Organizer (including Western Mass)

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Job Description

Organizer (including Western Mass)

JALSA, a membership based social justice organization, is devoted to the pursuit of social, economic, environmental, and racial justice. Our organization focuses primarily on state legislative campaigns, working in close relationships with many grassroots organizations and coalitions. JALSA uses many approaches to accomplish its mission, including advocacy, community organizing, education, amicus briefs and legal strategies, and coalition building.

Our volunteers are passionate and energized, and want to make impactful change. We are looking for an Organizer to join our team who will work with the Jewish community, and interfaith and interracial coalitions across Massachusetts, to strive to bring about JALSA’s vision of a more equitable society.

As an organizer some of your responsibilities may include:

  • Work with our organizing, programming and government affairs staff to enhance our legislative mission and engage members of the public in this work

  • Collaborate with other Organizers who work for our coalition partners which include, unions, other non-profits and community groups.

  • Work with Raise Up Massachusetts to organize Jewish community and regional involvement in support of the Fair Share Amendment (tax on income over $1 million to fund public education and transportation)

  • Assist in the development and delivery of curricula for presentation at synagogues across Massachusetts on topics such as affordable housing, climate change, and racial justice

  • Facilitate our growing presence in Western Massachusetts by working with the JALSA West Steering committee to develop programing specifically geared to Western Mass

  • Supervision of Interns

Skills You Need

  • Ability to develop strategy and tactics to carry out campaigns to advance JALSA priorities

  • Work closely and effectively with Jewish institutional leaders

  • Assess leadership potential and develop volunteer skills

  • Create and participate in a culture of accountability, urgency, warmth and hope in interactions with local group leaders, volunteers, and other staff

  • Have access to a car and willingness to travel across the state as necessary

  • Effectively plan and delegate work, and manage time and resources to maximize organizational impact

Qualifications

  • One or more years of organizing experience for a political campaign, community, or advocacy organization

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Outstanding leadership qualities and the ability to inspire and connect with Jewish social justice activists and community leaders.

  • Proven success developing relationships and building a base to support a cause.

  • The ability to master a complicated political landscape quickly and thoroughly.

  • Demonstrated ability to break down large projects into smaller discrete tasks that can be distributed to multiple volunteer leaders

  • The ability and willingness to work some nights and weekends

  • A sense of humor, a passion for social justice and making positive change in the world, and a genuine commitment to working in a collaborative team setting.

  • Ability to be in touch with colleagues and supervisors remotely through email, phone calls, Zoom and other technology

  • Understand how to use G-suite

  • Applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and boosted if eligible

Also Highly Desired:

  • Familiarity with Jewish cultural norms and navigating Jewish institutions.


This is a full-time position including benefits. Please send a cover letter and resume to david@jalsa.org. At this time JALSA is working remotely but we will return to our downtown Boston office in the future and this position will be based there. 

Reporting Relationships

  • This position reports directly to the JALSA Legislative Director in the Boston JALSA office

  • This position works directly with the JALSA West Steering Committee to carry out JALSA campaigns.

JALSA is an equal opportunity employer. We carefully consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.