HUMBOLDT AREA FOUNDATION

(Follow the link to "Apply for this Position")

SMITH RIVER COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Reports to: Lead Community Organizer, Building Healthy Communities
Time Base: Full time with significant evening and weekend work
Status: Exempt
Location: Smith River, California

Description

The Humboldt Area Foundation, through a grant from The California Endowment, is seeking a community organizer with a passion for justice and for supporting grassroots leaders in building a multi-cultural, multi-faith community organization capable of transforming our communities and schools. This organizer will employ the PICO model of organizing, which focuses on relationship and values-based organizing work. People Improving Communities Through Organizing (PICO) is one of the largest and fastest growing community efforts in the country.

The Smith River Community Organizer is expected to be a full participant in achieving the Del Norte and Adjacent Tribal Lands (DNATL) Building Healthy Communities (BHC) initiative with specific responsibility for supporting grassroots leaders in improving community health and safety by working with a variety of institutions, schools and residents to: find and develop leaders; identify issues important to the local members; design campaign strategies and win policy changes that improve the health of local neighborhoods and the quality of life for residents in Smith River, California.

Essential Functions

Perform a variety of duties related to health and safety improvement, including leading in the identification of related community assets and barriers; and moving community groups towards improvement action. Functions include, but not limited to the following:

Learning PICO’s model of community organizing and incorporating its principles into day-to-day work activities

Building relationships and leadership of residents

Completing 20 one-on-one relational meetings every week with current and potential community leaders

Training and developing community leaders from diverse institutions to act in the public arena

Forming Local Organizing Committees in Smith River

Working with school and neighborhood leaders to support their institutions to act publicly on issues effecting their members by launching formal public action meetings

Working with other staff to provide leadership for BHC’s regional campaign to improve the health and wellness of children and families

Participating in fundraising and administrative activities as required

Minimum Qualifications

Written and verbal Spanish language fluency

Passion for successful community health, equity and justice

Capacity to think strategically and analytically about social, economic, cultural, and political issues affecting a community

Ability to connect, engage and inspire community members across multiple cultures including religion, race, gender, age, language, class and experience. Ability to work in multi-faith, multi-racial/ethnic setting and with Hispanic and immigrant communities

Flexibility to attend evening and/or weekend meetings and/or events

Strong public speaking, writing, and analytical skills

Strong interpersonal and relational skills to people on multiple levels – at a neighborhood meeting, on the street corner, on the playground, etc.

Disciplined, and able to work effectively in highly unstructured environment

Ability to work independently, to take initiative, to participate as an effective team member

Ability to handle multiple responsibilities, set priorities and meet critical deadlines

Ability to handle situations with patience, creativity and diplomacy

Desire to learn and openness to challenge

Strong interest in community and social justice issues.

Must be a team player with a excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to relationship-building

Possess a current valid California driver’s license and auto insurance

Preferred Qualifications

B.A. or B.S degree strongly preferred, or equivalent work experience

Relevant previous organizing experience (community, labor, voter)

Experience working with Spanish-speaking populations and immigrant communities

Physical Requirements of Job

All of the job functions listed above involves to a greater or lesser degree the following physical demands: close vision, hearing/listening, clear complete speech, touching, finger & hand dexterity, walking, lifting, carrying, sitting. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. to support community activities.

Mental Requirements

All of the job functions listed above involve to a greater or lesser degree the following mental demands: complex reading, writing, clerical, perception/comprehension, math skills, good judgment, and decision-making.

Application Procedure

All applicants must apply for this position online. (Follow the link to "Apply for this Position")

Please have the following three (3) documents ready to upload to your online application:

An electronic file of your resume (preferably in PDF format) including 3 references and salary history;

A cover letter (stating why you would be the ideal person for this position);

A writing sample (demonstrating your ability to think critically and communicate effectively).

If you need assistance or experience any technical difficulties with your online application, please contact careers@piconetwork.org. Resumes will not be accepted via this email address.

Top candidates will be asked to demonstrate skills and commitment through an intensive screening process including interviews with up to 10 community leaders, clergy and board members.

This is a grant-funded position.

DEADLINE: Positions open until filled. First application review will be on January 29, 2013, with interviews beginning almost immediately.

MORE INFORMATION: For more information about this position, contact Melissa Darnell melissad@hafoundation.org or (707) 465-1238.

For more information about organizing careers in PICO visit www.organizingcareers.org.

See www.piconetwork.org for more information on the PICO National Network. See www.calendow.org for more information about the Building Healthy Communities initiative.

HAF is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and without regard to race, religions creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, religion, marital status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.