Western Regional Organizing Manager

Overview

Western Regional Organizing Manager

Down Home North Carolina (DHNC) is seeking a full-time Western Regional Organizing Manager to build, support, and train a regional network of member-led Down Home chapters across NC’s 80 rural counties. The Western Regional Organizing Manager will supervise and support teams of organizers to grow our networks and build power through year-round community outreach, relationship building, and leadership development.

The Regional Organizing Manager will work to develop and implement an organizing strategy that builds and develops new Down Home chapters and campaigns through a mixture of in-person and remote support. The Regional Organizing Manager will supervise and manage two or more organizers as part of this strategy, and work closely with Down Home’s Organizing Director to plan and develop Down Home’s organizing department.

The ideal candidate is highly motivated to build and develop new leaders, and to win power for poor and working people. They are a seasoned organizer with years of experience, and are experts in the craft of organizing, base-building, and recruitment. They are familiar with and able to train others on core organizing and issue campaigning skills and principles. They are goal-oriented with a high degree of personal organization, and enjoy making and executing detailed plans. Previous experience managing organizing teams, projects, or departments is required. They are an effective communicator and eagerly collaborate with others. Volunteer or professional experience as a community organizer, union organizer, and/or issue campaigning is required. Candidates with experience organizing in Appalachian, rural, and/or southern contexts are preferred.

We are excited to hire for this position, and bring on a candidate who is hungry to build transformational, large-scale power for multiracial rural and working people in rural North Carolina.

Buckets of responsibility:

Develop and implement Down Home’s regional organizing vision, strategy, and program.
Develop and execute a regional organizing strategy to build new member-led Down Home chapters in your region. This will require relational and recruitment work to identify and train local members to carry out broad community outreach, recruitment, relationship building, and 1:1s.
Develop a plan to support and train member-leaders across the region as they establish issue-based working groups, build their chapters, and launch local issue campaigns. This will require a mixture of in-person support and remote support for local leaders.
Support local leaders to launch and win county-specific campaigns to transform power and win real victories for our members.
Launch and manage canvassing operations as part of broad community listening programs.
Track and maintain real-time records of membership and organizing efforts.
Support the regional chapter network to participate powerfully in Down Home NC’s collective statewide campaigns, including expanding Medicaid, communications campaigns, and voter contact work.
Manage a multiracial, cross-class organizing team
Recruit, hire, train, manage, and retain a strong, diverse organizing team that will include 2 or more organizers.
Ensure that each member of the regional organizing team has clear annual goals and knows what success looks like for their role.
Ensure that organizers deliver great results using strong and equitable day-to-day management practices.
Serve as a coach and champion for your organizers and support them to do their best work through frequent feedback.
Track progress towards goals; support and troubleshoot when a project is off-track.
Manage personnel challenges directly, kindly and firmly using the organization’s progressive discipline procedures.
Build a collaborative and inclusive team culture where all staff feel a sense of belonging.
Be an organizational leader
As a member of the Organizing Department’s management team, help set the strategic agenda for the department and region.
Work with member-leaders to plan strategic retreats, trainings, and priorities within your region.
Represent Down Home with coalition partners, as a media spokesperson, and with other key stakeholders.
Serve as an exemplar of our values and contribute positively to the culture of the organization.
Model Racial, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) competencies at the highest level and is able to bring equity and inclusion lens to all aspects of our work; actively contribute to a more equitable and inclusive organization.
Required skills and experience:

Experienced organizer: Proven track record for moving people to take collective action through a power-building analysis; demonstrated ability to authentically build relationships, trust, and credibility with community members and across race and class; genuine curiosity about others.
Strong manager: Demonstrated experience leading multiracial teams to accomplish results, ability to cultivate organizer’s development through direct feedback and strong inclusive and equitable management practices. Able to work through conflict directly and in ways that build trust and relationships. Able to build an inclusive and equitable culture
​​Effective project management skills: Demonstrated ability to successfully execute complex projects, including setting goals and developing a realistic work plan. Move people to action and hold them accountable with and without formal authority. Highly organized and strong attention to detail. Proven ability to manage complex schedule and responsibilities with minimal support or oversight

Project management skills: Is able to build systems and projects quickly, and accomplish goals under tight deadlines and high stress environments. Has the ability to inspire a team, build deep relationships, agitate organizers, and hold them accountable to their goals. Proven ability to manage complex schedule and responsibilities with minimal support or oversight
Mission alignment: Committed to the vision of a  powerful, inclusive, rural, multiracial, working-class movement-building as a path towards liberation for all people.
Familiarity with organizing tools and tracking systems; and personal or professional experience living in rural communities, living in the South, rural organizing, and/or organizing in the South are a plus but not required. Experience developing and running strategic issue campaigns is desirable but not required.

Some irregular hours are required, including nights and weekends. Location is flexible within western North Carolina. Applicants must be able and willing to travel regularly for work.

Compensation

Compensation for this full-time, permanent staff position is $65,000-$75,000 annually and includes best-in-class health and retirement benefits. We also offer unusual benefits, including a sabbatical policy and relocation stipend.  Location is flexible within western North Carolina. Applicants must be able and willing to travel regularly for work.

How to Apply

Down Home NC is committed to creating a dynamic, multicultural, diverse working environment. Candidates of color and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Down Home NC is an equal opportunity employer and a unionized workplace.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with a priority for applications received by  April 30th. If this job description is posted on Down Home’s website, we are still accepting applications.

Please send a resume and a short cover letter that includes your experience working with organizations to: jobs@downhomenc.org