Job opportunity: be STOP’s next executive director
Attention! STOP is seeking to hire a new Executive Director. After over a decade of service, our current Executive Director, Alex Goldenberg, is moving on. We are grateful for his leadership. And we are excited to create the space and opportunity to hire a new Executive Director!
We are financially stable, with a wide and diverse set of funders and a reserve fund. Our base and leaders are strong. Our values are deep. The new Executive Director would be walking into a loving and supporting environment with a commitment to their development.
Please take a look at the job description below, share with potential candidates, and help us find the right person for the job.
Organizational overview
Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) is a community-organizing organization, based in the Woodlawn neighborhood, which has been at the cutting edge of transformational racial justice organizing on the south side of Chicago for 15 years.
We co-led the campaign for a $40M south-side trauma center and stopped the displacement of 504 units of subsidized housing, ensuring their redevelopment without displacement. We have also co-led the fight for the recently-passed CBA housing ordinance to stop displacement around the Obama Center, and the campaign to reopen the closed public mental-health clinics. STOP’s mission is to advance economic and social human rights by organizing and developing leadership among people most affected by economic and racial oppression. STOP’s programs engage in direct-action organizing and leadership development, action research and popular education, and alliance building. We have three main programs that organize around: housing, mental health, and youth.
Job summary
The Executive Director will work full-time building the strength and power of STOP. The ED will be responsible for strengthening our staff and Board of Directors, and provide direction and leadership to fulfill our mission. This job requires a person who relates well to a variety of people, has experience in and respect for grassroots organizing and leadership development, and is comfortable representing the organization. This person will oversee the development and implementation of strategic planning processes for the organization and campaigns. Specific duties include: fundraising (with the help of our Development Development), lead organizing, staff supervision, strategic planning, and board development. The ED will supervise a staff of four organizers and a Development Director. The Executive Director is supervised by, is evaluated by, and reports to the Board of Directors.
Essential responsibilities
Strategic planning and organizational development
Help plan and facilitate strategic-planning retreats with staff and campaigns.
Coordinate implementation of organizational plans. including yearly leadership development, base-building, and organizational-development plans.
Coordinate leadership teams
Plan and facilitate regular staff meetings
Support staff development and hold staff accountable: regularly hold staff check-ins, review and evaluate work plans, engage in annual staff evaluations.
Actively cultivate an organizational culture that is restorative, supportive, and accountable; centers our mission; and promotes learning and leadership development.
Lead evaluations and reflection activities
Board development, including: supporting a majority-grassroots Board in building its capacity to govern and fundraise for the organization.
Fundraising
Work with Development Director to apply for and report on foundation grants.
Work with Development Director, Board, and staff to cultivate and engage individual donors.
Work with Development Director, Board, and staff to support coordination of grassroots fundraisers.
Maintain relationships with funders while seeking new funding relationships
Lead organizing
Develop and support implementation of campaign plans including: cutting issues, base-building, power analysis, direct action planning, research, alliance-building, messaging, media, etc.
Occasionally participate in canvassing and outreach activities (STOP is a small organization where everyone knocks on doors and makes phone calls).
Support staff in working with members to prepare agendas and facilitate meetings.
Hold one-on-one meetings and ensure staff hold one-on-one meetings to build relationships that advance our campaign, organization, and movement work.
Leadership development
Coordinate staff team in running, tailoring, and evolving our leadership development training series to meet the needs of our leaders
Support staff in implementing and evaluating day-to-day leadership development practice
Develop and broaden STOP’s alliances
Provide leadership at some coalition tables that STOP is part of
Build and maintain relationships with allies and potential allies
Develop communications capacity
Support/coordinate staff in maintaining STOP’s presence on social media
Develop communications plan and build personnel capacity to implement it
Systems and administrative
Engage with bookkeeper and accountant to ensure accurate financial reporting
Work with Board treasurer on implementing financial controls
Develop annual budgets and ensure we are following them
Oversee office operations, update insurance, pay bills, contract cleaning, etc.
Oversee data systems with support of Development Director, including: EveryAction, website, etc.
Qualifications
Commitment to STOP’s issues and values including economic and racial justice, gender equity, and human rights
Minimum 5 years experience in grassroots organizing, including outreach, leadership development, campaign planning, and direct action.
Minimum 2-3 years supervisory experience, 5 years preferred
Familiarity with issues STOP works on
Ability to get along well with people from diverse backgrounds
Knowledge of or commitment to learn about Woodlawn, Kenwood, South Shore, other southside communities
Familiarity with, or commitment to learn about, other community organizations in Chicago
Awareness of community resources and ability to network to build community relationships
Strong grant-writing and speaking skills, including large group presentations
Self-motivated, independent problem-solver, works well as part of a team
Commitment to fostering a work environment and organizing campaigns that challenge and undo racist, classist, sexist, homophobic, anti-immigrant and other forms of prejudice and oppression
Good personal organization skills, ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize and use time effectively
Proficiency with word-processing, Google docs and spreadsheets, e-mail, databases, and internet.
Willingness to work regularly on evenings and some weekend hours
Possession of a Bachelor’s degree
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Compensation and benefits: Salary range: $60-75K plus health care benefits and generous paid time off.
How to apply: Send cover letter and resume to Marcus Gill at: jobs@stopchicago.org.
Southside Together Organizing for Power is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy status, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factors. STOP is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from under-represented group members. People of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.
