THE ORGANIZATION: TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide people’s network that brings democracy alive in communities across our state. We connect individuals and organizations to each other, creating a powerful force that makes change happen where it wasn’t possible before. Since its founding twelve years ago, TakeAction Minnesota has grown its breadth and depth. Our membership has grown 10-fold and touches every legislative district in the state. Our social media presence is robust. Our grassroots leadership is well-trained and shapes and implements the strategy of our various campaigns. As a result, TakeAction Minnesota has a track record of increasingly bold victories that change people’s lives for the better: the defeat of a photo ID constitutional amendment, massive public health care expansions, ban the box legislation, paid sick time, minimum wage increase, more than $400 million in corporate tax loopholes now closed, grassroots leaders running for – and winning – elected office.
POSITION SUMMARY
TakeAction Minnesota is part of Our Minnesota Future (OMF), a long-term 22-member alliance that seeks to build the power govern so that people at the grassroots can change structures of racial, gender, and economic inequity. The coalition strives to put the voices of every day Minnesotans at the decision-making table by integrating grassroots organizing, political education, policy advocacy, strategic communications, and civic engagement.
This position will work with leadership, staff, and memberships of Our Minnesota Future partners, as well as other progressive organizations, candidates, and campaign operatives in Minnesota to develop a comprehensive political leadership development program. Your work will include:
- Establishing a robust year-round Movement Political Leadership program that (1) prepares people for political positions – whether that be winning elected office, securing positions in governing administrations, or working on political campaigns; and (2) supports elected and appointed leaders to govern and lead as progressive champions and (3) builds meaningful on-going connection between people in elected and appointed office and people’s organizations in our state.
- Increases our collective capacity to identify, recruit and develop progressive leaders ready to hold public office and appointed positions to help close the representation gap for young people, people of color and Indigenous people, women, rural progressives, and LGBTQ communities, among others, and contribute to our aligned co-governing agenda.
You will be joining a highly strategic, results-driven, good-humored organization that cares as much about our people as we do about the work.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS — Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Lead a collaborative process to develop, implement and evaluate the Movement Political Leadership Program. This includes building an initial cohort of member-leaders from across OMF who are perusing elected and appointed office in the first quarter of 2019. As project lead and manager, responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
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- Identify overall program goals, create a project plan, and drive overall project outcomes
- Manage partner meetings and communications
- Manage participant identification/recruitment and data collection, and ensure an effective evaluation process for trainings and measuring overall project success
- Track participant growth and development, actively preparing and coaching them for their next step in public leadership
- Provide impactful facilitation, customized training and technical assistance, and thought partnership to support our partners in achieving their goals
- Write, develop, and deliver excellent curriculum, facilitation guides, and training materials/overall content
- Execute project and budget management goals excellently, on time, in accordance with mutually negotiated expectations
- Lead, develop, collaborate and train with teams of organizational staff and leaders. This will include, but not limited to:
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- Manage an Advisory Committee to provide ongoing direction and support for the program
- Assemble and manage training teams for customized trainings or projects, including prepping and evaluating trainers
- Collaborate with the TakeAction Minnesota Finance and Operations team and the Program Director to track grant deliverables and relevant program expenses
- Work with Communications and Development teams to report on program outcomes and help tell the stories of our alumni and partners
- Work with the Organizing teams at TakeAction Minnesota and within our progressive coalition infrastructure to coordinate relevant resources for the program
- Work with Program Director, Organizing Director, Training Director and in-state and national allies, providing curriculum development support, serving as a lead trainer, and managing training teams
- Grow and deepen relationships between progressive organizations who are currently members of TakeAction Minnesota & OMF and beyond by:
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- Developing a deep understanding of the political and organizational landscape in Minnesota along with our partners’ structure, capacity, and short- and long-term goals for leadership development
- Aligning the political power of participating organizations for greater impact and to advance our collective long-term agenda
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Approach:
- Strong self-initiative and the ability to work independently; able to own significant projects and follow through to completion without heavy day-to-day supervision
- Committed to progressive, inclusive leadership, including valuing and prioritizing work with diverse coalitions and communities
- Highly relational, with a strong belief in the importance of relationship-building for success, both internally and externally
- Thoughtful, strategic leadership combined with energy to do the day-to-day work of program delivery
- Tenacious and flexible, with a “getting to yes” attitude and a propensity for working through roadblocks and achieving your goals
- High standards and peak performance – a drive toward ambition and delivering excellent work, including the ability to manage and successfully execute multiple projects simultaneously
- Openness to giving and receiving feedback for continuous learning, evolution, and improvement – you’re committed to building your own skills as well as building the skills and capacity of your colleagues
- Deep and demonstrated commitment to racial, social, economic, and gender justice
- Flexibility to work outside normal business hours that include evenings and weekends, and work extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position
- Desire to enthusiastically promote TakeAction Minnesota’s goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
Experience and Skills:
- 3 – 5 years of combined experience in electoral, organizing, and/or advocacy work
- Demonstrated success managing organizational relationships, coalitions and partnerships
- Proven dynamic training and facilitation skills, including agenda design, curriculum design, and written resource development
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills
- Demonstrated entrepreneurialism, innovation, and creativity: having imagined and built something new in the world
- Willingness to work non-standard hours, including weekends, and travel when required
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage. Flexibility to work outside normal business hours that include evenings and weekends and work extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position.
SALARY/BENEFITS/OTHER INFORMATION
This full-time position is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild, Category 3; and salary starts in the low $50,00, plus experience. Full medical insurance, dental insurance, and retirement package provided, as well as ongoing leadership development of staff, including access to relevant trainings and conferences.
REPORTS TO & LOCATION
This position reports directly to senior staff at TakeAction Minnesota
HOW TO APPLY
Send electronic cover letter, resume and three references attention Elizabeth Lienesch, OMF Organizing Director, at workwithus@takeactionminnesota.org with the subject line MPL PROGRAM MANAGER. Applications will be reviewed beginning December 3, 2018.
TakeAction Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, and women.
