CeaseFirePA, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to end the epidemic of gun violence in Pennsylvania, seeks an Organizing Director. The Organizing Director will lead our organizing staff, the critical team building local power through volunteer engagement, grassroots mobilization, and coalition recruitment in critical communities to expand a movement to end gun violence. 

More on CeaseFirePA and the issue:

CeaseFirePA’s goal is simple: everyone in the Commonwealth should live in safe communities where they feel and are safe. Gun violence, in any form, makes that an impossible reality, taking the lives of nearly 1,900 Pennsylvanians every year with thousands more living with the damage of a bullet wound. Shootings have broken the peace in cities from Erie to Reading to Philadelphia. And the fear of the next mass shooting at a school, grocery store or place of worship, has altered the fabric of daily life.

Over more than two decades, CeaseFirePA has expanded background checks, disarmed abusers, won $180 million for community-based violence prevention programs, and launched powerful coalitions standing against gun violence. We have become Pennsylvania’s leading organization working to end this public health crisis as we fight illegal trafficking, boost funding for safer communities, and save the next life from suicide.

The position:

As the Organizing Director, you will manage a team of organizers to build local power to end gun violence, develop and implement our volunteer outreach and leadership development approaches, and coordinate with other senior staff on how your team will implement other strategies at the local level. Your leadership will help create the necessary public support to ensure elected officials back gun safety solutions — and to empower communities through education to advocate for change. 

Please note: We are open to hiring a candidate with fewer years of experience for this role at the Organizing Manager level. If you meet a number of the qualifications, but don’t have eight years of work experience, we encourage you to apply and we can discuss which position may be the better fit for you.

Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

Organizing Team Management

• Leading a team of 4 to 6 organizers who are building power for gun safety solutions in key regions throughout the Commonwealth through grassroots organizing, volunteer development, and engaging local partners;
• Providing ongoing training, mentoring, and coaching for staff to develop their skills and  increase their impact;

Building the Gun Safety Movement

• Guiding our organizing strategy to build local power that aligns elected officials’ support for gun safety with the vast majority of Pennsylvanians who support life-saving solutions;
• Developing and managing our volunteer organizing program across the state, including volunteer pipelines, leadership development, cultivation, and implementation with staff;
• Coordinating CeaseFirePA-wide campaigns and events with organizers, including our Back to School and End Gun Violence Advocacy Day, or engaging public health leaders;

Team Leadership

• Working with the Executive Director and Leadership Team to support executing tactics across the organization and ensuring CeaseFirePA’s principles in day-to-day work and long-term strategy and planning;
• Supporting organizational, strategic, and project planning;
• Developing and implementing structures and processes that facilitate organization-wide information-sharing, communication, and transparency in decision-making;
• Working closely with the organization’s leadership to continue to build a culture that is driven, fun, supportive, collaborative, trauma-informed, and committed to our values;

Additional responsibilities include

• Serving as a representative and spokesperson for CeaseFirePA in meetings with strategic partners, elected officials, and at public events as needed;

What we’re looking for in you:

• You have at least 8 years of work experience, including at least five years in advocacy, grassroots organizing, electoral work, community engagement, and/or building social justice movements. Candidates with 5 to 7 years of work experience will be considered for the Organizing Manager role.  
• You have experience in a nonprofit setting.
• You have experience leveraging a team to effectively implement a strategy, solving challenges as they arise, and providing support; 
• You have run grassroots campaigns that develop volunteer leaders, educate the public about societal issues, and hold decision-makers accountable to their constituents;
• You are adept at supporting your team to grow and thrive. You’re able to balance coaching and mentoring staff, holding a team accountable to goals, seeing how individuals and projects align, and driving forward implementation;
• You have experience recruiting, training, managing staff, and facilitating across teams and initiatives, including programs, operations, communications, and DEIJ values; 
• You are passionate about building a powerful movement to end gun violence;
• You have a commitment to and experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds, ideally including gun violence survivors, communities of color, low-income communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, various religious backgrounds, and more;
• You are comfortable operating in a dynamic setting where changes in external factors like politics and current events can require pivots in the plan;
• You love to learn about new issues and approaches, and implementing change management programs across a team;
• You are a strong communicator and able to deliver clear goals or actions to a team, and leverage a team through effective communication to grow their impact;

Preferred Experience: We prefer a candidate with one or more of the following experiences:

• Strong preference for experience in organizing for legislative or policy change;
• Experience working in Pennsylvania or other purple states with changing political dynamics;

More about our team: CeaseFirePA is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds including staff from legislative offices, advocacy organizations, and nonprofits, as well as survivors, youth, parents, and others who care deeply about these issues. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming place for people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, parents, empty-nesters, and more.  

DETAILS: Candidates can be based in Philadelphia (preferred) or Pittsburgh (or open to relocating to one of these locations). We operate in a hybrid environment with offices in both cities with staff near a local office expected to work an average of 2 days/week in the office to connect with other team members and coordinate activities. There will be some travel (2 to 3 days/ month on average) with at least two work retreats each year as well.

This is a full-time position reporting to our soon to be hired Deputy Director.

CeaseFirePA requires its staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, based on CDC guidelines, to help protect our staff, allies, volunteers, and family members. 

SALARY & BENEFITS: 

The salary range for the Organizing Director role is $70,000 to $80,000 and is commensurate with experience and ability. The salary range for the Organizing Manager level role is $60,000 to $69,000. We can discuss in the interview process which role may be a better fit for you.

We have an excellent benefits package, including fully covered health care for staff and one dependent, paid time off, a retirement plan with matching support, and a training stipend.

TO APPLY: Please complete our application, including your resume and letting us know how you heard about the job. The application deadline is Monday, August 26th, but please apply as soon as possible. CeaseFirePA is working with Rooted Edge Consulting for support on this search.

We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply and allow us to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities you demonstrate using an intentional equity lens. Research suggests that women; Indigenous, Black, Asian, Pacific Islanders, other persons of color; and individuals with differing abilities are less likely than men and white job-seekers to apply for positions unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. If you’re interested, we want to hear from you. 

CeaseFirePA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

We value a diverse workforce. CeaseFirePA encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, people with records of arrest or conviction, veterans, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.