The Community Organizer is responsible for cultivating relationships with members of diverse faith congregations across West and Southwest Philadelphia, teaching them community-organizing skills and supporting them to conduct successful issue campaigns on the local, state and potentially national levels.  

Specifically, the Community Organizer will be responsible for maximizing the involvement of members of a set of congregations that belong to POWER through ongoing relationship building, leadership training, coaching and mobilization for meetings, events, and actions.  The Community Organizer will – at the direction of the Director of Organizing – work towards specific goals for getting their assigned congregations to develop a local campaign and to  play active roles in POWER’s city/statewide  campaigns: school funding equity, fighting for living wages, ending mass incarceration, voter turnout – as well as other potential or related campaigns that POWER is involved with. 

POWER has a strong learning culture and places a high priority on personal learning, race and class awareness and analysis, and relationship building.  The ideal candidate would have a passion for justice, strong relational skills, a strong sense of their own faith values, a capacity to build bridges across multiple cultures, and demonstrable experience in bringing people together to win campaign victories.  Strong written and verbal skills are required; fluency in Spanish is a plus.

POWER is currently seeking a community organizer for West and Southwest  Philadelphia.  This position covers the geographies of West Philadelphia and Southwest Philadelphia, reports to the Director of Organizing of Philadelphia, and works with the Philadelphia team. 

This position is full-time with significant evening and weekend work. Starting salary is competitive, depending on experience; benefits include excellent health plan and retirement plan.  

SKILLS 

• Experience working with low-income communities, communities of color, and/or immigrant communities of color
• Possess excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner with community contacts
• Ability to work well independently, and within a team
• Commitment to cultural sensitivity and respect for differences
• Commitment to the continuous improvement of service quality and the organization’s mission
• Cultural competence to work in a multicultural, multi-faith environment
• Draw on an intersectional analysis of racialization and other forms of oppression
• Coach people of diverse backgrounds
• Collaborate with staff on new ideas, directions, and tools for communications and online organizing tools
• Ability and experience working cross-culturally 
• Solid understanding of one’s own faith journey 
• Strong relational skills and ability to connect, engage, and inspire community members across multiple cultures including: religion, race, gender, age, language, class and experiences
• Capacity to think strategically and analytically about social, economic, cultural, and political issues affecting a community.
• Desire to learn and openness to challenge
• Ability to work as part of a strong staff team as well as independently
• Relevant previous organizing experience (Community, Labor, Voter) a plus
• Demonstrable experience working with faith communities and/or in a faith-based environment required
• Ability to design and implement trainings, using popular education and other teaching methods. 
• Highly organized, ability to handle multiple tasks, manage a busy schedule of many face to face meetings and document both progress and outcomes.
• Experience using Microsoft Office suite of programs, the Voter Activation Network (VAN), and CRM/databases are highly desired. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct 15-20 one-on-one meetings each week with new or established POWER leaders, clergy, and influential external leaders on a consistent and regular basis
• Prepare written weekly reports on progress and outcomes of her/his work.
• Develop Organizing Teams in member congregations 
• Develop and execute a clear and local campaign in partnership with member congregations
• Use Databases to record work with Congregations/Allies/LOC’s 
• Provide regular organizing training for POWER leaders and community members in the principles and strategies of congregation-based community organizing 
• Support POWER congregational teams in outreach, research, and strategic planning leading to large community action meetings
• Attend professional development sessions 
• Meet on a regular basis with the Director of Organizing to shadow, plan and evaluate work progress

POWER is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in its staff, and offers a competitive salary and generous benefits. Join the POWER family to advance social justice and improve the lives of millions. Apply Today!

Salary & Benefits:

Compensation and Benefits

Salary:  Starting salary is $50,000-$55,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: Life and Health care plan for employee including dental and vision.  Retirement plan (matching plan by employer) after one year of employment. 

To apply:

Email the following documents to info@powerphiladelphia.org with the subject line “Community Organizer Position”

1. Resume
2. Letter (2 pages MAX) describing your background, interest in, and qualifications for this position
3. List of three professional references

All applicants must apply for this position online at the Faith in Action website. (Click the “Apply for this Position” button)   

Please have the following documents ready to upload to your online application:

• An electronic file of your resume (preferably in PDF format) including 3 references and salary history
• A cover letter stating why you would be the ideal person for this position

If you need assistance or experience any technical difficulties with your online application, please contact careers@faithinaction.org. Resumes will not be accepted via this email address.

POWER and Faith and Action are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, national origin, disability or handicap, or veteran status