NACA seeks seasoned organizers to build NACA’s volunteer base, develop leaders and engage in campaigns and advocacy. The organizers will engage NACA’s over two million Members (individuals who participate in NACA programs) and a broader coalition working toward NACA’s mission to fight for economic justice through activities and campaigns addressing voting access, student debt, criminal justice, political fairness, and more. Advocacy efforts include ballot initiatives, campaigns and activities targeting individuals, companies and governmental policies. The organizer will also lead widespread initiatives among NACA’s Membership and volunteer base. These include voter registration, voter participation, and engaging NACA’s Members in programs and community action.
The Regional Organizers will be responsible for outreach and activities within their designated geographical region. They will occasionally work in other regions as necessary. He/she would work closely with other regional organizers, NACA’s CEO and the management team. NACA’s campaigns and advocacy efforts involve extensive research, targeted litigation, regulatory advocacy, legislative and ballot initiatives, and demonstrations and actions directed against individuals, corporations, and government entities that are on the wrong side of fair lending and economic justice issues. NACA’s advocacy approach is based on confrontational, aggressive direct action to confront the CEOs and decision makers where they live and socialize. These sometimes require non-violent civil disobedience, and the Regional Organizers will be at the forefront of these actions and will be responsible for involving Members and supporters.
NACA
NACA is the country’s largest HUD approved non-profit homeownership, housing counseling, and advocacy organization with more than three million Members strong and 47 offices nationwide. NACA has established a proven track record of over three decades, not only earning respect for its operations but also becoming feared by predatory lenders. NACA’s reputation is built on being the most effective organization providing affordable homeownership in the United States. NACA has been on the forefront of fighting against abusive and discriminatory lending practices over more than thirty years. NACA is aggressively hiring hardworking, relentless, and dedicated individuals who are willing and eager to fight for economic justice and racial equality. NACA provides unprecedented opportunities for its staff to do well financially by doing good.
Founded in 1988, NACA has won campaigns against some of the country’s most powerful companies and individuals engaged in predatory and discriminatory lending. NACA’s success is a result of its relentless confrontational advocacy as well as state of the art systems and operations. NACA’s purchase program provides comprehensive counseling as HUD’s largest housing counseling agency (through its Neighborhood Stabilization Corporation subsidiary) with access to NACA’s Best in America mortgage, requiring no down payment, no closing costs, no mortgage insurance, no need for perfect credit, and always at a below-market, fixed interest rate. NACA has more than $20 billion in mortgage commitments with $15 billion from Bank of America to fund this extraordinary mortgage. NACA is also the most effective organization in providing affordable solutions to homeowners with an unaffordable mortgage and has done so for more than 500,000 at-risk homeowners nationwide through its HomeSave program. Built on this unprecedented track record of success, NACA is rapidly expanding across the country and is hiring many hardworking, dedicated, exceptional new employees. NACA continues its aggressive advocacy in fighting for economic justice for low to moderate income people and communities. NACA also continues to fight for economic justice, including eliminating unaffordable student debt, increasing taxes on the wealthy, reducing income inequality, ending structural racism, and mitigating climate change, among other issues. Employees at NACA have a tremendous impact on the communities and Members they serve. For more information about NACA or its history and programs, visit www.naca.com.
Advocacy in Support of NACA’s Mission:
Employment with NACA requires ongoing participation in NACA’s advocacy, outreach, community organizing, and other activities as determined by NACA. Counselors need to support and actively promote the organization’s mission, tactics, and advocacy. Such participation in and support of NACA’s aggressive advocacy campaigns and other activities is important in advocating for economic justice and expanding NACA’s Best in America Mortgage and homeownership program.
Position Responsibilities
General Activities
- Build an engaged, effective, and active community of Members, volunteers, and coalition partners to act in support of NACA’s campaign and organizing efforts and increase participation in NACA programs.
- Organize direct actions and demonstrations nationwide including outreach, participation, messaging, transportation, and logistics.
- Design activities and work with Members to fulfill participation requirements in NACA’s programs. Monitor and ensure engagement of Members in NACA’s programs, actions, and campaigns, as well as create and provide tools to empower Members and inspire them to pursue economic justice through direct and meaningful action.
- Train and manage organizers to accomplish the goals and meet the required outreach, participation and other requirements.
- Develop and work on campaigns and ballot initiatives as determined by NACA.
Day-to-day Activities
- Call large numbers of Members and community residents.
- Knock on many doors including Members.
- Meet with interested and concerned Members and community residents.
- Design activities and work with Members to fulfill their participation requirements.
- Ensure and monitor the participation of Members.
- Work with community leaders and other organizations to further advocacy objectives
- Establish and organize Neighborhood Action Committees – local community action groups organized by NACA and its Members.
- Contribute to the creation and distribution of campaign and other materials.
- Participate in hearings, meetings and other activities.
- Organize for direct actions including disrupting events (non-violent activities)
- Organize and send out mailings.
- Research property, individuals, companies, etc.
- Work with Housing Counselors to assist Members during qualification, pre- and post-purchase.
- Participate at NACA Workshops to involve participants in NACA’s actions and activities.
- Ad hoc projects and activities as required by NACA Management.
Job Qualifications
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree or compensating experience – Required.
- Advanced degree – Preferred.
- Training for union organizing, community advocacy and/or political campaigns – Preferred.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Five (5+) years of experience in the field of organizing, leading campaigns and/or ballot initiatives.
- A successful record of developing targeted campaigns to obtain successful outcomes, draw awareness to injustice, and build public support for an issue. Experience serving in leadership roles in organizing campaigns and in running field operations on electoral or issue campaigns is a must.
- Strong marketing, public relations, and communications experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders through strategic messaging. A background in or experience with utilizing social media is highly desired.
- Experience training and developing staff and volunteers in organizing, community advocacy or political operations.
- Demonstrable focus, resilience, and the problem-solving skills to develop solutions under challenging circumstances. The judgment, maturity, and savvy to manage up and down effectively, working and delegating in order to meet aggressive deadlines and ambitious goals.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, tenacity, and emotional intelligence, including a demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong writing, presentation and oral communication skills, as well as an ability to synthesize and translate complicated information into clear, compelling language.
- Keen analytical skills, including the ability to think critically, make decisions, and justify recommendations based on data and analysis. Willingness to think entrepreneurially and creatively where necessary for success.
- Background in mortgage industry and/or non-profit helpful, but not required.
- Ability to write and speak languages other than English, particularly Spanish, is a plus.
NACA seeks leaders with a positive and open attitude, a strong work ethic and relentless commitment to success with attention to detail. Refer to Core Competencies & Skills for details.
Summary
Location
Multiple Locations
Time Demands
Approximately 50+ hours weekly and as necessary to meet the demands of the job with evenings and weekend work. S/he must be flexible, ready and willing to address other functions and activities as required by NACA. This position requires extensive travel.
Compensation
The salary range is between $45,000 and $75,000+ based on experience, skills, degrees and certifications.
Benefits
Comprehensive package: single/family health, vision, dental, 401(k) and more.
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Contact
To follow-up and for inquiries regarding this and other positions contact NACA’s HR Department at [email protected] or call 617-250-6222 ext. 1221.
NACA is an equal opportunity employer and provides second chance opportunities. Minorities and bilingual people, particularly those who speak Spanish, are strongly encouraged to apply.
This job description is solely for descriptive purposes and does not constitute a contract for employment.