Director of Community Organizing and Advocacy

Director of Community Organizing & Advocacy 

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant

FLSA: Exempt, Full-time

Compensation: $85,000 - $95,000, depending on experience

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: Hybrid, must reside within commuting distance of our Berkeley office

About East Bay Sanctuary Covenant: Founded in 1982 in response to civil wars and

genocide in Central America, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC) provides legal and social services, community organizing, and transformative education to support low-income immigrants and people fleeing violence and persecution. EBSC provides free or extremely low cost services through programs that work synergistically so that immigrant clients and participants can heal from trauma, gain skills, and support one another to build new lives and strong communities in the U.S.

At the start of 2023, EBSC’s long-time Executive Director of 38 years departed the organization. EBSC has recently moved toward a shared organizational leadership model, led by four Directors who will have shared oversight over the following areas: 1) Immigration Legal Services, 2) Development & Communications, 3) Operations, and 4) Community Organizing & Advocacy (COA). The Director of COA will have the opportunity to play a leading role in how EBSC evolves in the next chapter of its growth by contributing to our efforts to expand EBSC’s impact.

About the Position: The Director of Community Organizing & Advocacy is a new position at EBSC that will have primary responsibility for building EBSC’s community organizing and advocacy work and developing and sustaining relationships with the organization’s community and external partners (e.g. coalition partners, community-based services, providers, legal advocacy organizations, etc.) 

Key Job Duties and Primary Responsibilities:

EBSC’s Community Organizing and Advocacy program helps immigrants build the skills and connections they need to work together and exercise their power as we work to improve systems and policies that impact their lives. From Civic Engagement for ESL Learners, to our Radio B’alam-Voces Maya outreach team, to our immigrant-led policy team, to our partnerships with coalitions, our COA programs support immigrants to understand their rights, build skills, and advocate for positive change. 

EBSC is involved in local, state, and federal advocacy efforts to improve immigration policies and has been a plaintiff in several federal lawsuits to protect asylum law. 

Responsibilities as Director of COA

• Supervise COA program staff, currently consisting of seven part-time team members plus consultants and interns.
• Develop and implement a vision, goals and structure for EBSC’s COA initiatives, ensuring alignment with the broader organization. 
• Cultivate, sustain, and strengthen EBSC’s relationships with community partners, institutions, and key stakeholders involved in immigrant rights advocacy at the local, state, and national levels.
• Collaborate with other Directors, staff, community members and the Board to identify advocacy actions and opportunities to protect and expand the rights of low-income immigrant communities.
• Oversee administration of COA program, including coordinating projects, supervising staff, tracking program activities, and contributing to grant applications and reports.
• Partner with program and development staff to prepare reports and other written communications related to COA initiatives.
• Contribute to EBSC’s external communications about immigration policies.
• Serve as an organizational and media spokesperson on issues related to EBSC’s COA programs and campaigns. 

Shared Organizational Leadership Responsibilities 

• Facilitate strategic planning and communications
• Promote staff and organizational development 
• Further develop personnel policies and procedures 
• Contribute to annual budgeting and fundraising
• Work creatively with the Board of Directors to contribute to the success of EBSC

About You: The ideal candidate will have significant experience in grassroots advocacy, developing public media communications, and liaising with external stakeholders. They will have lived experience with or close ties to immigrant communities. They will be excited to participate in the development of EBSC’s shared leadership model and be comfortable with collaborative and consensus-based decision-making as part of a senior leadership team.

Qualifications:

• At least five years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in supporting grassroots community organizing, community engagement, and policy advocacy projects and campaigns focused on immigrant justice issues and (ideally) situated in low-income immigrant communities.
• Commitment to incorporating racial equity principles into policy advocacy and community organizing work with a diverse range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Proven ability to network and build collaborative relationships with organizational partners, funders, community members, and the media, including through the use of social media.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Fluent in Spanish, Mam, or other priority language.
• Experience managing and mentoring a multilingual team.
• Ability to undertake and manage projects on one’s own initiative in close collaboration with colleagues.
• Experience as a supervisor or manager in a non-profit or similar setting (preferred).
• Experience and skill communicating with a board of directors (preferred).
• Experience in fundraising and resource development (preferred).

Position Details

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, to begin immediately. It is a hybrid position, with the expectation that the person may work remotely but will be present at EBSC’s Berkeley office on a regular basis (i.e., at least one day per week.) This position will require working occasional evenings and weekends with some travel within California for advocacy and events with organizational partners.

The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000, depending on experience. EBSC offers a full benefits package, including fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, optional 401k plan, ample vacation and sick time, twelve paid holidays annually, and annual office closure during the last week in December. We are a flexible and family-friendly organization with a staff of 30+ employees.

How to apply

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants should send 1) a cover letter explaining your interest in this position, 2) a resume, and 3) a list of at least three references to “Hiring Committee” at careers@eastbaysanctuary.org with “Director of Community Organizing and Advocacy” in the subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

In your cover letter, in addition to describing your interest in the position and qualifications, please respond to the following question: What in your background and experience has prepared you to work for an organization dedicated to supporting immigrant communities and advancing immigrant rights? 

EBSC is committed to a diverse workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other prohibited category. We strongly encourage women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and all qualified persons from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to apply for this position.

How to apply

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants should send 1) a cover letter explaining your interest in this position, 2) a resume, and 3) a list of at least three references to “Hiring Committee” at careers@eastbaysanctuary.org with “Director of Community Organizing and Advocacy” in the subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

In your cover letter, in addition to describing your interest in the position and qualifications, please respond to the following question: What in your background and experience has prepared you to work for an organization dedicated to supporting immigrant communities and advancing immigrant rights? 

EBSC is committed to a diverse workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other prohibited category. We strongly encourage women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and all qualified persons from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities to apply for this position.