Organizing Director

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) Organizing Director

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 and social change campaigns, working in close relationship with 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 make impactful change. We are looking for an Organizing Director to join our team who will build upon our history of success and expand our impact by working 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 our Organizing Director, some of your responsibilities will include:

●      Managing our team of Community Organizers;

●      Directing and developing strategies for engaging members of the community in our work at JALSA;

●      Acting as a bridge between our organizing, programming, and government affairs staff as we all work to enhance our social justice mission and engage members of the public in this work;

●      Collaborating with staff and our coalition partners, including other non-profits, unions, and community groups;

●      Directing the development and delivery of curricula for presentation at synagogues and in other settings across Massachusetts on topics such as affordable housing, access to reproductive healthcare, and racial justice;

●      Engaging with Jewish communal organizations on a variety of issue based organizing efforts;

●      Identifying and creating opportunities to expand JALSA’s advocacy efforts by establishing relationships with individuals, synagogues, and other organizations that haven’t previously been connected to our work.

Skills You Need

●      Experience in developing strategy and tactics to carry out campaigns to advance JALSA issue priorities;

●      Working closely and effectively with Jewish institutional leaders;

●      Assessing leadership potential and developing volunteer skills;

●      Creating and participating in a culture of accountability, urgency, warmth and hope in interactions with local group leaders, volunteers, and other staff;

●      Supervision skills to effectively plan and delegate work, nurture organizers in developing their skills, and managing time and resources to maximize organizational impact.

Qualifications

●      Three 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; 

●      Demonstrated ability to plan campaigns that 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;

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

Also Highly Desired:

●       Familiarity with Jewish cultural norms and navigating Jewish institutions. 

●       Familiarity with NationBuilder, EveryAction (VAN), or other voter and volunteer management databases.

This is a full-time position including benefits. Please submit resume and cover letter to tamar@jalsa.org.  Our office is located in Boston near the State House and we currently use a hybrid work model with both working from home and days in the office. As our Organizing Director you may be required to work in person or on zoom for events on occasional evenings and weekends.  

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.