The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers seeks to hire a Statewide Community Organizer. This is a full-time position based in Sacramento. Candidates must also be able to organize advocacy campaigns in-person and over the internet, educate, motivate, build and expand community engagement. The successful candidate must have experience in working with diverse disability communities and organizing large, accessible, statewide events. Candidates must be able: to travel on a regular basis regionally, statewide and occasionally across country; to organize a network of 29 independent Living Centers and at least three coalitions statewide; to provide leadership and educational opportunities with and for local organizers; to develop organizing strategies, track organizing outcomes, and write extensive quarterly and annual reports.
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
STATEWIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Job Description
Open for Recruitment: March 31, 2009 – April 20, 2009
Salary Range: $35,000 – $40,000
Overview: Under the direction of the Deputy Director, the Statewide Organizer will train and support both local and regional community organizers in the Systems Change Network. This is a key statewide position in the CFILC Community Education and Systems Change grant. The Statewide Organizer will provide leadership in organizing strategic, tactical and agreed upon methods of organizing on national, state and local issues to create systemic change.
This position will work with the Systems Change Staff located at each of the 29 ILCs as well as other coalition and disability organizational partners. Duties include, development of electronic advocacy campaigns, assisting Systems Change Advocates develop Annual Advocacy Plans, tracking and reporting on evaluation of campaign effectiveness, providing assistance in building grass roots advocacy groups, provide training and workshops, provide mentoring and support to the local systems change staff, coordinate legislative information and help form coalitions with other disability groups, non profit organizations, churches, civil rights groups and other organizations that could become natural allies. Will travel extensively to the 29 California ILCs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
*Assist in building grassroots advocacy groups through the 29 ILCs and CFILC led coalitions.
*Ability to develop E-Advocacy strategies that supports organizing and advocacy campaigns.
*Conduct or coordinate community organizing training sessions and workshops on a wide variety of topics including: power analysis, using the media as an organizing tool, strategy and tactic analysis, coalition building, developing leadership in groups, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
*Provide mentoring and support to community organizers, advocates and leaders in our network.
*Coordinate state level policy issues as identified by the network and work with local groups to educate and build support on the local and statewide level.
*Organize opportunities for leaders, organizers and staff to meet and further our organizing agenda.
*Help to form coalitions with other cross disability groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, civil rights groups and others that could become our natural allies.
*Assist CFILC management and ILC management to document progress toward achieving our goals of developing new leaders, including various cultural perspectives and removing barriers toward inclusion, consumer choice and living independently.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and ability desired. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s Degree in human service, political science, social work, community organizing or a related field, and minimum of three years in community organizing, training and leadership development activities OR a combination of five years experience in disability advocacy, training and community organizing activities.
REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect and interpret data, establish facts, and draw conclusions. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to initiate projects and work with minimal supervision. Ability to prioritize competing demands.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and comprehend training and disability issues materials. Ability to effectively train systems change advocates and organizers on advocacy, social change, disability policy issues, leadership development and coalition/advocacy building. Ability to communicate with management of the CFILC organization members and other constituencies. Strong ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and communities. Ability to document activities and write reports.
MENTAL ABILITIES:
The Statewide Organizer is regularly required to be able to resolve problems, recall details and be able to concentrate on complex issues. Ability to think strategically as well as plan and provide training for Systems Change staff and others with disabilities. The Statewide Organizer is expected to think clearly at all times, complete work within deadlines, deal with interpersonal conflicts, and work with frequent interruptions. Ability to follow procedures, and implement plans and projects under the direction of the Deputy Director.
STRESS LEVEL:
High.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of concepts and philosophy of independent living and consumer empowerment. Knowledge of disability legislation on local, state and federal levels. Knowledge of community organizing and training concepts. Ability to exercise initiative, ingenuity and sound judgment in workload coordination and technical matters. Must possess high computer word processing and computer communications skills. Ability to delegate responsibilities and monitor completion of tasks. Ability to arrange necessary transportation must be maintained throughout employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
No physical demands are anticipated other than those described above. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
*Bilingual
*Personal experience with disability
*Experience working with people with disabilities
*Familiarity with disability history and culture
*Familiarity with State and National Disability Rights Advocacy issues
*Knowledge of/or experience with California political process
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The noise level of the office working condition is high and work is mostly indoors. Significant amount of travel: local, regional and statewide.
CFILC is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should send by email a cover letter, resume, and a 1 to 2 page writing sample to:
Phil Thompson
Email Address: phil@cfilc.org
Application Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2009
