STATEWIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER   

Job Description 

Open for Recruitment: Open until filled.

Salary Range: $42,000 - $47,000 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The Systems Change Network calls to action the California Disability Communities and allies through community organizing, advocacy, education, leadership development and coalition building to affect systems change in local, state and national issues. Since 1998 CFILC has led the Systems Change Network, a statewide disability advocacy project made up of 29 Independent Living Centers and the communities we serve.  

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION:

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, the Statewide Community Organizer trains and supports 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 Community Organizer provides leadership in organizing strategic, tactical and agreed upon methods of organizing on national, state and local issues to create systemic change. The Statewide Community Organizer works with the Systems Change Staff located at each of the 29 ILCs as well as other coalition and disability organizational partners. This position requires extensive travel to California’s 29 ILCs. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Community Organizing:

• 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.
• 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.
• Develop electronic advocacy campaigns;
• Help form coalitions with other disability groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, civil rights groups and other organizations that could become natural allies. 

Training, mentoring and technical assistance:

• 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 the Systems Change network.
• Assist Systems Change Advocates in the development of their annual advocacy plans;
• Provide assistance in building grass roots advocacy groups;

Policy:

• 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.
• Coordinate legislative information;

Reporting:

• 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.
• Track, evaluate and report on all advocacy campaigns.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• 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;
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines;
• Ability to effectively train systems change advocates and organizers on advocacy, social change, disability policy issues, leadership development and coalition/advocacy building; 
• Must be comfortable giving presentations and public speaking;
• Ability to delegate responsibilities and monitor completion of tasks;
• Possess high-level computer word processing and computer communications skills; 
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and communities; 
• Excellent writing skills including the ability to collect and organize report material and translate its content and data into clear, accessible language;
• 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; 
• Willingness to travel as needed throughout California;
• Ability to arrange necessary transportation must be maintained throughout employment.

 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual English/Spanish;
• Personal experience with a disability;
• Experience working with people with disabilities;
• Familiarity with disability issues;
• Knowledge of/or experience with California political process.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should send by email a cover letter, resume and 1-2 page writing sample to:

Human Resources
Email Address: jobs@cfilc.org
Please title the email subject line: Statewide Community Organizer

No phone calls or faxes will be accepted.

CFILC is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. CFILC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.