Please see the following website for application link: https://rainiervalleycorps.org/job-announcement-capacity-building-lead/?blm_aid=5440512

CAPACITY BUILDING LEAD JOB DESCRIPTION

Do you want to be at the forefront of developing capacity-building approaches for communities of color? The Capacity Building Lead will create the tools and frameworks for capacity-building that fit the unique needs of our partner organizations as well as offer strategic facilitation and one-on-one coaching.

OPPORTUNITY:  You have an opportunity to be at the forefront of creating an intensive approach to capacity-building, which includes researching and creating our own equity focused tools & resources! Since there is tremendous need for capacity-building among our partner Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Rainier Valley Corps (RVC) is expanding our capacity-building team. This position will focus on organizational development to support our CBO partners holistically through organizational assessments, customization of capacity building plans, culturally responsive coaching, and consulting support for our partners based on their organizational needs. This position also includes facilitation of peer learning networks and collaborative advocacy efforts with our partners.

We welcome creative thinking in developing this program, and hope to experiment together in order to ensure that we are providing the most effective support to our partners. This role is perfect for someone who loves capacity building and wants to focus all their energies on it. This position has no internal management, supervision, or fundraising responsibilities, and is entirely focused on building the effectiveness of our CBO partners in a culturally responsive and relevant way.

REPORTS TO: April Nishimura, Director of Capacity Building

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Capacity-Building with CBO Partners (60%)

  • Work with our partners to assess their capacity building needs and co-develop customized organizational development plans that align with their culture, financial structure, priorities, and challenges
  • Facilitate capacity-building for our partner organizations, both short-term projects (e.g. work plan development) and long-term projects (e.g. strategic planning)
  • Improve and administer our organizational assessments with CBO Partners
  • Provide culturally responsive, customized executive coaching to the leaders of our CBO partners
  • Facilitate strategic planning, board retreats and other meetings for our CBO partners as needed
  • Research and recommend high quality capacity building resources aligned with partners’ unique needs, budget limitations, and learning opportunities

Capacity Building Program Development (15%)

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the capacity-building support provided to our partners and track their growth and development
  • Collect and synthesize feedback from CBO partners to improve RVC’s programs
  • Write about lessons learned and effective approaches, building the capacity-building knowledge of the sector
  • Mentor and train RVC staff as well as RVC partners in capacity-building

General Operations (15%)

  • Collaborate with staff in making key strategic decisions affecting RVC’s future
  • Coordinate with staff delivering related programs to our partners
  • Participate in staff meetings, attend community events, and otherwise contribute to strengthening the deep roots within our community, both internally and externally

Leadership Networks (10%)

  • Co-develop and lead affinity groups and learning groups that further collaboration in South Seattle/South King County with RVC’s network of leaders
  • Provide mentorship and connections to resources relevant to leaders of small grassroots nonprofits

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Required:

  • 5+ years experience working with communities of color and grassroots organizations, with a nuanced understanding of systemic oppression
  • 5+ years of demonstrated experience (via paid work, volunteer, and/or life experience) in facilitating capacity-building processes
  • 2+ years of experience in senior leadership/management roles in the nonprofit sector (or related area), with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by leaders of small grassroots nonprofits with budgets under $500,000. Work, volunteer, academic, and other life experience are all acceptable
  • 2+ years experience mentoring and supporting leaders in their growth and development (via paid work, volunteer, and/or life experience)
  • Excellent written skills, with the ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative information from multiple sources into a cohesive document
  • Strong oral communication skills, with exceptional listening ability
  • Able to work some evenings and weekends

Desired:

  • High emotional intelligence, able to easily develop deep, trusting relationships with diverse individuals from many different backgrounds
  • Flexibility and adaptability, able to shift communication and consulting styles to fit the needs of a wide range of cultures, people, and organizations
  • Love of continuous learning, with knowledge of diverse nonprofit leadership and management resources that are relevant to our partners
  • Highly organized and uses tools efficiently and with consistency
  • Commitment to our mission and our values of Equity, Integrity, Community, Action, and Transformation
  • Passion for organizational development. You are someone who loves learning about new studies of human development and leadership, are well-versed in different organizational development thought leaders and theories, and are skilled in applying this knowledge in a variety of settings, cultivating the knowledge of other leaders and organizations
  • Ability to adjust your coaching, consulting, and mentoring style to meet the needs of very different leaders, with knowledge of and experience with different coaching methodologies
  • An excellent facilitator, able to convene cohorts of leaders in co-learning with grace and ease
  • Skilled in community organizing, fundraising, and/or conflict resolution
  • Humble, knowing when to ask for help and advice from others
  • A great sense of humor!

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • This is a full-time, exempt position paying $50,000 to $70,000. Salary offer will be dependent on experience. We are open to flexibility regarding hours worked, if there are candidates who do not want a full-time position.
  • We believe in work-life balance, and are committed to keeping the workload in alignment with the true hours worked.
  • We provide 23 days of Paid Time Off, 11 paid holidays, and a flexible, family-friendly schedule.
  • We provide medical (zero-deductible HMO and PPO options), dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance, with RVC covering over 90% of the costs of the insurance package.

OUR HIRING PROCESS & TIMELINE:

  • We will begin scheduling phone interviews in February.
  • We will begin in-person one-hour interviews mid-February. If you are invited for an in-person interview, we will ask for two work samples relevant to this position, e.g. a process you created, a writing sample, or other relevant materials.
  • Finalists will be invited to a second-round one-hour interview, and we will make an offer shortly thereafter.
  • We would like to have the selected candidate start by March 1.

ABOUT RAINIER VALLEY CORPS

In light of the current political climate, the need to invest in communities-of-color-led nonprofits is more urgent than ever. Due to a historic lack of investment in this sector, communities of color are unable to fully participate in civic engagement and advocacy around critical areas such as environmental justice and education equity. Without the involvement of the communities most affected by injustice, policies and practices are often ineffective.

Recognizing these challenges, Rainier Valley Corps was formed in 2014. We focused on the lack of staff capacity and launched a fellowship program where cohorts of talented leaders are recruited, trained by RVC, provided a living-wage salary and healthcare, and placed at grassroots organizations led by communities of color, with the goal of helping these organizations develop their capacity.

RVC then moved from a single leadership program toward a holistic capacity building model focused on organizations led by communities of color. This new model combines our existing fellowship with four new core capacity-building areas: operations support, capacity-building coaching, partnership fundraising, and collaboration. We believe that the combination of these strategies will unlock the potential of communities of color to mobilize, shape policies, and respond to the current political climate.

RVC works in partnership with a variety of communities-of-color-led organizations in Rainier Valley, including Got Green, Puget Sound Sage, Somali Doulas, MarketShare, Ethiopian Community in Seattle, Powerful Voices, East African Community Services, Families of Color Seattle, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, Voices of Tomorrow, and AGE UP.

As RVC grows, we need a passionate Capacity-Building Lead who can work with the rest of the team to shape the future of our organization. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants not just a job, but also an opportunity to empower communities of color and cultivate the next generation of leaders. Plus, we’re close to the International District, and it’s awesome here, with diverse restaurants, and shops. And the team is ridiculously dedicated to the mission and fun to work with. It helps that we have the best snacks.

RVC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, especially those from South King County, are strongly encouraged to apply.