ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Promise Partnership Utah is changing the way organizations, communities, schools, governments, and individuals work to fix complex social problems. Together, we can help every child and family succeed at school and life. Promise Partnership Utah’s workplace is fast-paced, friendly, adaptive, and grounded in our core values: relationships, continuous improvement, equity, and results. We offer competitive compensation including a comprehensive benefit package, generous paid time off, and flexible schedules. People with diverse backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to apply. Join us in changing the world and giving everyone in our community the opportunity to live their best life.

As of July 1, 2023, Promise Partnership Utah, United Way of Salt Lake, and Utah 211 will function as subsidiaries of Utah’s Promise.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position leads the Grassroots Leadership team and supports the organization to align efforts to more equitably center and engage community members in our work. The team engages community members with lived experience, cultivates community leadership opportunities, and conducts community data collection and research. Our goal is that communities of color impact decision-making throughout the organization and our partnerships.

The Director of Equitable Community Engagement plays a vital role in ensuring we can do the hard work for racial equity, justice, and outcomes in our education system. The primary responsibility for this position is managing our research and organizing fellowship cohorts, a cyclical, 9-month, project-based program for community members interested in community-based action research. The success of that program requires nurturing relationships and partnerships, building skills and curriculum, and designing infrastructures and policies so that our community members’ leadership can take the center stage. This position also supports other full-time staff doing community-based work and aligns efforts to more equitably engage community members across our work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Supervise and coach the team, including part-time organizing fellows who complete educational equity-oriented projects, and full-time staff doing community-based work.
2. Find, recruit, and hire passionate community members who are willing to agitate and advocate for students in our education system.
3. Prepare spaces, trainings, and tools for our organizing fellows, families, and community members to organize around what is most important for them and advocate for racial equity, justice, and educational outcomes.
4. Build the quality of relationships in the community so that racially marginalized communities are actively partnering with us as co-designers of solutions, allies, organizing fellows, and more.
5. Prepare spaces, trainings, and tools for staff and partners to learn how to authentically engage families and community members in their work and decision-making.
6. Design and champion policies, procedures, and systems to center equitable community engagement and participatory decision-making across the organization.
7. Other duties as assigned.

BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt position with full benefits. The salary range is $55,000 – 71,000 and is determined based on experience.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• You possess self-awareness and knowledge of systems of oppression and structural racism.
• You have existing and actionable relationships with families from local migrant or Native American communities.
• You care so deeply about educational access for communities of color that you are willing to make it your career.
• You can adapt your approaches across generations, walks of life, and ethnic and racial backgrounds.
• You can balance intentional patience with people in imperfect systems with constructive urgency for accountability and justice for students and their families.
• You can set goals with others, plan steps to achieve those goals, and ensure everyone is doing their part and accountable to the results.
• You use data to make decisions and/or tell a story.
• You design and hold meetings that get results.
• You remain flexible and persistent when challenges arise.
• You prioritize building strong relationships and inspire others to get involved.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years directly applicable experience, including community organizing experience and supervisory or coaching experience.
• Experience with qualitative and/or community-based research methods.
• Ability to identify, track and analyze community interaction data to maximize efforts.
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
• Clear, concise, and professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with Office 365 and Microsoft suites.
• Fluent English with a strong preference to speak a second language that is relevant to our local migrant or Native American communities in Utah, such as Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Diné, etc.
• Ability to work occasional weekends, evenings, and/or early morning work hours.
• Ability to pass UWSL background check to hold this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee is regularly required to communicate clearly, in oral and written formats, with others in person, over the phone, and via other devices. The employee must be able to transcribe, read extensively, prepare and analyze data and figures, constantly operate a computer and other standard office machinery. The employee is required to regularly travel to offsite locations to set up presentations and display physical and electronic forms. The employee must have the ability to lift, carry, push and/or pull objects weighing up to 50lbs.