Political Education and Training Director

Summary: Pittsburgh United seeks a passionate, versatile, and enthusiastic educator and trainer with experience developing organizing and/or political curriculum for diverse groups with various backgrounds and education levels in the model of popular education.

Location: Western PA; regular travel will be required between Allegheny, Beaver, Centre, Crawford, Erie, and Westmoreland counties.

About PGH and PA United:

Pittsburgh United 501(c)(3) is a coalition of community, labor, faith, and environmental organizations committed to building a community and an economy that works for all people. Pennsylvania United 501(c)(4) is an affiliated organization that builds individual membership to expand independent political power for poor and working class people across Western PA.

About the position:

The Political Education and Training Director plays a key leadership role in developing and coordinating a comprehensive organizing training and political education curriculum that grows the knowledge and confidence of existing members, while simultaneously engaging the broader communities in which we work. The Political Education and Training Director will be a member of the organization’s Leadership Team.

This position will work with Pittsburgh and PA United’s members and staff to develop a Political Education and Training program that uses popular education techniques to:

1. Cultivate shared political analysis and vision across all of our membership chapters;
2. Develop an understanding of core issues and power dynamics across Western PA in order to grow the capacity of local chapters;
3. Identify and develop new movement leaders across Western

Job responsibilities:

• Create a comprehensive, year-round political education and training curriculum based on Pittsburgh and PA United’s Organizing Model that includes core organizing skills, theories of power and social change, and a diverse set of organizing strategies; create buy in for this program with local chapters and members, develop localized curricula, and train a set of staff and members to run trainings
• Create an Organizer in Training Program to develop the next generation of staff organizers from our membership and community
• Run Pittsburgh and PA United’s twice-annual 3-day organizing intensives (the Jobs with Justice Triangle Training); this includes updating curriculum to match our individual membership organizing model, recruiting and supporting trainers, and working with the organizing team to recruit participants and track their long term leadership development;
• Support annual Fellows Program, a training and leadership development program to train and support our members who are running for local elected office such as City Council and School Board as well as the members who will support their campaigns; create a long-term vision of annual Fellows Programs for both local and statewide/national elections;
• Expand PA United’s Membership Organizing Model by developing a set of trainings and best practices for individual membership organizing;
• Build relationships with other organizations who are facilitating trainings in order to learn and grow together.

Qualifications:

• 4+ years experience in membership-based organizing, including community and/or labor organizing, preferably with a demonstrated experience creating and running training curricula using popular education models;
• Demonstrated knowledge of organizing practices, theories of power and social change, and the interlocking systems of power that shape our lives and communities;
• Demonstrated background in popular education and/or critical pedagogy;
• Experience using multi-media platforms to create and deliver content;
• Commitment to understand race, class, gender, and other equity issues as part of your work as well as the impact these structural issues have on our collective work environment;
• Belief in and commitment to progressive social, racial, and economic justice;
• Superior interpersonal skills, an ability to work with a diverse array of individuals and communities, and an ability to challenge people to take risks in order to make change;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to receive and integrate performance-based feedback into ongoing work plans as well as the ability to provide relevant and timely feedback to peers in a constructive manner;
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.This position will require regular travel within Western Pennsylvania, to work with chapters in Allegheny, Beaver, Erie, Centre, Crawford & Westmoreland Counties.

COVID-19 Vaccination requirement:

Employees must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 before their start date as a condition of employment at PGH and PA United. Employees are considered vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, with, if applicable, at least the minimum recommended interval between doses. Employees are considered boosted if they have received one or more booster shots in accordance with the eligibility requirements set forth by the Center for Disease Control. Candidates are only required to have received vaccines and boosters for which they are eligible under the CDC’s guidelines, and if hired, will be required to receive any COVID-19 vaccines or boosters they become eligible for during employment.

Salary and benefits:

Salary: $50,000-$70,000/year, depending on experience

Benefits: Pittsburgh United provides health, dental, and vision insurance with fully paid premiums and deductibles as well as a 401k with an employer contribution of 3% of salary after 6 months, monthly cell phone and travel stipends, 12 paid sick days and 28 holiday/vacation days annually.

The work schedule can at times be greater than 40 hours per week and includes evening and weekend meetings and events, as necessary. It is not a strictly 9am-5pm position.

To apply: To apply, fill out the application form found here.

Pittsburgh United is an affirmative action employer. People of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and women are strongly encouraged to apply. We believe that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law. Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania United’s offices are accessible, however, staff are currently working in a hybrid format. Learn more about us on our website.