Field Director

The Black Futures Lab (501c3) works to make Black communities powerful in politics. BFL transforms Black communities into constituencies that wield independent political power at the municipal, state, and federal levels. The problems our communities face is complex; the solutions to those problems require imagination, experimentation, and political power. We advance strategies that help us imagine the alternatives we deserve while building political power at the local, state, and national levels to implement those alternatives. To learn more about the Black Futures Lab, please visit www.blackfutureslab.org.    

The Black Futures Lab is hiring a Field Director position. This is a shared position with the Black Futures Lab’s sister organization Black to the Future Action Fund. This position reports to the Deputy Director. 

The Field Director serves as a key organizational leader responsible for driving the mission, vision, and strategic goals of Black Futures Lab through effective partnership-building, programmatic leadership, and team management. This position requires a strong collaborator who can develop and implement organizing strategies, manage high-impact campaigns, and build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels. The Field Director plays a critical role in advancing integrated voter engagement efforts, supporting grassroots fundraising initiatives, and fostering a culture of growth and professional development among organizing staff. 

Experience working in Black communities, as well as familiarity with the dynamics of remote work, is highly desirable. 
 

Organizational Leadership 

• Thought Leader: Collaborate with the field team and departments to create and implement the strategic mission, vision, and work plan to ensure quantitative and qualitative metrics are met.  

• Partnership Builder: Build and maintain relationships on behalf of the organization as a representative of our mission at meetings, convenings, conferences, and events that align with BFL values and goals., 

Programmatic Leadership 

• Strategic Partner: Work with the Deputy Director and Political Director to develop and implement organizing strategies for national, state, and local partners. 

• Lead Decision-Making: Utilize agreed-upon criteria to make recommendations regarding national, state, and local partnerships.  

• Primary Field Contact: Build and maintain relationships with partners at the national, state and local level on organizing and mobilization efforts. 

• Yearly/Quarterly Planning: Collaborate with the field staff to create and implement the annual programmatic work plan. 

• Develop Electoral Support: Support the development and implementation of integrated voter engagement efforts to cultivate and nurture a new Black electorate. 

• Campaign Organizer: Work closely with and collaborate well with department leads to develop hard-hitting and effective campaigns with clear quantitative and qualitative goals.  

Fundraising Support 

• Grassroots Coordinator: Inform strategies to grow grassroots fundraising.  

• Innovative Fundraiser: Support fundraising efforts including developing content for grant proposals and reports, participating in funder briefings, meetings, and house parties. 

• Systems Admin: Maintain systems for tracking the progress of organizing efforts 

Additional Duties

• Partner Connector: Serve as primary liaison with local partners and movement allies. 

• Manage and Develop the Field Team: Perform supervisory responsibilities including hiring decisions, performance management, leadership development, promotions, disciplinary actions, and terminations of organizing staff. Proactively develop and support organizing staff while cultivating a positive work culture of growth and professional development. 

Education and Experience

• A proven track record of building, executing and winning electoral and/or issue-based campaigns 

• At least 5-8 years of Senior Organizing experience

• At least 3 years of managing an organizing team
• Experience with and/or knowledge of the unique cultural experience of running operations in a fully remote environment, including experience working remotely across time zones
• Can work the front and backend of Every Action/NGP VAN

Physical Demands 

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation; manual dexterity to operate a keyboard; able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in-person and be understood by others; able to hear and understand speech, including on the phone; able to understand and follow oral and written instructions; able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 10 pounds.   

• Able to canvass, door-knock and walk long distances during electoral campaign seasons and when needed.  

Work Environment:

• This is a remote position. Office hours are 10 am - 6 pm local time. Travel for in-person quarterly meetings is required.  Estimated 25% - 50% travel. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Pay for this position is commensurate with experience and responsibilities. The estimated salary range for this position is $135,000-$150,000. Black Futures Lab / Black to the Future Action Fund offers comprehensive benefits packages including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life insurance, employee assistance, and other resources to support a centered, healthy quality of life for staff and their families. This position is full-time at 40 hours a week.   

Reasonable Accommodations:

Black Futures Lab and Black to the Future Action Fund are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and supporting an inclusive environment for all applicants. If you require reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process, please reach out to us at people@blackfutureslab.org. We are here to ensure that all applicants can participate fully and fairly in our hiring process.

Application Deadline:

We are thrilled to invite dedicated and visionary applicants to apply for this impactful role with Black Futures Lab and Black to the Future Action Fund. The application deadline is February 21, 2025. However, we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so applying early increases your chances of being considered promptly. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of our mission to empower Black communities.

Black Futures Lab and Black to the Future Action fund contract with Resilient Strategies LLC for backend and operational support, including hiring and employment. Resilient Strategies is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. 

Salary : $135,000 - $150,000