Deputy Director (CAW)

Community Action Works; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Opportunities for advancement

Training

Job summary

Community Action Works seeks a senior organizer to lead a team of 3-4 organizers across New England and Hartford. You will train, supervise, and support organizers to build power in communities confronting pollution and environmental injustice.

You will drive a three-year strategic plan centering racial and economic equity, develop campaign strategies with local leaders, and coordinate coalitions while advancing fundraising and capacity-building initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of organizing experience, with 2+ years supervising staff.
• Experience in multi-racial and cross-class settings and fundraising.
• Strong facilitation, strategic thinking, and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Train and supervise a team of 3-4 organizers based in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
• Lead the staff in a three-year equity-centered strategic plan.
• Develop campaign strategies and build relationships with local leaders.
• Coordinate coalitions and fundraise with donors and events.
• Organize workshops and leadership development, largely remote.

Skills

Organizing

Staff supervision

Fundraising

Facilitation skills

Strategic thinking

Racial justice

Job description

At Community Action Works (formerly Toxics Action Center), we believe that environmental threats are big, but the power of well-organized community groups is bigger. That’s why we work side by side with everyday people to confront those who are polluting and harming the health of our communities. We partner with the people who are most impacted by environmental problems, especially Black, Indigenous, communities of color and poor communities, training them with the know-how anyone would need to make change in their own backyard. Because when neighbors know how to make change, they can build the power to transform our world.

Joining the team at Community Action Works, you’ll get to dive into building power with communities facing the most profound environmental and climate threats, while leading the organization toward our vision of creating the beautiful, just world we know is possible. You will have the opportunity to work side by side with community organizers, developing their leadership and helping them troubleshoot campaigns. You’ll back organizers in centering Black, Indigenous, communities of color and working class communities, and other communities deeply impacted by pollution. You’ll join the team in diving deep into what it means to undo racism and classism through our work. Our team at Community Action Works is closely knit, and we weave in relationship-building, cultural exploration, on-going training, and healing practices into every aspect of our work, as we build a culture where organizers can thrive.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Train and supervise community organizers: Oversee a team of 3-4 dynamic community organizers based in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Provide them with the training, supervision, and support that they need to organize to build power in communities on the frontlines of pollution. You’ll travel once a week to work with organizers in the field, and lead in-person quarterly staff retreats (all currently held over zoom).

Organizational strategic development: Lead the staff team in bringing together each person’s vision, creative ideas, and passion for the organization’s future as together we develop and implement a strategic three‑year plan that centers racial and class equity.

Campaign development and campaign strategy: Work closely with organizers to identify the most profound local environmental threats across the region and build relationships with key local and statewide leaders, particularly in Black, Indigenous communities of color and poor communities. Work with organizers and community leaders to identify solutions to local environmental problems. Work together to research and develop creative strategies to win.

Community organizing workshops and leadership development: Work side by side with communities on the forefront of climate and environmental threats, lead workshops on community organizing skills and hold one‑on‑one coaching, and leadership development sessions with community leaders (all currently held remotely)—with a focus on building relationships in the most impacted communities.

Coordinate coalitions: Work hand in hand with frontline community leaders to develop and carry out a broad regional vision to build people power for a healthier and more just world. Work with allied organizations, centering those led by most impacted community members, to support issues from clean energy to zero waste solutions.

Fundraising: Join our team in organizing the money. Identify and cultivate relationships with donors and funders, engage in grant‑seeking, and participate in other grassroots fundraising tactics including door‑to‑door canvassing, letter writing, and events.

Networking and movement‑building: Join in organizing a power building grassroots conference, membership assembly, and other movement‑building events (if and when social distancing is no longer required). Build deep relationships with community leaders, along with trust and rapport with coalition partners and other stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Candidates must have at least 5 years of organizing experience, preferably in community organizing and base‑building and at least 2 years of experience supervising or managing staff. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience organizing in multi‑racial and cross‑class settings, strategic thinking and effective facilitation skills, fundraising experience, and is passionate about community organizing, movement building, and racial, economic and environmental justice. Candidates must exercise excellent judgement, discretion and have the ability to manage significant projects.

Location:

This position can be based in Boston or Northampton MA, Hartford CT, or Portland ME.

Pay and Benefits:

Compensation for this position is commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience and/or advanced degrees. We offer a competitive benefits package, opportunities for advancement, and training.

Community Action Works is an equal opportunity employer.