JOB OPENINGS: 3 Positions at Empower DC: Community Organizer, Operations Manager, Media Coordinator
Please help us find new members for our growing staff team! Full Time Operations Manager, Full Time Community Organizer (Education Issues), and Part Time Grassroots Media Project Coordinator!
Operations Manager (Full Time)
Organization Name: Empower DC
Website: www.empowerdc.org
Location: 1419 V St, NW Washington, DC 20009
Job Terms: Full Time
Salary: $30,000 (starting)
Benefits: Medical and Dental coverage, Two-Weeks Paid Vacation
Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2010
Schedule: Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekend hours; 40 hours per week
Job Description
Empower DC seeks an Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization. The Operations Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to develop and implement administrative systems to foster efficient operations, facilitate organizational development and sustainability, and to support the organization’s community organizing and leadership development efforts.
Responsibilities include:
Administration
· Maintain a well-functioning office, including purchasing supplies, maintaining organization (filing), maintaining equipment, and overseeing contracts with providers related to the office infrastructure.
· Financial Management, to include managing petty cash, maintaining a QuickBooks accounting system tracking all income and expenditures, preparing financial statements and assisting with the development of budgets, paying bills on time and making deposits, working alongside accountant as needed, and overseeing contracts with payroll and health care providers.
· Participate in the collection and tracking of data to ensure effective program evaluation.
· Assist with management of interns and volunteers, including some coordination of mailings, phone banking and grassroots outreach.
· Ensure regular updating of Empower DC website.
· Coordinate logistics as needed for organization-wide meetings and events.
· Assist Executive Director with other tasks as needed.
Membership/Fundraising
- Assist with the growth and development of Empower DC’s membership, including contact management (data entry), membership drives, new member orientation and preparation for membership meetings and events.
· Lead quarterly grassroots fundraising activities and biannual fundraising appeals. Assist the Executive Director with research into potential funders, and major donor development.
· Assist with maintaining regular communication with funders, donors and other supporters.
Communications
- Serve as Project Manager for Empower DC’s quarterly newsletter (collect articles, oversee editing, production and distribution)
- Assist staff and volunteers with media outreach as needed.
Other relevant operational duties as assigned
Qualifications
· Minimum 2 years experience in organizational administration and/or development
· Strong interest in and commitment to community organizing and social, economic and racial justice
· Ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, relaying complicated information in a user-friendly manner
· Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and manage own projects
· Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work well with others
· Excellent computer skills for word processing, including spreadsheets, and data management
· Must have a flexible schedule to accommodate some weekend and evening hours
Other Desired Qualities (not mandatory)
· Familiarity with GiftWorks Contact Management System and Quickbooks Accounting System
· Community organizing experience
· Knowledge of and familiarity with the District of Columbia
· Fluency in Spanish
· Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
· Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply
Organization Description
Empower DC is a grassroots, membership-based organizing project. Empower DC’s mission is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life. Empower DC’s membership has identified affordable housing, child care, education and saving public property as our top current priorities. Empower DC presently has a staff of four, and an active Board of Directors who collaboratively lead the organization. The Operations Manager will report directly to the Director of the organization.
How to Apply:
Please submit a cover letter describing your qualifications and why you are interested in the position, résumé, and 2 professional references to EmpowerDC@gmail.com by March 22. People of color, women and LGBTQ people encouraged to apply.
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CommunityOrganizer: Education Issues
Organization Name: Empower DC
Website: www.empowerdc.org
Location: 1419 V St, NW Washington, DC 20009
Job Terms: Full Time
Salary: $30,000 starting salary
Benefits: Medical and Dental coverage
Anticipated Start Date: April 6, 2010
Duration: Ongoing
Schedule: Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekend hours; 40 hours per week
Job Description
Empower DC seeks an Organizer to lead the development of a new grassroots campaign around education issues. The Organizer will work to organize, empower and mobilize parents and guardians who have middle and high school age students in DC Public Schools and Charter Schools to be involved in the development of and advocacy for Education Policies that will improve educational conditions, leading to an increase in high school graduation rates. Empower DC’s strategy for resolving these issues is to develop the sense of empowerment and entitlement of DC parents and guardians, and enhance the self-advocacy skills of effected low and moderate income DC residents, while bringing them together to develop their collective power to make institutional change in the DC educational system that will benefit children in the District.
