Title: Early Stages Specialist
Organization: Organizer Zero Project
Reports to: Executive Director
Status: Exempt; Full-Time 40 hours per week
Location: Flexible
Salary Range: Approximate range is $80,000-$120,000. Compensation is set with consideration to the applicant’s previous experience and geographic cost of living.
The Organizer Zero Project
We identify, support, and connect parent visionaries–those most impacted by our nation’s education crisis–to launch their own movement for educational equity in their community. We create opportunities for multiple stakeholders to work collectively to disrupt educational inequity. We do this by finding parent leaders ready to disrupt the educational status quo and expand their collective power to fight for great schools. We support parent leaders to build their own movements supported by their own 501(c)(3) organization and foster a national network of parent leaders sharing and growing knowledge and skills to give voice to a bold and growing national movement for quality schools for all. As a national team that supports every leader in the Powerful Parent Movement (PPM) local movement, Organizer Zero (OZ) has a unique role in amplifying the impact of local leaders in their own communities and supporting them to create an unstoppable national movement through its commitment to the following Roles & Responsibilities:
Role Overview
The Early Stages Specialist (ESS) is responsible for identifying focus areas for OZ and PPM’s growth, thoughtfully getting to know and entering new spaces, and building a bench of potential future leaders to grow local and national movements. This role takes primary responsibility for executing the strategy tied to roles and responsibilities 3 (above) and heavy collaboration on 5 to elevate parent voices through the new early stages leader attraction strategy. The ESS is also a part of the day-to-day collaboration, coordination, and support of OZ’s National Support Team and the delivery of support to City Leaders, their teams, and Powerful Parent Movement (PPM) partners.
The Early Stages Specialist ensures desired outcomes are achieved in the following areas of, but not limited to, executing our new, national leader-attraction strategy, ultimately building a bench of revolutionary parent leaders interested in building their own local movements; green-lighting entry into a new region in alignment with our focus area priorities and broader growth strategy; building capacity locally, on the national team, and across our leaders to galvanize more local parent leaders. This role requires frequent travel, at times, including occasional evening and weekend work required.
Key Responsibilities:
The Early Stages Specialist executes our new leader-attraction strategy, ultimately building a bench of revolutionary parent leaders interested in building their own local movements; duties include: (85%)
Finalize and develop plans to execute the new early stages approach focused on a leader-attraction strategy
Refine the strategy and execution plans to operationalize our new early stages work rooted in identifying leaders to grow, including a clear timeline with action steps for engaging new sites and leaders
Collaborate with the Executive Director and Chief of Staff to set annual leader attraction goals with clear metrics to track progress in alignment with OZ’s overall growth plans; track and share progress toward goals transparently
Work with the OZ Communications Specialist to execute a national media strategy and site-specific media plans
Refine the tools and communications to reach out to community leaders, parents in the most marginalized communities in focus cities _and _context-specific additions to these starter templates to ensure appropriate engagement and messaging
In partnership with the finance and operations director, develop an annual budget for the early stages body of work and track spending to stay in budget
Assist in fundraising efforts to support the new early stages strategy and leader-centric growth plans
Identify and lead early engagement and entry into new growth sites
In collaboration with leadership, identify focus areas for targeted media and outreach with the aims of identifying revolutionary parents in those focus areas
Articulate a gameplan for thoughtful entry, exploration, and engagement in new potential sites with consideration to the wide range of stakeholders to engage from marginalized parents in underserved communities to local funders and leadership
Activate OZ team members in advance of entry and throughout the early stages work to help execute early engagement and context building activities
Refine materials to support this phase of the engagement work to make it replicable
Attract a pipeline of parent leaders and cultivate their interest in movement building
Develop a clear picture of the high-level needs of marginalized parents in the city and enter into conversations with parents and the broader community to further understand and articulate the needs and opportunities parents want
Articulate a call to action for parents who may be interested in OZ’s work and network of support
Identify and share OZ information and opportunities that expose potential new leaders to OZ’s work
Prepare and deliver audience-appropriate presentations about OZ’s core work, leader selection process, and program of support
Create and maintain the systems and processes necessary to track parent interest and thoughtfully cultivate a pipeline of interested leaders for each focus area
Vet interested parents against our movement leader profile and make recommendations to the Movement Building Lead for candidates for OZ’s leader selection process
Codify materials to support this phase of the engagement work to make it replicable
Develop relationships
Build authentic relationships and trust with the OZ team and the leaders we serve
Develop opportunities for current leaders and team members to support in leader attraction, cultivation and selection
Connect various stakeholders met throughout the early stages work with OZ team members and parent leaders, as needed
The ESS also must be a collaborative and contributing part of our dynamic OZ team, including managing individuals, participating in special projects (as needed) and timely execution of operational tasks (e.g., processing reimbursements, timesheets, etc.): (15%)
Participate in network learning and sharing opportunities
Attend network learning opportunities, as needed
Identify opportunities for leader collaboration, especially with an eye on what new leaders may come into the network interested in, able to share, and wanting to learn
Special Projects
Provide additional specialized support to OZ team members, City Leaders, their teams, and PPM as needed
Support ad hoc special projects, if needed
Team Activities and Self Management
Participate in:
OZ team activities and teaming structures (e.g., team meetings)
Annual performance reviews, including goal setting and tracking
Open and regular feedback to others, including seeking feedback
Professional development opportunities, as needed
Beliefs: In addition to the job responsibilities above and the qualifications below, it is imperative that any OZ team member interested in the role share the following core beliefs:
We believe that systemic inequities exist in our educational system that oftentimes marginalize children of color and children from low-income communities.
We believe in the power of parents to lead the charge for change.
We believe in love as the foundation of all of our work, which fuels our commitment to parent visionaries and those they serve.
We believe in seeking justice to achieve liberation.
We believe change is possible now through amplifying the power of parents.
Qualifications:
Completed a Bachelor’s Degree (Communications, Management, Social Justice, or other related fields ideal but not necessary) or equivalent military or other professional experience.
3-5 years prior experience in the organizing and advocacy space with a proven track-record of results.
Experience in building leadership pipelines.
Strong communications (written and verbal), including campaign and organizing tactics.
Ability to build authentic relationships across a wide range of stakeholders in a variety of geographies.
Adept at building systems and structures, including but not limited to high-level: 1) project planning and management, including working with outside vendors and partners, and 2) budget development and management.
Excellent organizational skills to set and reach project deadlines.
Excellent computer skills to include spreadsheets, database management, internet and word processing programs.
Ability to exhibit initiative in asking questions, making recommendations and independently handling the scope of work articulated above.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and objectivity.
Ability to work as a team player and interact/assist all team members as necessary.
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
New Venture Fund Careers: The Organizer Zero Project is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.
E-Verify
NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.
Benefits:
Comprehensive benefits package includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees (and their families). Employees are able to enroll in 401k retirement plan and are eligible for a 3% automatic contribution and up to a 3% employer match on 401k contributions. Employees are also eligible for pre-tax transportation benefits. Employees will receive 120 hours of vacation time, 80 hours of health leave, up to 2 days of casual leave, and 20 hours of volunteer leave annually. Employees will also receive 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Employees are eligible for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave after 90 days of employment.