BACKGROUND AND MISSION
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity.
For over 30 years, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (“Advancing Justice | Chicago”) has worked to bring together the Asian American community and create change in our communities. We are deeply committed to grassroots community organizing and we invest in the leadership of grassroots community members through trainings, community education, civic engagement, and collaborative issue-based campaigns. In order to strengthen our work and transform the inequities in our city, state, and Midwest region, we work with multiracial coalitions that emphasize racial equity, accountability to those most impacted, and an infrastructure of grassroots leadership. Our advocacy work focuses on promoting racial, economic, and immigrant justice, including initiatives in the areas of voting rights, language access, education equity, criminal justice, and immigrant rights.
As part of the national Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation, Advancing Justice | Chicago is a leader in the nationwide Asian American movement. Regionally, Advancing Justice | Chicago is prioritizing the Midwest region and collaborating with partners across Midwestern states to tackle common struggles and build collective power.
Founded in 2018, Asian American Midwest Progressives (“AAMP”) endorses progressive candidates, mobilizes Asian American voters, and holds elected officials accountable through issue-based campaigns. Currently, AAMP organizes in Illinois and Ohio.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director of Organizing position presents a unique opportunity for a strategic, dynamic, and thoughtful leader to advance Advancing Justice | Chicago and AAMP’s commitment to building power through base building, grassroots leadership development, and issue-based campaigns. The Director of Organizing will co-lead and supervise the community organizing team and guide strategy for key issue-based campaigns. As a member of the leadership team, the Director of Organizing will also be responsible for guiding organization-wide decisions, maintaining healthy organizational culture, and managing personnel. This position reports to the Executive Director.
This position will fall under the staff sharing agreement between Advancing Justice | Chicago and Asian American Midwest Progressives (AAMP) so a portion of time will be spent on 501(c)(4) activities including partisan political work.
Key Advancing Justice | Chicago Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Executive Director and the senior leadership team to ensure that the organization is serving its mission, achieving organizational goals, maintaining healthy culture, and in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement;
- Supervise a majority of the community organizing team, which includes 2-3 direct reports and 2-3 indirect reports, and co-lead the Organizing Team with another director;
- Lead campaign strategy, which includes power analysis, policy research, direct action planning, media strategy, and legislative engagement;
- Oversee the organization’s grassroots leadership development programs and budgets, which includes the base building groups of KINETIC, A Just Chi, and I Speak Power;
- Maintain and contribute to healthy organizational culture, which includes, but is not limited to, utilizing conflict transformation tools, modeling work-life balance, and communicating proactively;
- Represent the organization in key partnerships and coalitions, including the Pan Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR), and more;
- Provide media interviews on key issues and current events, as needed;
- Support, and when necessary take lead on, organization-wide events and activities including direct actions, press conferences, rallies, lobby days, and other events as needed;
- Provide regular updates to the Advancing Justice | Chicago Board of Directors;
- Consistently engage and collaborate with the other Advancing Justice affiliates on national campaigns or joint projects, such as the Advancing Justice national summit;
- Other duties as assigned.
Key Asian American Midwest Progressives Responsibilities:
- Work closely with Campaigns Director to build an aligned co-governance strategy with AAMP-endorsed candidates and elected officials;
- Support direct reports in engaging with AAMP activities, including canvassing, phone banking, or AAMP-led issue-based campaigns, as opportunities arise;
- Provide support for political events, such as public meetings or town halls, as needed.
Required Qualifications:
As both a senior leadership team member and a public face of Advancing Justice | Chicago, the Director of Organizing should demonstrate a unique blend of qualities and skills that reflect a passion and commitment to the organization’s mission, including the following:
- Strong belief in the mission of the organization and deep commitment to advancing racial equity;
- At least 4-5 years of experience with community organizing/base-building, grassroots leadership development, and working on issue-based campaigns;
- Experience with coaching or mentoring individuals for leadership and professional development purposes;
- Demonstrated interpersonal, leadership, consensus-building, and coalition-building skills, with ability to forge new relationships and foster existing ones;
- Ability to organize direct actions, build and coordinate coalitions, and lead electoral organizing strategy and activities;
- Ability to effectively supervise multiple individuals, including permanent and temporary staff;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism;
- Ability to effectively multi-task, work well with others under pressure, and creatively adapt strategies and tactics as needed;
- Ability to work collaboratively with multi-ethnic, multi-generational, or multi-sector communities;
- Excellent oral and written communications skills and ability to persuade others;
- Willingness to travel out-of-town and work evenings or weekends as needed (flex time is offered for evening and weekend work).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong vision of how grassroots organizing serves the organization’s mission;
- A deep understanding of racial equity and intersectionality;
- Experience with leading grassroots organizing trainings and forming training curriculum;
- Experience with managing staff sharing agreements with a 501(c)4 organization;
- Strong understanding of the role that communications and media play in grassroots organizing and advocacy;
- Demonstrated experience in program development and oversight, budget tracking and projecting, and grant reporting and writing;
- Demonstrated fundraising experience from individuals, foundations, or corporations;
- Knowledge of the history of Asian Americans and the progressive movement;
- Specific expertise in an issue area relevant to Advancing Justice | Chicago;
- Experience working in multilingual spaces.
COMPENSATION
The salary range is $85,000 to $95,000, depending on experience. A full benefits package is included.
INQUIRY AND APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications should be submitted electronically via email to work@advancingjustice-chicago.org and include:
- Cover letter describing interest in the position, qualifications, and expectations,
- Resume;
- Writing sample of your choosing; and
- Names of three references who can speak the range of qualifications sought.
- Please include “Director of Organizing Application” in the subject line of your email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but applications received by July 31, 2024 will be prioritized.
Note: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, Advancing Justice | Chicago and AAMP staff are currently working in-person at our Uptown office two days a week (Tue/Thu) with optional work-from-home three days a week (Mon/Weds/Fri), which is subject to change. If you are invited for an interview, the interview may be held in person or over video conference.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and Asian American Midwest Progressives are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or religious affiliation.
www.AdvancingJustice-Chicago.org
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