Responsibilities include:
· Conduct extensive outreach to identify and recruit impacted parents and encourage their involvement;
· Develop leadership and sense of empowerment amongst impacted residents through the provision of training, mentorship and direct experience aimed to develop effective self-advocacy skills;
· Facilitate the development of strategic campaign activities identified at campaign meetings during which participants are encouraged to identify policy recommendations, develop campaign objectives and take on leadership roles in carrying out campaign activities;
· Mobilize this constituency to be actively involved in the high level arenas where education policy making is taking place;
· Meet regularly with partners, allies and leaders;
· Identify the individuals, agencies, commissions and other bodies responsible for and/or impacting Education in DC;
· Organize trainings and forums to educate the broader community about Education issues in DC;
· Working with members and allies, develop an Education advocacy agenda;
· Organize city council and city agency meetings with Empower DC Members to advocate on issues of importance to the campaign;
· Assist with administrative duties including maintaining contact database;
· Assist with growing the membership of Empower DC;
· Participate in Empower DC’s Quarterly Membership Meetings, Board Meetings, and other activities as necessary;
· Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
· Minimum 2 years organizing or advocacy experience (volunteer experience acceptable) including experience building the leadership of community members
· Knowledge of and familiarity with the District of Columbia
· Strong interest in and commitment to community organizing and social, economic and racial justice
· Ability to effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, relaying complicated information in a user-friendly manner
· Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and manage own projects
· Basic computer competency for word processing and data management
· Must have a flexible schedule to accommodate some weekend and evening hours
Other Desired Qualities (not mandatory)
- Background in education and/or policy
- Fluency in Spanish
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply
Organization Description
Empower DC is a grassroots, membership-based organizing project. Empower DC’s mission is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life. Empower DC’s membership has identified affordable housing, early childhood education and saving public property as our top three current priorities. Empower DC currently has a staff of three, and an active Board of Directors who collaboratively lead the organization. The new Organizer will report directly to the Director of the organization.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter, résumé, and the names and contact information for three references to Parisa Norouzi, Director at parisa@empowerdc.org or by fax, 202-234-6655, by March 26 2010. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
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Grassroots Media Project Coordinator (Part-time)
Empower DC seeks a part-time Project Coordinator for a new Grassroots Media Project, designed to involve our membership and the broader community of low and moderate income DC residents in the production of grassroots media to document community organizing efforts in the District of Columbia. The primary responsibility of the Coordinator will be to lead grassroots radio-production activities including recording, editing, producing and airing radio-quality content as a means of distributing information about tenant rights, local issues and opportunities for civic engagement. The position requires travel to local events for on-the-ground reporting.
Empower DC is a grassroots community organizing project founded in 2003 with the mission of enhancing and promoting the self-advocacy of low and moderate-income residents in the District of Columbia in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life. Our current organizing campaigns center on saving affordable housing, securing quality affordable child care, saving public property for public use, and improving the quality of public education. Empower DC also engages in community education through forums and trainings designed to increase the civic engagement of low and moderate income DC residents.
The Grassroots Media Project Coordinator will:
· Support the development of a Media Project Committee, made up of Empower DC members, staff and supporters, to contribute to the goals of the project
· Work with the Media Project Committee to develop a grassroots media plan centered on audio production, and to include possible video and print media components
· Participate in a newly developed Radio Collective to plan and develop pre-produced radio-quality audio pieces, and to prepare Empower DC members and allies for on-air interviews, to be aired on occasion as part of a new twice-monthly radio program on Community Organizing efforts in DC
· Work with staff and organizational partners to identify story themes and opportunities to engage community members in production of radio stories
· Lead the training and education of directly-impacted residents in the skill areas related to story development and radio production
· Build relationships with local radio and online outlets for the distribution of pre-produced audio content
· Contribute to the growth and development of Empower DC by identifying opportunities for the organization to create its own media, and get its message out through the media
Qualifications:
· Strong Commitment to social justice and grassroots leadership
· Experience with radio production, including recording, editing and story development
· Familiarity with DC, and issues impacting low and moderate income DC residents
· Experience in teaching, mentoring, coaching or otherwise assisting residents of varied educational backgrounds with learning new skills and information including developing on-air and in-person interview skills
· Excellent written and oral communication skills
· Ability to meet strict deadlines
· Willingness to work as part of a team, and be accountable to commitments
· Must have ability to travel throughout the District (by own vehicle, public transit or alternative)
Compensation:
The anticipated start date is April 1, 2010, and the contract will run for 6 months, with possibility of renewal for up to 24 months. The position requires 15 hours per week of work, on a flexible schedule, at a rate of $15 per hour. The coordinator may work from the Empower DC, from home, and on location.
How to apply: Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and 2 professional references to Parisa Norouzi at parisa@empowerdc.org by March 22. People of color, women and LGBTQ people encouraged to apply.
