Progressive Job Bank

Harriet Tubman Center: Multiple Positions Open Immediately

Tubman is seeking women and men with a passion for justice and for supporting grassroots leaders in building equitable, strong communities in a multi-cultural organization. Tubman began in 2007 as a recruitment and training center for entry level community organizers.  Since then, Tubman organizers have worked in Detroit, SE Michigan and across Michigan to create organizations that equip people of faith, parents, middle and high school students, unemployed residents and others to shape the systems that impact their lives with the principles of equity and justice for all people.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER POSITIONS

Most positions are full time, in Detroit, with some evening and weekend work. Starting salary for each position depends on experience; benefits include excellent health plan and retirement plan.  Candidates must successfully complete a series of group and one-on-one interviews. Full descriptions of “opportunities” can be found at www.tubmanorganizing.org or by clicking the link following the job description below. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

All applicants must apply online, sending an email with documents to hr@tubmanorganizing.org 

Required documents are:

1) An electronic file of your resume;

2) A cover letter addressed to Bill O’Brien, Executive Director,Harriet Tubman Center (highlight the opening for which you are applying in the subject; please also include why are you applying,what qualifies you for a community organizing position and your salary requirements); and

3) A writing sample.

OPEN JOB POSITIONS

1. Lead Organizer, YOUTH VOICE.  Organize chapters of students in selected high schools and middle schools in Detroit, developing issue/action campaigns in each chapter; organize city-wide YOUTH VOICE campaigns; supervise staff and interns; fundraising. Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience. Click here for the full job description.

2. Organizer, YOUTH VOICE. Organize chapter of students in selected high schools and middle schools in Detroit, developing issue campaigns in each chapter; develop leaders at local chapter level; bring leaders to city-wide trainings and actions. Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience.  (1 PT position is available.) Click here for the full job description.

3. Lead Organizer, Our Kids Come First. Organize chapters of parents in and around local schools in Detroit to have the power to improve their neighborhoods, developing issue campaigns in each chapter; organize region-wide Our Kids Come First campaigns; supervise staff and interns; fundraising. Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience. Click here for the full job description.

4. Organizer, Our Kids Come First. Organize chapters of parents in selected schools in Detroit, developing issue campaigns in each chapter; develop leaders at chapter level; bring leaders to region-wide trainings and actions.  Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience. Click here for the full job description.

5. Deputy Lead Organizing Director, Rebuilding Civil Society in Detroit. This citywide, institution-based community organizing project, intends to recruit 100 congregations, agencies and organizations in a massive power organization that highlights involvement of institutions and outreach to disengaged residents.  Goal is to enhance a united and expanded community voice across the city on local,regional, state concerns, but totally dedicated to our city as a city of opportunity for its people.  Recruit member institutions, conduct and coordinate leadership training at local and city-wide levels, build outreach teams in every member institution, conduct city-wide and local action meetings, coordinate Steering Committee and working committees with the Tubman Director, supervise staff and interns. Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience. Click here for the full job description.

6. Organizer, Rebuilding Civil Society in Detroit. This citywide, institution-based community organizing project, intends to recruit 100 congregations, agencies and organizations in a massive power organization that highlights involvement of institutions and outreach to disengaged residents.  Goal is to enhance a united and expanded community voice across the city on local, regional, state concerns, but totally dedicated to our city as a city of opportunity for its people.  Assist in recruitment of member institutions, develop leaders in 15-25 chapters at institutions, bring leaders and chapters to regional and city-wide trainings and actions.  Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience.  Click here for the full job description.

7. Office Manager (PT), Harriet Tubman Center. The Office Manager serves as senior secretary and administrative assistant to the Executive Director and is responsible for coordinating clerical as well as certain administrative and program compliance functions.  Salary commensurate w/ qualifications and experience. 25 hours a week. Click here for the full job description.


SKILLS OF THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS - Tubman organizers approach their work with a deep sense of calling to help people become leaders and change agents in their communities.  An organizer must come to the work with skills that must be developed over the life of his/her career:

• Ability to connect to, engage with and inspire community members across all sorts of differences, including religion, race, gender, age, language, class and life experiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills; desire and capacity to build relations with people in the church social hall, at the neighborhood meeting, on the street corner, in the school or market, etc.
• Facility working with urban communities, communities of color, faith institutions, agency directors, school administrators.
• Solid understanding of one's own life and/or faith journey and a strong sense of power.
• Working understanding of public and private institutions at local, statewide, and national levels.
• Capacity to think strategically and analytically about social, economic, cultural, and political issues affecting a community.
• Courage and capacity to inspire leaders and teams to take action on issues, to create campaigns, to create organizations and build power.
• Creativity:  the organizations, campaigns, actions all take creativity and courage.
• Desire to learn and grow a significant public life, openness to challenge.
• Ability to work both as part of a strong staff team and independently.
• Strong writing skills (fund development, reports, communication, press releases).
• Experiential understanding of different organizing strategies, incl. community, labor, voter.

RESPONSIBILITIES - responsibilities vary according to specific organizing position, but there are common responsibilities for the professional organizer.  The organizer…

• conducts 20-25 one-on-one meetings every week, especially at the beginning of the effort;
• forms teams of leaders around identified problems, and trains and develops the leaders through team actions;
• trains leaders to conduct, regular efforts and campaigns to recruit new leaders, build relationships with potential allies, to do face-to-face research on powerful players in the region;
• assists leaders to define vision and goals for their teams or organization, and trains leaders to act in the public arena with measurable impact;
• provides regular organizing training for leaders and community members in the principles and strategies of congregation-based community organizing;
• works with leaders to plan large community action meetings at the local and regional levels.
• works effectively as a member of a staff team, focusing on the leadership development of clergy/institutional leaders, parents/students and others;
• integrates civic engagement into the full life of each chapter and organization;
• supports fundraising through member institutions, foundations, and individual donors;
• implements Tubman’s communications strategy and other administrative duties as required;
• meets weekly with the Executive Director (or organizing supervisor) to shadow, plan and evaluate work progress (the weekly written report forms the basis of these weekly meetings).