Chapter Network Coordinator

Position Title: Chapter Network Coordinator

Tier / Category: Tier 3 / Coordinator III

Supervised by: Z! Haukeness, Co-Director of National Organizing Department

Employment Status: Full time

FLSA: Exempt

Location: Remote

Union: Bargaining Unit Member

Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national organization that brings white people into fights for racial and economic justice. We work to undermine the power of the Far Right and build the white flank of multiracial majorities fighting for the things all communities need. We organize white people by engaging their shared interest-- what they stand to gain by joining alongside people of color. We do this through 150+ local chapters across the US and Canada, a National Membership base, and local base-building projects in the South.

Summary of Position:

SURJ is seeking a Chapter Network Coordinator in our National Organizing Department (NOD) to support SURJ chapters in improving chapter practices to be in alignment with SURJ National practices including our approach to organizing, how we discuss our strategy and campaign work, and our security and legal compliance practices.

A successful person in this role, as well as every organizer within NOD, is expected to carry out recruitment, leadership development of members, and design and execute organizing programs aligned with SURJ’s national strategy. The amount of time focused on each of these will vary based on the position. NOD organizers are responsible for executing their unique realm of work while also participating in department-wide initiatives and team-wide pushes at key moments. In other words, NOD organizers are all expected to act as both specialists and generalists.

This position will report to and be supervised by the Co-Director of NOD. This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES — Essential duties and responsibilities of this position may include, but are not limited to the following:

Priority 1: Lead stewardship of National Chapter Network (70%)

• Monitor and track chapters in the network
  • Complete and maintain SURJ’s internal list of chapters with current points of contact. Establish and implement systems and rhythms for keeping updated records on contact info in collaboration with the Data department
  • Create and implement a process for consistently and thoroughly monitoring chapter focuses, activities, and relationships
  • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the above processes and make adjustments as needed
  • In collaboration with the Communications and Development department, keep track of stories of leaders and members in chapters to share for fundraising and communications purposes. Lead on reporting efforts on chapter organizing for donors
  • Identify and track areas of overlap between current chapter work and the work of SURJ National that are not currently in sync, including work on specific campaign topics, involvement in state initiatives, overlapping partnerships or movement relationships, and work happening in specific geographic areas.
• Communicate with chapter leaders and chapters members
  • Serve as a SURJ staff point of contact for chapters to proactively communicate on behalf of SURJ National and in case of ad-hoc questions or emergencies
  • Build trust with members and volunteers through respectful communication, supportive feedback, and clear expectations of being a chapter and what this role can and can’t do
  • Keep chapters informed and as aligned as possible in times of heightened social and political intensity (starting with September 2024 through March of 2025); assess and implement the best method for and needed rhythm of this contact on an ongoing basis
  • Integrate chapter leaders as a core audience that is communicated with on a regular basis in SURJ National communications, fundraising drives, and calls to action, in collaboration with the rest of the National Organizing Department, the Communications Department, and Development Department
  • Ensure chapters understand and are using strong administrative, legal, compliance, and security practices
  • Manage the onboarding of new chapters and the closure of defunct or non-responsive chapters with strategic guidance from NOD co-director
• Ensure that chapters are connected to SURJ’s chapter resources, including the listserve, Slack channels, and database
  • Finalize a mandatory Chapter Agreement document in coordination with Managing Director, and lead process of disseminating, answering questions, securing signatures
  • Help ensure existing chapters are only conducting activities permissible for their type of legal entity in the short-term, help guide them in selecting the correct type of legal entity in the long-term
  • Develop response protocols for chapter interaction with police, member arrest, harm to member or someone at a chapter event, other legal threats
  • Create and communicate out clear do’s/don’ts and any requirements for chapters leading higher-risk activities such as protests or civil disobedience
  • In coordination with Rapid Response Organizer, support communication regarding expectations and trainings around direct actions related to the 2024 Elections and beyond
  • In cooperation with Development staff, develop clear guidelines and an MOU template for National and Chapter joint fundraising activities

Priority 2: Train chapters on base building and political education (20%)

• Support the Recruitment team, Absorption Team, and Rapid Response organizer to recruit chapters to participate in our various programs such as canvassing, phone banking, Power Team or rapid response needs
• Support with getting chapters and members trained in Election Defense in collaboration with the Rapid Response organizer, Mass Meeting teams and Frontline programming
• Identify training needs across the network and organize trainings. Keep track of which chapters have received training from SURJ or our partners on various topics such as base building, political education, security practices, etc.

Priority 3: Coordination and administration (10%)

• Attend weekly meetings for NOD, NOD sub-teams, all-SURJ staff, and as relevant, with other departments.
• At times, work with local or national partners to strengthen the work of chapters. Collaborate with the Data department on tracking and reporting of chapters
• Collaborate with Comms department on telling the story of the chapters and communicating national information to chapters
• Collaborate with NOD teams on moving chapters into action, and keeping in contact with chapters.
• Maintain daily coordination with colleagues (including across departments) via our shared remote workplace communication platforms: Slack, Google Workspace, email, etc.
• Complete timesheets, reimbursement requests, and credit card expense submissions in accordance with compliance based policies
• Complete requests to supervisor for time off (vacation, health & wellness leave, etc.) via BambooHR in accordance with policies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3 years experience in project management including developing internal systems and mid-range planning
• 3 years experience with volunteer recruitment, training and management through a chapter or affiliate network

KNOWLEDGE:

• Experience designing and facilitating meetings, trainings, and/or group gatherings that move people into action.
• Experience with individual member and chapter based organizing and mobilization that builds toward base building campaigns.
• Familiarity with customer relationship management systems such as EveryAction
• Experience working with a variety of digital tools to engage a diverse base.
• Experience with organizing and political education curriculum development
• Deep understanding of SURJ’s work and theory of change
• Understanding and commitment to SURJ’s work of organizing majority white communities for racial and economic justice.
• An understanding of the strategic importance of the South and power dynamics between the South and the rest of the U.S. that can influence organizing efforts there.
• Ability to work in a cross-class environment while also holding a strong class politics that centers poor and working people.

SKILLS:

• Excellent written, verbal and relational communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills
• Strong written communication including internal and external facing communications
• Able to hold the big picture of an organizing campaign with significant support and engagement from their supervisor, including balancing big picture and small details.
• Ability to plan and implement leadership development programs
• Experience designing and planning effective meetings and facilitation skills
• Experience doing public speaking, conducting trainings, providing technical assistance, and facilitation of large and small groups

ABILITIES:

• Ability and willingness to travel to support local chapters and members
• Ability to work nights and weekend hours
• Ability to prioritize their personal work and the work of a team they manage
• Ability to direct the work of volunteers and members
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Flexible - open to new ways of doing things and experimentation
• Reliable - follows through on what they said they are going to do
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to give and receive direct constructive feedback
• Ability to work in fast paced environment at times of rapid response