Spokane Alliance is searching for a Community Organizer. Please apply yourself or pass it on to someone you know that would be interested. 

 

Spokane Alliance is a group of nonpartisan, proactive, everyday people dedicated to making Spokane a  better place for all to live and thrive. We are a broad-based organization rooted in our 38 member organizations which are faith congregations, labor unions, students, and community groups. You’ll find us working for change in congregations and classrooms, in living rooms and union halls, in City Hall, and in Olympia. In our 20-year history, we have won improvements to public transportation, increased job opportunities for apprentices, the right to sick and safe leave for all workers, and millions of dollars for affordable housing among other issues. We are currently working to stabilize the child care workforce,  improve the mental health of children, and take steps towards truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people and communities. We are a non-profit supported by the dues of our member organizations,  individuals, and foundations. We are affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), a coalition of broad-based community organizing groups across the United States, the UK, Germany, Canada,  Australia, and New Zealand. 

At Spokane Alliance, we know that by working together we have the power to change our communities for the better. We develop the diverse voices of our community, building relationships across religious,  racial, class, and neighborhood lines. We do more than just sign petitions and protest. We take action.  

The Spokane Alliance is seeking a Lead or Senior Organizer. A Lead Organizer is an IAF trained individual with significant organizing experience. A Senior Organizer would be qualified for the position, but has less formal training and experience than a Lead Organizer with the IAF.  

 

The Organizer is responsible for building a strong organization by developing leaders to work for the common good. The Organizer supervises staff including a part-time Administrative  Organizer/Bookkeeper, a full-time Associate Organizer, and a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer.  The Organizer reports to the Spokane Alliance Board of Directors and is in a mentoring relationship with IAF NW. Performance evaluations are completed annually by the Spokane Alliance Board.  

 

The Essential Responsibilities of the Organizer are to: 

• Develop Leaders  

o Develop strong relationships with the leaders and members from a diverse mix of faith,  labor, education, and community based organizations; 

o Mentor and develop confident and proactive leaders and support their participation at  every level; 

o Organize local and regional trainings; 

o Engage leaders in research actions, teaching power analysis, issue selection, and how to  develop strategic campaign plans; and 

o Help leaders gain skill in the analysis of the political, economic, and cultural landscape.

● Develop Institutions 

o Support leaders to strengthen their institutions to act on their missions and work for the  common good; and 

o Identify and foster connections between institutional leaders.  

• Develop the broad-based organization 

o Raise sufficient money from dues, individuals, and foundations;  

o Organize effective teams and strategic meetings with leaders (e.g., strategy teams,  delegate assemblies); 

o Work with Alliance leaders to identify and engage members around their interests in  campaigns; 

o Engage leaders and members in timely reflection and evaluation leading to strategic  long-range planning and new member recruitment; 

o Hire staff in consultation with the Board; and train, and supervise all staff to support  their development and execution of their job; 

o Organize strong representation and engagement with IAF NW and its affiliates; o Work with the Board to ensure legal and financial oversight occurs for both the  501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4); and 

o Communicate broadly with leaders and institutions to provide updates and enhance engagement. 

 

Important Qualities for the Organizer to possess are: 

1. Innate Intelligence – not a specific degree, but the ability to think critically, reflect,  communicate, challenge the conventional wisdom, make judgments in complicated situations,  and show flexibility. 
2. Cold Anger – is not a temper that leads to violence. Instead, cold anger is recognized in the IAF  as the pilot light burning within a person because they recognize what is wrong in the world and it compels them to act to change it.  
3. Relationality, Especially Across Race and Culture – ability to build deep trust with people,  especially people unlike oneself; examples are people of other races, classes, orientations,  faiths, etc. 
4. A Track Record of Taking Action – evidence in school, the local community, or the workplace of attempting to relate to people and to respond to situations that seemed to demand responses;  and success in whatever field or career, or endeavor has occupied the individual’s time. 
5. Hustle – self-starter, reliable, hard worker, with an appetite for learning and possessing a  mature and healthy enough ego to sustain accountability and critique. 
6. Expert Communicator - effective, well-honed oral and written communication skills. 

 

Requirements: 

• Demonstrates the important qualities for the Organizer 
• At least a year of experience in community, labor, electoral or other organizing 
• Industrial Areas Foundation regional and national training or commitment to obtain this  training if hired 
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite and Zoom 
• Ability to work in both in-person and virtual settings (as a return to in-person work is safe in the context of the ongoing pandemic) 
• Access to a car 

 

Preferred Qualifications of the Organizer include: 

• Experience in leadership development 
• Experience in providing training in community-based settings 
• Experience in planning, organizing, and taking action at small and large community events ● Supervisory experience 
• Experience with fundraising 
• Knowledge of financial and legal responsibilities of running a small non-profit 

At the Alliance, we practice relational organizing which means that if you are interested in this work, we want to get to know you. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification.  

 

Salary and Benefits: 

The salary range for this position is $58,000 - $70,000, depending on training and experience. Full family health coverage; 10% of salary retirement contribution made by the employer; paid time off for sick, personal, and family leave, vacation and holidays.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity: 

The Spokane Alliance is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or disability. 

 

Date of Opening: 

This position is available beginning July 1, 2022. An earlier start date can be arranged to allow for training by the current Lead Organizer. The position will remain open until filled. 

 

To Apply: 

Interested applicants are invited to submit a cover letter by May 9, 2022, outlining relevant experience,  resume, and three references to: [email protected].

Or via Indeed: Apply HERE along with attaching your cover letter outlining relevant experience,  resume, and three references.