SHCS Community Organizer

							Community Organizer

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Sacred Heart Community Service, located in San Jose, CA, is looking for a Community Organizer to develop
the leadership capacity and grassroots activism of low-income communities. This individual must be highly
organized and possess excellent oral and written communication skills, experience in leadership development
and policy advocacy, an ability to work flexibly and creatively, and have a passion for our mission – to
change lives and impact poverty. For 45 years SHCS, has been one of the leading institutions addressing
poverty in Santa Clara County through a strategy that combines meeting basic needs, offering tools for self-
sufficiency, and providing opportunities for the wider community to get involved.

Position Summary
The Community Organizer supports SHCS’ efforts to effectuate change and fulfill our vision of a community
united to ensure that every child and adult is free from poverty. A member of SHCS’ growing Policy and
Organizing team, this position recruits, empowers, and sustains leaders in low-income communities. The
position is responsible for growing, implementing, and tracking SHCS’ efforts to develop the skills,
consciousness, and involvement of grassroots neighborhood leaders. The Organizer plays a key role in
planning and implementing policy campaign activities to exercise grassroots power, and developing a
sustained and democratic organization. The position serves as a liaison between internal programs,
neighborhood leadership, and community partners.

Description of Duties
Organizational Development (65-70%)
• Recruits leadership through door-to-door canvassing, personal visits, social service agency outreach, house
  meetings, and phoning.
• Plans and coordinates outreach and organizing meetings in order to build an effective, ongoing
  organization and to maintain the involvement of grassroots leaders.
• Develops and maintains outreach and organizing plans, communications systems, databases, and work
  plans.
Leadership Training
• Trains leaders on a variety of organizing topics including: member recruitment, facilitation and public
  speaking, planning, issue analysis, campaign development, advocacy, and organizational development.
• Develops and implements leadership training on social change theory, power analysis, worldview analysis
  and ideology.
Policy Campaigns
• Supports advocacy efforts by facilitating the development of a policy advocacy strategy and tactical plans
  while coaching and mentors leaders to develop and maintain their internal capacity for public policy
  campaigns.
• Assists in issue research and analysis.
• Trains and mentors leaders to represent the organization in meetings with policy makers and targets, and to
  develop press stories/materials and media relationships.
• Coordinates activities and actions, including the development and implementation of mobilization
  strategies for public participation in public policy hearings, actions, discussions, etc.
• Develops organizing materials including talking points, marketing collaterals, flyers, fact sheets, etc.
Infrastructure
• Coordinates the development, tracking, and reporting of program goals, outcomes, and performance
  metrics.
• Provides input toward the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of organizing
  policies and procedures
Collaboration and Partnership (15-20%)

SHCS Community Organizer Job Description                                                  page 1
• Serves as liaison with local and regional anti-poverty advocacy collaborations and SHCS Policy and
  Organizing Team.
• Identifies and builds collaborations with key community partners.

General (10%)
• Supports the planning and implementation of SHCS programs, events, training, and outreach efforts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience
    • Strong commitment to our vision of ensuring every child and adult is free from poverty.
    • 3-5 years experience working in community organizing and/or public affairs.
    • Ability to motivate members to take action.
    • Demonstrated experience in grassroots leadership development programs, including curricula
        development, training, and tracking systems.
    • Excellent meeting planning and facilitation skills.
    • Superior verbal, written, and presentation skills.
    • Detail oriented, self-motivated, ability to multi-task, provide quick responses and highly organized.
    • Willing to work long hours, evenings and some Saturdays.
    • Ability to work with diverse people, communities, and cultures, with understanding of culturally
        competent practices.
    • Minimum conversational Spanish. (Fluent speakers preferred)
    • Four-year degree or equivalent experience.
    • Computer literacy with proficiency in database systems, web-based communications, MS Word,
        Excel, and PowerPoint.
Preferred
    • Demonstrated success in public policy advocacy
    • Basic graphic design software proficiency

Position is exempt, full-time

Compensation
The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience. Benefits including: medical, dental, paid
holidays, sick time, professional development and more. It is a full-time Exempt position.

Send resume and cover letter to:
Community Organizer Search
Sacred Heart Community Service
1381 South First Street . San Jose, CA 95110
OR
Email resume and cover letter to:
jobs@sacredheartcs.org

Visit us at http://www.sacredheartcs.org for more information about our organization.
Position is open until filled.




SHCS Community Organizer Job Description                                                   page 2