Restorative Economics Organizer

The Opportunity

Restore Oakland Inc. (ROI) is seeking a bright, dedicated community organizer with a passion for racial, economic, and gender justice. This is an excellent opportunity for a creative, just transition-aligned, campaigner who is eager to politically empower East Bay small businesses and worker-owned cooperatives towards an abundant future rooted in restorative economics and healing justice principles. This position requires an East Bay-based individual who has excellent base-building and campaign planning skills to work with a wide range of community members.

About Restore Oakland Inc.

Based in Oakland’s Fruitvale District, Restore Oakland Inc. creates community-centered spaces where those harmed by structural inequities and systemic racism have the power to heal and create a shared vision for safety and economic empowerment without relying on criminalization, punishment, extraction, or exclusion. We bring residents, small businesses, cooperatives, and organizations together to cultivate participatory practices that advance freedom, abundance, and belonging for all.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Restorative Economics Organizer will have a balance of facilitation, community organizing, base-building, campaigning, and administrative duties. A successful applicant must demonstrate a commitment to racial, social, and economic justice, and the ability to communicate effectively across diverse communities. The organizer is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of Restore Oakland Inc.’s political organizing and membership development strategy and fostering relationships with the East Bay’s entrepreneurial and worker-owner ecosystem. The organizer will be working alongside our allies and collaborative partners at the REAL Peoples Fund (RPF). Below are the job duties the organizer will be responsible for:

Lead Political Advocacy and Campaign Organizing (40%)

1. Research, draft, and co-develop campaign political strategies, goals & activities that center the needs of our small business community and advance restorative and cooperative economics in the East Bay;
2. Analyze emerging local advocacy proposals and make recommendations, in conjunction with the ROI team and allies, around our organizing goals and agendas;
3. Stay informed of political developments that impact East Bay small businesses, including policy changes in the region, and other challenges faced by entrepreneurs we work with;
4. Manage implementation of campaign plan, this includes regular coordination of key staff, partners, members, and committees. coordinating core teams;
5. Develop and maintain a local alliance-building strategy to advance our policy priorities and common vision;
6. Develop relationships and advocate with local elected leaders around policies and regulations that affect local small businesses;
7. Meet with policymakers and stakeholders, serve as a spokesperson on technical and policy issues, and represent ROI and RPF at various public forums and events.
8. Advocate for ROI’s policy agenda with legislative and administrative bodies, and non-governmental organizations, prepare members and partners for legislative comments and testimony, and represent ROI before the media and public as needed.
9. Represent ROI’s policy priorities in local groups and political arenas to ensure equitable implementation that increases benefits for East Bay BIPOC small businesses, as needed.

Co-lead Membership Base-Building and Leadership Development (30%)

1. Co-lead RPOC’s (Real Peoples Organizing Collective) outreach, recruitment, and onboarding strategies & activities, ensuring BIPOC entrepreneur’s needs are centered in our approach.
2. Develop and maintain relationships with RPOC members through 1-1’s, mentorship, and supporting member committee structures
3. Support member-led governance practices by facilitating opportunities for open discussions and decision-making
4. Develop and facilitate political education programs and curriculums for small businesses and coops on topics such as restorative economics, community safety, cooperative economics, community land trusts, racial equity, and political organizing;
5. Collaborate with Restorative Economics staff to hold member meetings and public info sessions with local entrepreneurs and maintain consistent communication with our base and partner organizations (10-100 people);
6. Train and support RPOC members and organizers at partner organizations to have the necessary resources to be able to organize other entrepreneurs in their neighborhoods and sectors;
7. Work with RPF and ROI communications teams to promote our power-building work across our web and social media platforms;
8. Co-create and maintain an organizing database that keeps accurate participant and organizing data, including attendance rosters, evaluations, and meeting notes;
9. Execute and assist in administrative and operational duties that keep the organizing team’s files and materials digitally secure and organized;

Support REAL Peoples Fund (RPF) Power-building & Cross Team Cohesion (15%)

1. Participate in ongoing RPF power-building meetings, board meetings, and communications meetings, as needed, to ensure that the organizing work is in alignment with the priorities and strategies of the REAL Peoples Fund.

Contribute to Restore Oakland Inc. Team Culture and Organizational Development (15%)

1. Strategy and Planning: Contribute to overall organizational coordination and planning processes, including strategic planning, yearly work plan and budgeting, board + staff meetings, bi-weekly staff meetings, and trainings
2. Organizational Culture: Contribute to the ROI culture of team-building, emotional intelligence, feminism, and leadership development
3. Community Engagement: Support organizing community events out of our building with RO team members
4. Fund Development: Engage in grassroots and/or foundation fundraising, as needed
5. Communications: Act as a spokesperson and engage with communications narrative framework
6. Cross Area Support: Support various areas of organizational work, events, or campaigns as identified and participate in organizational committees and teams as needed
7. Supervision: Manage volunteers and interns as needed

Preferred Qualifications

1. At least 4 years of experience in popular education, program implementation and evaluation, advocacy, campaign organizing, and/or organizing frontline communities;
2. Interest and experience working closely with entrepreneurs
3. Knowledge of the Oakland, Alameda County, and/or Contra Costa County political environments;
4. Proficient computer skills and prior experience or aptitude with internet applications including email, social networking systems, mobile platforms, and some web applications;
5. Interest and experience in regenerative economy, restorative economics, just transition, social enterprise development, immigrant justice
6. Ability to work independently, cooperatively, and effectively with public, staff, and volunteers.

Work-Related Physical Activities

While the following is a typical list of physical requirements for this position, Restore Oakland is committed to creating accommodations to the best of our ability to support the needs of all team members. Some examples include:

• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds, including room set-up and take down, and ability to climb stairs
• Attending multi-hour meetings in person and online
• Attending multi-day meetings in person and online
• Use of computers and online systems for work completion
• Collective care of physical office location

EVERYONE WELCOME

Restore Oakland Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. We value having staff who come from marginalized communities and are directly impacted by the disparities in the Fruitvale, and larger Oakland community. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQIA2S+, individuals with past involvement in the criminal legal system, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. We do not run background checks.

We don’t believe there is a “perfect” candidate for this role, and encourage those interested to apply, whether or not they meet every requirement. We are looking for exceptional people who want to make a positive impact through their work and help create an organization where everyone can thrive.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

This is a full-time exempt position.

• Hours and Compensation: $68,000-$75,000 yearly salary (based on relevant work experience); generous paid time off, vacation & benefits package.
• Desired start date: March 2025
• Location: This is a hybrid remote/in-person position based in Oakland, with the understanding that RO programs are generally performed in an office setting. Some duties may sometimes require working at external events with members and other partner organizations.
• Deadline: Submit application materials (outlined below) by January 31, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position is open until filled.

How to Apply

Please submit application materials to https://restoreoaklandinc.bamboohr.com/careers/29?source=aWQ9MTc%3D

Complete applications must include:

1. A cover letter including a description of your interest in the position and qualifications.
2. A writing sample relevant to the role of an Organizer
3. A resume