Overview

Momentum is a volunteer-driven training institute and learning community dedicated to understanding and  building popular movements for progressive change. We believe social movements are necessary for people to realize their true power and generate the political will to win a long-term vision of justice. 

We are living in movement times: since the 2016 election, millions have signed petitions, called elected officials, and taken to the streets. But in order for these tactics to add up to a strategy capable of transforming the political landscape, progressive organizers must understand the lessons of popular movements, and how those lessons can be applied to campaigns across issues and regions today.

We believe that “movement moments” are neither spontaneous nor unpredictable, as is often thought. Rather, they can be created, through deliberate and strategic action. Through our curriculum and community, we address questions like:  What makes movements like Black Lives Matter, Occupy, and March for Our Lives go viral, and others go nowhere? How exactly do popular movements make a difference, anyway? And how can progressives build lasting movements that overcome the common cycle of boom and bust?

Momentum’s goal is to develop the strategic leadership that will make what is truly necessary winnable, and to leave the next generation with models and best practices of organizing - particularly through popular movements - that can continue to be shared, refined, and updated.

Role Description

We are hiring a National Training Program Coordinator to help us drive our introductory and advanced training program. This person will help create trainings using existing curriculum, and build the infrastructure to develop new avenues for sharing movement lessons among practitioners - helping to shepherd the process of building deep relationships in a community of learning.

The role will be a key leader on our team of four staff and several dozen committed volunteers, and will help drive the expansion of Momentum. The person in this position will work closely with the Training Director to develop trainings.

Candidate can be based anywhere, with a strong preference for Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, or New York.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Coordinating the production of trainings, skillshares, and other learning opportunities in close collaboration with the Training Director
• Collaborating with staff and the Training Director to create and drive strategy around where our training program could expand or be most useful.
• Developing the leadership of trainers, facilitators, and other leadership roles.
• Building and supporting volunteer teams to produce trainings, ensuring the teams stay on track towards the goals and timeline
• Documenting best practices from each training, and create infrastructure and guides for future trainings
• Creating processes, connections, roles, and plans around new ideas from the Momentum community that could support learning or experimentation. The emphasis in this role is to encourage self-organizing rather than to take on more responsibility to make the ideas happen.
• Working with staff to plan and implement webinars and online resources.

Qualifications

Job Criteria

• Experience training and creating curriculum for organizers.
• Experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds, identities, and approaches to social change. Must be culturally competent in multiracial organizing spaces and have a strong political and racial analysis.
• Can manage teams of both staff and volunteers on several successful projects, and can play a leadership role while also supporting others to feel ownership.
• Top-notch organization skills and ability to track a lot of moving details without letting things fall through the cracks. Meticulous and reliable about details and timelines.
• Experience in community organizing and has reflected on the lessons from their experience.

The ideal candidate will also have the following skills and qualities:

• Fluency in Momentum theory, social movement history, organizing methods, and different approaches to social change, ideally through having attended at least one training.
• Relational: Appreciates and committed to the importance of vulnerability and trust in building a powerful, committed team. Relational organizing background is a major plus, including proficiency in one-to-ones, leadership development, and team building.
• Excited to be a systems builder, and create volunteer and organizational infrastructure from scratch when needed.
• Proactive communicator, and not afraid to ask for support when needed. Works collaboratively, shares updates on progress and questions, and reaches for other people to get feedback.
• Project management: Creates clear processes, deadlines, and accountability for a team to track progress and making sure that everything is moving on track. Delegation skills are critical.
• Exercises independent judgment and can take initiative in an environment with shifting priorities. Self-motivated, creative, and resourceful.
• Must be willing to travel at least once per month, and able to work flexible hours, including occasional weekends.
• Comfortable working remotely: able to take initiative on big projects while remote, with primary support offered through calls and video calls. Able to create work plans and follow them with strong self-management skills.

Application Process

Momentum recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, national origin, documentation status, disability, veteran status, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.

Women, People of Color, and LGBTQ people strongly urged to apply and self-identify in the application.

We’re a multi-racial team committed to justice and equity, and believe our ability to collaborate and achieve high impact is made stronger by diversity across a variety of identities and life experiences. We’re committed to high standards and working with deep respect for one another.

Applications will only be accepted electronically. Please email a cover letter tailored to Momentum and resume to [email protected] with the subject line “Training Role Application”. Please include a daytime phone number where we can contact you. Please also share contact information for two references. We are seeking to fill this position as soon as possible, and are accepting applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

In your cover letter, please address the following (up to two pages):

1. What part of the Momentum theory or community is most meaningful to you?
2. What have been key lessons that you’ve learned in your organizing?
3. What else qualifies you for this role?

This is a full time position.

Salary: Compensation is negotiable. Our current staff practices needs based compensation. If you are the right person to join our team, we are committed to meeting your financial needs.