a salaried position with a typical 40-hour work week. This position has flexible hours and often includes evening and weekend work. Specifically, the CE&PO must be available for VCLI, which meets one Saturday per month between September and April each year. SWEC has a hybrid work environment, working from home Mondays and Fridays, and in the office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Some additional events and meetings will require in-person availability. Periodic multi-day travel outside of the community, state, and region may also be required.

COMPENSATION:

The starting salary range for this position is between $75,000-$85,000/year, and an additional health benefits package. The Organization also has a generous time-off schedule, with 15 recognized paid holidays, 4 days paid floating holidays, a week of “spring rest” and “winter rest” (each paid), in addition to a PTO accrual rate of 4.6 hours per pay period.