Organizing Director

Position: Organizing Director
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Harrisburg

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1996 as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, Equality Pennsylvania is the only organization in the Commonwealth based in Harrisburg and advocating there and across the state, exclusively for the rights of LGBT Pennsylvanians.

Our central goal is to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pennsylvanians through education, policy and legislation. More than a decade ago, Equality Pennsylvania was a volunteer-based 501 (c) 3 organization. Today, we have full-time and part-time staff, more than a dozen interns each year and many, many dedicated volunteers.

In 2010 we totally re-organized and strengthened our status as an organization by adding both a 501(c) 4 component and a PAC to our overall structure. Since then we have made a number of key administrative changes and today our Board comes from areas all across Pennsylvania. We are gay and straight, business people and government workers, attorneys, non-profit leaders and professors who are singularly focused on changing the landscape for all LGBT Pennsylvanians.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Organizing Director will manage the field staff and develop and implement a comprehensive grassroots plan to educate and organize LGBT and allies statewide. The ideal candidate will have a strong background and experience in grassroots field organizing, including volunteer recruitment, civic engagement, and coalition building.

THE POSITION

• The Organizing Director will manage the field staff and work with partner organizations to develop and implement Equality Pennsylvania’s grassroots organizing plan. The Organizing Director will work with the field staff to plan, direct, and oversee a full range of organizing activities to cultivate an active and diverse support base throughout Pennsylvania.
• Specifically, the Organizing Director working with Field Staff will:
• Create and oversee the overall grassroots field plan and manage field staff
• Establish a statewide, grassroots network of supporters and activists
• Identify, engage and train a statewide volunteer network
• Identify and engage local and regional coalition partners
• Develop and supervise a volunteer canvass and phone bank program
• Work with communication staff to develop and implement a story-telling program
• Engage, organize, and train youth/students, communities of color, and communities of faith
• Work with communication staff to identify local messengers to generate earned media locally
• Work to engage constituents in regular communication with elected officials
• Educate supporters about issues affecting LGBT Pennsylvanians, racial and economic justice, and priority issues of partner organizations

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• We seek an enthusiastic self-starter with high energy, a “can do” attitude, and a knowledge of and commitment to social justice. He/she must be independent and easily adapt to a fast-paced environment. This person must be flexible, adaptable, resourceful and creative. Volunteer and field staff management experience a plus.
• This person will be capable of taking responsibility for specific goals and measurable outcomes within designated time frames and will be able to coordinate multi-task initiatives to successful conclusion.
• The successful candidate will have significant issue/candidate field organizing experience, including experience working within communities of color and faith communities. Experience with the Voter Activation Network (VAN) is a plus.
• The successful candidate will have exceptional “people skills” that will be used to work effectively with colleagues, partner organizations, and volunteers. Candidates will have the ability to recruit and mobilize volunteers.
• Qualified individuals will bring a minimum of two to three years of progressively responsible experience in grassroots organizing. Candidates will also have the ability to maintain flexible work hours including weekends and evening hours and travel in-state 5 – 10 days/month.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Equality Pennsylvania follows an equal opportunity employment policy, and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicap, veteran status, and marital status. This policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with outside vendors and customers, use of contractors and consultants, and in dealing with the general public.

COMPENSATION

Salary based on experience. Benefit package available.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Email cover letter and resume via PDF, Word or Pages to jdungee@equalitypa.org

Please, no phone calls. Application deadline: August 1, 2013