Update July 22, 2022: We are no longer accepting applications for this position. Thank you.
About SOA Watch
School of the Americas Watch (SOAW or SOA Watch) is a nonviolent grassroots movement that began in 1990 to work to close the School of the Americas, a U.S. Army military training school in Ft. Benning, GA, that trained some of the worst human rights violators of the hemisphere. Over the past 3 decades, SOA Watch has grown to become one of the largest grassroots Latin America solidarity organizations in the United States. Today, SOA Watch educates and organizes to oppose U.S. intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean, including exposing how U.S. foreign policy is a root cause of migration from Central America. SOA Watch strives to expose, denounce, and end US militarization and oppressive economic US policies in the Americas and acts in solidarity with organizations and movements throughout the Americas.
Who are we looking for?
SOA Watch is seeking an Organizational Coordinator with a vision to grow and advance our movement as well as the skills to ensure the smooth functioning of our organization on a day-to-day basis. This entails coordinating with the various structures of our grassroots organization, bottom-lining fundraising, and supporting our Organizing and Program Coordinators to enable SOA Watch to more effectively oppose U.S militarization and intervention in the Americas. The SOAW staff collective operates on a horizontal structure and the ideal candidate would have experience with horizontal and/or consensus decision-making processes.
Responsibilities
Organizational Coordination (25%)
- Coordinate with our Board/Council, including serving as the staff liaison to the Board, and facilitating Board development and engagement
- Lead a process to review and improve our organizational structure and decision-making process
- Coordinate organizational planning processes with the staff collective and Board
- Work with the staff and Board to identify gaps in staffing and coordinate hiring processes, as needed
- Coordinate staff evaluations and accountability processes in coordination with the Personnel Committee
- Coordinate a review and updating of organizational policies over the first year of the position, including Personnel Policies to advance towards an equitable and just organizational culture.
- Articulate the organizational vision and work and promote consistency across communications platforms.
Fundraising and Development (40%)
- Bottom-line development and fundraising in coordination with the SOAW fundraising committee
- Write fundraising letters and e-mails and coordinate our fundraising mail appeals
- Manage CRM organizational database of donors and activists
- Respond to donors and other inquiries via phone and e-mail
Finances and Operations (20%)
- Lead a participatory budget process and coordinate the approval of the annual budget
- Work with the organization’s accountant and Finance Committee to ensure appropriate record-keeping and regular financial reports
- Ensure the filing of required state and federal forms/reports with the appropriate agencies
- Coordinate and ensure operations and administrative tasks are executed in a timely fashion, in conjunction with the Finance Committee, volunteers, and staff
- Coordinate and ensure maintenance of organizational infrastructure (website, database, phone, etc) in coordination with staff collective
Program Support (15%)
- Support program staff with webinars and events
- Provide support for mobilizations, both the planning process and during the events
- Speak on behalf of the organization at events as needed
- Provide support for program staff as needed and appropriate
Key Qualifications and Skills
- Commitment to SOA Watch’s mission and vision
- Commitment to dismantling all forms of oppression, including racism, classism, patriarchy, and imperialism
- Experience coordinating and/or facilitating collective processes to make decisions
- Excellent writing skills, including an ability to craft a compelling narrative
- Strong communication skills in both English and Spanish
- Strong organizational skills, including ability to manage multiple areas of work, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines
- Proven ability to work within and across multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-gendered, and intergenerational movements
- Strong interpersonal skills, including engaging with people from diverse backgrounds
- Familiarity with Zoom, Microsoft Office, WordPress, and CRMs/databases
- Experience with grassroots social movements and frontline communities
- Experience working with or advancing the work of grassroots movements and/or nonprofits, preferably including fundraising and budgets
- Attention to detail, self-motivated and able to work as part of a collective
- Ability to interpret financial and fundraising data and articulate what it means for the organization
Ideal Candidate Possesses (we are hoping you bring one or two or more of these!)
- Successful track record of fundraising for a grassroots non-profit organization
- Experience with social movements in Latin America and the Caribbean
- Experience working in horizontal or collective staff structure
- Experience in participatory budget development and managing a budget
Location and Hours
- Tucson-based or remote.
- Full-time position (40 hours/week) with ability to work some weekends and evenings. Flexible work schedule.
- Occasional travel.
Compensation and Benefits
- Compensation: Annual Salary of $55,000 (U.S.-based salary), a monthly health insurance stipend, two weeks vacation plus two weeks when the office is closed at the end of the year, flexible work schedule/hours, childcare stipend for dependents under age 5, annual technology and professional development stipends, and more.
- You will be working with a dedicated collective committed to dismantling systems of oppression and organizing for collective liberation in ways that center those on the frontlines, address root causes of injustice, and infuse joy into our work whenever possible. This work is hard, and we encourage a healthy work-life balance.
SOA Watch is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people directly impacted by U.S. imperialism; Black, Indigenous, people of color; women; members of the LGTBQ community; and other historically underrepresented groups.
Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
We value multiple forms of experience, including life experience and work experience, and encourage you to mention any relevant experience when you apply.
How To Apply
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. The ideal start date is August 1, 2022.
Please send the following to jobs @ soawatch.org with “Organizational Coordinator Application, [Your First & Last Name]” in the subject line:
- Cover letter explaining why you want to work for SOA Watch and why your experience and skills make you a good fit for this position and our organization.
- Resume or CV
- Writing Sample