Director Racial Justice Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Climate Organizing Director

Are you an experienced organizer director who’s passionate about protecting workers rights in the era of climate change? Are you ready to lead our coalition’s efforts to build the labor movement’s power to win a worker- and community-led transition to a just and climate-safe economy?

Reports to: Deputy Director. Compensation: $96-109.5k/year. Hybrid workplace, including weekly meetings in Oakland or SF, CA.

Jobs with Justice San Francisco (JwJSF) is a long term, multi-racial alliance of labor unions and community groups supporting workers’ rights and fighting for economic, racial and gender justice. Our member groups represent service workers, domestic workers, healthcare workers, educators, city workers, seniors, people with disabilities, tenants, students and more. Our coalition connects people—workers, Black and Brown people, immigrants, queer and gender-oppressed folks—to build collective power.

We believe as Audre Lorde said, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” Working people need good jobs with dignity and a voice at work, quality and equitable public education, affordable housing and a liveable climate. We see economic, racial and gender justice as intersecting and necessary to each other. Our current programs focus on workers rights, housing and climate justice.

By building a strong multiracial and multi-issue alliance rooted in long-term relationships and solidarity, we have the power to win real systems change. JwJSF staff coordinate California Labor for Climate Jobs (CLCJ), a statewide coalition of 16 unions working to advance a worker- and community-led transition to a just and climate-safe economy. CLCJ aims to advance workers rights and build worker organizing opportunities through our policy platform that focuses on climate hazard protections, safety nets for workers and communities in transition, good jobs in the low carbon economy and ensuring climate-resilient services and infrastructure for all. Climate change is forcing economic change; the labor movement has to lead on climate change to ensure that the changes are good for workers and advance racial justice.

Job purpose

The Climate Organizing Director builds worker and coalition power to win strategic victories for workers rights and good jobs in the era of climate change, and worker-led transition in California. Working primarily to advance the statewide coalition California Labor for Climate Jobs (CLCJ), the Climate Organizing Director will build the collective power and leadership of the CLCJ coalition’s member organizations and their rank & file members at the nexus of climate, economic and racial justice issues; mobilize workers to support statewide advocacy; and work to change the narrative so that strong climate action is seen as an opportunity to create good, union jobs.

Duties and responsibilitiesCLCJ Organizing & Power Building (70%)

• Lead development, implementation and updates of the CLCJ coalition’s power building and organizing plan, including establishing annual goals, and union-specific power building plans.
• Serve as organizing project manager to coordinate coalition members’ participation, timelines, materials, and cross-issue collaboration to meet all deliverables.
• Carry out coalition activities in the campaign workplan, including conducting research, convening 1:1s, power mapping, organizing and mobilizing, planning for events/actions, etc.
• Develop and implement a leadership development plan to establish individual champions and spokespeople within and with the permission of member unions.
• Develop training materials/curricula and organize political education opportunities for member unions.
• Lead strategies to incorporate CLCJ joint priorities into contract negotiations of member unions.
• Build relationships with representatives and champions within member unions, mobilizing their participation in CLCJ coalition meetings and events. Anticipate and flag areas of potential conflict between close allies.
• Coordinate planning of CLCJ worker summits, legislator education days and other events.
• Engage member unions, worker centers and community groups to participate in CLCJ campaigns and actions.

CLCJ Strategy Development & Campaign Planning (20%)

• Participate in labor/climate campaign strategy and planning processes with campaign staff and close partner organizations.
• Support CLCJ strategic planning processes, including organizing retreats, etc.
• Provide content support for communications and policy staff to implement communications and policy strategy.
• Provide updates on organizing efforts to support campaign fundraising.

General JWJ program, fundraising, governance & administration (10%)

• Actively contribute to organization-wide campaigns and events, supporting JwJSF’s overall mission.
• Support the coordination of JwJSF’s Executive Board and Steering Committee.
• Actively participate in all organization-wide efforts, including internal committees, fundraising, communications, organizing drives/turnout, special events, etc.

Required Skills and Experience

• 8+ years previous work experience in labor and/or community organizing or associated fields with experience in organizing, including leading organizing efforts or campaigns.
• English/Spanish bilingual.
• Demonstrated, strong ability to lead the development and implementation of organizing and power building infrastructure and plans, lead the creation of new systems as necessary.
• Deep organizing expertise, with experience developing leaders, and moving both individuals and organizations in a coalition to build collective power and win campaigns.
• Strategic and creative thinker, with the ability to lead the innovation and implementation of new organizing strategies and campaigns – and win!
• Familiarity with the landscape of the labor movement.
• Familiarity with running campaigns in a coalition setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to combating racial, gender, and class oppression
• Ability to build strong relationships and move people from diverse backgrounds to take action in a multi-racial coalition.
• Ability to understand and navigate complex political dynamics.
• Exceptional time management and prioritization skills to consistently meet deadlines while working independently in a remote/hybrid setting.
• Strong project management skills, including ability to coordinate timelines, due dates, materials, GDrive files, and follow through on collaborative efforts to meet deliverables.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effective online and in person. Strong tech aptitude; capacity to quickly learn and utilize new systems.
• Flexible, able to multitask and move forward multiple projects simultaneously; can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities.
• Sense of humor and flexibility are always appreciated.

Physical requirements

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time, ability to communicate via phone/text and email.
• May need to lift and carry up to 25 pounds (accommodations available if needed).
• Travel: must be able to travel weekly within the SF Bay Area, regularly statewide and occasionally nationwide.

Working conditions and environment

Our staff promote a positive, collaborative and supportive environment for each other. While some periods are busier than others, JwJSF’s culture strongly supports and encourages work/life balance. Work will involve occasional travel, and sometimes long and irregular hours.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $96-109.5k, depending on experience.

JwJSF offers an excellent benefits package currently including:

• Paid vacation that starts with 3 weeks of paid vacation for new employees and increases thereafter;
• Additional paid leave during a scheduled 2 week winter break;
• 401(k) contributions rising from 3% to 12% of salary, no employee match required;
• 100% employer-paid premiums for quality family healthcare, vision and dental coverage through our union health and welfare fund.
• This is a union represented position with Teamsters Local 856.

This position is open until filled. JWJSF is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind and provide equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, caste, or any other characteristic protected by law. We honor both the letter and spirit of these protections. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.