Black Sanctuary Co-Manager

The Black Organizing Project is reviving the spirit of Oakland’s Black community through relationship building, leadership development, political education, and policy-change.

About the Black Organizing Project

The Black Organizing Project (BOP) is a Black member-led community organization working for racial, social, and economic justice through grassroots organizing and community-building in Oakland, California and across the Bay Area. In addition to caring for our community, BOP has adopted a more sustainable philosophy for our staff. BOP takes pride in caring for its staff by providing competitive salaries, 4-day work weeks, three paid company-wide seasonal rest periods each year, as well as other perks that promote a healthy work-life balance. While BOP currently observes a hybrid work model, we require all program staff to live within a one-hour driving distance from Oakland, CA.

Our vision is to build a strong bottom-up organization of Black people that will:

• Craft alternative models and institutions that will advance our vision of racial and economic justice

• Rebuild the spirit and foundation of our community

• Exercise political and economic power

• Act to win real systematic change

• Transform the lives of Black people

• Embody the spirit that has sustained the Black community

Organizational Culture 

BOP is building toward a free and just world for Black people. Some of the expectations for staff conduct include active participation in building and sustaining a culture of radical care, equity for all members of the BOP team, joyful connection to Black Liberation, and thoughtful understanding of our political and historical experiences.

In service of this goal, staff are expected to: 

• Participate in an organizational culture of resolving conflict through transformative justice strategies, as appropriate.

• Engage in generative and compassionate communication.

• Demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a joyful, healthy, and positive work environment.

Building on our significant campaign wins in the last few years, BOP is excited to bring on a skilled and experienced Black Sanctuary Co-Manager who is ready to help take our work and organization to the next level as we grow.

About Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is detail-oriented, exceptionally organized, and committed to building a powerful, member-led Black organizing institution. They are passionate about developing Black Sanctuary throughout the Oakland Unified School district and making sure that Black families are fully valued in that system. They are deeply committed to building strong member leaders into organizers who will hold OUSD accountable to our children and families. Our ideal candidate is able to code switch; engaging well with district administrators and educators, as well students and their families. They can coach and support staff, stay on top of policy decisions that impact our families, and pivot our strategy with the support of the Organizing Team and our member leaders. Our ideal candidate skillfully manages the contradictions of using the nonprofit industrial complex to build towards freedom and you are always ready to be on the frontlines of our work.

Position Description and Functions

The Black Sanctuary Co-Manager is responsible for the successful implementation of the George Floyd Resolution (GFR). This position organizes members to participate in the implementation process, works closely with community partners, and builds relationships with key district administrators in order to ensure the implementation process is in alignment with the core agreements in the GFR. This position requires strong membership development, ability to build strategic partnerships inside and outside the system and the capacity to pivot in a face paced environment. This position is expected to spend a minimum of 30% of their time on direct organizing and base building strategies. The Black Sanctuary Co-Manager reports to the Organizing Director.

The Black Sanctuary Co-Manager is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the following commitments:

• Design and implement strategies for community leadership in GFR implementation and Police Free Schools 

• Lead responses to violations of protocols when OUSD violates protocol for OPD presence on school campuses 

• Lead strategies for District investment in the People’s Budget 

• Lead the development of a strong Black Student Union and Black Parent Union in Oakland 

• Lead BOP pathways for meaningful engagement from BOP staff and members 

• Supervise school site organizers and interns as needed

• Other duties as assigned 

Specifically, the Black Sanctuary Co-Manager will have a primary responsibility for the following areas of work:

Lead GFR Implementation Strategy

This role functions inside and outside the system. Working in partnership with the District while holding the District and the School Board accountable to the transformation of the school district won through the GRF.

• Lead BOP’s member leaders and organizing work in the process of establishing a people’s budget that is informing alternatives to policing and punitive practices, but instead prioritizes Black Sanctuary

• Work in partnership and as co-convener with OUSD and ensuring that the 5 bottom lines are central and implemented well

• Lead research about the OUSD budget

• Support Police Free School Committee and all of our member leaders in engaging in the implementation work within the OUSD

• Ensure the engagement of close allies and partners who support the campaign

• Develop strategic framing and content for how the GFR will transform school culture and communities throughout the district

Member Development

Full implementation of the GFR, requires robust participation of members and leaders in every aspect of the process. The Black Sanctuary Co-Manager is responsible for recruitment, training, and retention of members to participate in the implementation process.

• Support the political development and engagement of Police Free Schools Committee and our member leaders in the implementation process

• Development of curriculum and training tools to ensure that member leaders understand the way Oakland Unified School District works and is well versed on the politics and decision making structures within the district

• Ensure that member leaders are at the center of our participation in the implementation process

• Lead the development of school site strategy

• Supervise youth organizer (as needed) and school site organizer 

• Ensure effective and consistent connection between the experiences, values and desires of families, students and community are reflected in the work of implementation 

Administration & Systems

• Ensure that the Organizing Team is up to date on the implementation strategy 

• Document key wins and actions in the implementation process

• Develop and maintain system for tracking press hits on the implementation process

• Develop a written monthly report to keep the Development Team updated on key pieces of the implementation process so that they can use it for resource development

• Be a public spokesperson for the campaign and implementation process as needed

• Participate in grant reports and proposals, funder meetings and site visits as needed

• Develop and manage program budget for implementation activities

• Participate in the hiring process as needed 

• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in community, labor, or other relevant grassroots organizing 

• Demonstrated success in growing and developing an organized base of members, constituents or community members

• Team player attitude and ability to build strong interpersonal skills with youth 

• Excellent verbal, written, and time management skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and PowerBase are a plus

• Flexibility to work flexible hours, weekends and evenings as necessary

• Ability to energize, inspire, and move young people to action

• Excellent organizational skills and problem solving

• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple task and projects

• Willingness to travel as necessary

• Having deep roots in Oakland, graduating from an Oakland Unified School District or having a child enrolled in Oakland Unified Schools District is a PLUS

• Valid driver's license, insurance, and reliable transportation required

Conditions and Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt, at-will position with a 90-day probationary period. Background check is required for all positions at BOP. For positions working directly with children fingerprinting will be required as well upon job offer.

Compensation:  $75,000-$85,000, plus a 32 hour FTE work week, incredible co-workers, inspiring work, and more. 

BOP offers a generous benefits package to all regular full-time employees that includes:

• 100% organization paid medical, dental, vision coverage for the employee and family

• 401(k) with employer matching

• Accrue 14 vacation days in the first year with incremental increases thereafter, 7 sick days annually, 16 paid holidays, 2 unrestricted floating holidays

• 3 paid seasonal closures: 1 week long break in spring, 1 week long break in summer, and 1 in winter between Christmas and New Year’s Day 

• Eligibility for fully paid 3-week sabbatical program after five years of full time service with the organization

• Professional development funds

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000