Organizing Director

JALSA, a membership based social justice organization, is devoted to the pursuit of social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. Our organization focuses primarily on state legislative campaigns, working in close relationships with many grassroots organizations and coalitions. JALSA uses many approaches to accomplish its mission, including advocacy, community organizing, education, amicus briefs and legal strategies, and coalition building.

Our volunteers are passionate and energized, and want to make impactful change. We are looking for a Community Organizer to join our team who will build upon our history of success and expand our impact by working with the Jewish community, and interfaith and interracial coalitions across Massachusetts, to strive to bring about JALSA’s vision of a more equitable society.

As our Organizing Director some of your responsibilities may include:

• Work with our organizing, programming and government affairs staff to develop and implement campaigns that enhance our legislative mission and engage members of the public in this work
• Assist in the development and delivery of curricula for presentation at synagogues across Massachusetts on topics such as affordable housing, access to reproductive healthcare, and racial justice
• Work with and engage JALSA volunteers who believe in our mission to build a more just Commonwealth.
• Engage with Jewish communal organizations on a variety of issue based organizing
• Identify and create opportunities to expand JALSA’s advocacy efforts by establishing relationships with individuals, synagogues, and other organizations that haven’t previously been connected to our work
• Supervise the work of the organizing team in a manner that provides mentorship to organizers while engaging on topics such as performance planning and review, activity planning, and coaching.
• Monitor progress on tasks and deliverables, providing guidance and support to the organizing team as needed to ensure successful completion.
• Facilitate organizing team meetings to ensure the works being done in a manner that provides opportunities for engagement from all of the organizers
• Represent JALSA in external meetings in spaces relating to organizing work and coalition engagement.

Skills You Need

• Ability to develop strategy and tactics to carry out campaigns to advance JALSA priorities
• Work closely and effectively with Jewish institutional leaders
• Assess leadership potential and develop volunteer skills
• Create and participate in a culture of accountability, urgency, warmth and hope in interactions with local group leaders, volunteers, and other staff
• Effectively plan and delegate work, and manage time and resources to maximize organizational impact

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of organizing experience, including management roles
• A passion for JALSA’s mission and enthusiasm for advocacy
• Strong background in campaign planning and field strategy
• Proficiency with volunteer database softwares (we use Nationbuilder)
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders
• Clear communication skills and a nimble work style

Also Highly Desired:

• Familiarity with Jewish cultural norms and navigating Jewish institutions.

This is a full-time position including benefits. Please send a cover letter and resume to david@jalsa.org. At this time JALSA is working hybrid. Our office is located in Boston near the State House and we currently use a hybrid work model with both working from home and days in the office. As an organizer you may be required to work in person or on zoom events on occasional evenings and weekends.

Reporting Relationships

• This position reports directly to the JALSA Director of Policy and Advocacy.

JALSA is an equal opportunity employer. We carefully consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, di