Job Description

MN350 BIPOC Community Organizer Overview

MN350 BIPOC Community Organizer builds and leads a team of MN350’s active volunteer leadership to organize with and grow our membership base in order to build power and win campaigns that advance climate justice in Minnesota. Organizers lead and support a team of volunteers working to create systemic change and build power to make it more equitable and reduce its negative impacts on our climate and our communities. The BIPOC Organizer builds strong, productive relationships with volunteers to organize with and grow our membership base and win campaigns that advance MN350’s strategic goals. 

Through focused BIPOC community organizing, we prioritize centering the experiences and perspectives of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and people of color communities. Through this focus, we address systemic racism and oppression, acknowledging the challenges that disproportionately impact these communities. Strong cultural competency and sensitivity are vital to the role's success. The organizer must lead with a high level of respect for diverse cultures, languages, and traditions within these communities. Strong awareness of Intersectionality is key to ensuring inclusivity within the movement. BIPOC Organizer reports directly to the Director of Community of Impact.

About MN350:

is a dynamic, volunteer-empowered grassroots organization building a people’s movement to demand that Minnesota takes action and leadership in addressing the climate crisis equitably and sustainably. Our mission is to unite Minnesotans as part of a global movement to end the pollution damaging our climate, speed the transition to clean energy, and create a just and healthy future for all. MN350 is a 501(c)(3) organization.

is a 501(c)(4) advocacy nonprofit that is seeking to build a bold, diverse mass movement for climate justice by building public support and equipping them to build power to effect change at the local, municipal, and state levels. MN350 Action is a sister organization to MN350 that shares staff, offices, and volunteers. MN350 and MN350 Action work collaboratively with numerous coalition partners to build a movement for climate justice. *

*For the sake of this job description, when we say MN350 , we refer to both MN350 and MN350 Action.

MN350 is currently in a period of growth, accountability, and development. All prospective applicants must be willing to grow with the organization as we move into our next iteration.

Role Responsibilities 

• Base Building - Where we cultivate a strong foundation of support for our cause. We build strong and effective relationships with people in the communities we serve. We engage with frontline communities to identify the issues we want to address and empower people to take action.

o Lead and develop volunteer leaders, interns, and organizers who are doing action and issue-based, geographically based, and cultural organizing through MN350 and MN350 Action.

o Identify, recruit and retain people who share our goals and are affected by the issues we’re working on.

o Engage with the Director of Community Impact, staff organizing team, volunteer leaders, and community-led base in discerning the campaign that they and their team will engage in as aligned with MN350’s commitment to climate justice and in alignment with the identified needs of our community-led base.

o Equip individuals with the skills and confidence to become leaders within the movement.

• Team Development - Where we foster collaboration, communication and trust among the individuals working towards our shared goals. Crucial component for building a strong and effective unit that drives change.

o Train and develop volunteer organizers in the understanding of and the arts and skills of building power by building teams, including understanding how relationships and the ability to build them are central to building power

o Create and facilitate safe spaces where people feel comfortable sharing ideas, vulnerabilities, and disagreements.

o Develop strong communication skills throughout your team that allows for clear expression of ideas and active listening to understand different perspectives and lived experiences.

o Acknowledge accomplishments, big and small, to motivate your team and celebrate wins. Analyze setbacks as learning opportunities and brainstorm solutions together.

o Recognize individual strengths and weaknesses to support delegating tasks effectively throughout your team. Give opportunities to team members to develop leadership skills.

• Campaign - Focused strategic efforts to achieve goals that benefit the communities we serve. Efforts should empower community members to take ownership of the issue and become active participants in the change process. Conduct coordinated engagement and actions designed to raise awareness, build support, and create positive change.

o Identify issues and goals that are in alignment with community-led identified issues and MN350 strategic goals and objectives.

o Collaborate with BIPOC-led coalition spaces, MN350 leadership, other staff and volunteers to discern future campaigns that are aligned with MN350’s commitment to climate justice and in alignment with the identified needs of our community-led base.

o Facilitate and/or participate in coalitions that further the goals of MN350 climate justice campaigns.

o Conduct research, gather data, and plan to execute that support campaign goals.

o Assess and evaluate program effectiveness to develop long-term power and capacity that also addresses future challenges.

Shared Responsibilities

• Use principles of relational organizing to attract, retain, train and build relationships with volunteers and interns who are part of MN350’s Programs.

• Facilitate collaborative development of strategies and tactics for campaigns.

• Schedule and facilitate regular team meetings. Produce agendas and meeting notes to inspire confidence and ensure team members have clarity about direction and status.

• Use power mapping and other organizing tools to identify touch points and targets.

• Collaborate with MN350’s Communications Team to promote campaigns on social media to raise awareness and build engagement with target audiences.

• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the general purpose of the position.

Qualifications and Skills

• Strong experience in grassroots community organizing and advocacy - engaging volunteers, supporting leadership development and building strong partnerships.

• Personal commitment to and demonstration of transformational learning and practicing MN350’s equity values and principles.

• Problem solving and critical thinking; ability to assess community needs, identify root causes of problems, and develop effective solutions.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and positions/roles.

• Strong Interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to communicate across diverse identities, communities, and audiences.

• Experience using quantitative and qualitative data; Proficiency in data collection and analysis

• Basic computer literacy and database skills are necessary. Experience using a variety of in-person and online/virtual tools: Google Suite, Zoom, EveryAction, and other Project Based Management Software

• Strong coaching skills and abilities to meet deadlines under pressure while handling multiple projects. Ability to work independently and in team settings.

• Excellent listening and facilitation skills

• Experience developing organizing strategies to achieve short-term and long-term goals, experience in campaign development and execution.

• Experience working within a team where there is mutual accountability for shared objectives.

• Understanding of environmental, climate, and social justice issues and how they relate to each other.

• Excellent knowledge and background in a specific issue area of the environmental field related to assigned programs and campaigns.

• Experience and knowledge of the legislative process and/or administrative policy-making process.

• Knowledge, background and positive existing relationships within specific communities or related to assigned MN350 programs and campaigns.

Work Schedule and Location 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The position is based in Minneapolis and the Surrounding Suburbs, Minnesota, USA.

Currently, work is performed hybrid until the Executive Director indicates change. The work is performed in a standard indoor office environment, with occasional outdoor demands and outdoor events requiring occasional lifting of unassisted light objects and heavier objects with assistance. This job may require walking or standing for long periods and may involve a significant amount of time doing computer work and heavy phone usage. 

Flexibility is needed to work outside normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, and occasional extended work hours to accomplish the organization's mission. Some local and out-of-state travel may be required.

The position is Part-Time, Temporary and Flexible, based in Minneapolis and Surrounding Suburbs, Minnesota, USA.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs