Who We Are
Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth is a member-led, multi-racial, intergenerational community organization that builds the leadership and power of Black and Brown children, youth, and families in San Francisco to advance racial, educational, and economic justice in our schools and city. Since 1975, our children, youth, and parent member-leaders have developed, mobilized for, and won many policy and budget changes, as well as built the leadership of thousands of Black and Brown children, youth, and families, who have transformed the lives of thousands more San Franciscans.
Through grassroots organizing, budget and policy advocacy, and voter engagement, we are building a city of hope, justice, and opportunity, a San Francisco where all children and families have access to high-quality education, living wage jobs, family-supporting benefits, affordable housing, and a voice in the decisions that affect us.
At Coleman, we use 5 strategies to achieve systems change for equity, education justice, and racial justice :
- Building a base and developing leaders
- Organizing policy and budget campaigns grounded in movements
- Engaging and educating voters
- Monitoring systems and policies, especially those related to systemic racism and education inequity
- Commitment to movement building and building coalitions
Position Summary
We are prioritizing a Co-Executive Director leadership model—two full-time Co-EDs who share responsibility for leading the organization. We welcome applications from teams who have worked together before and bring complementary strengths. Both co-leaders will have their own areas of focus, but each must be able to perform the full range of Executive Director responsibilities if needed.
We are also open to an individual Executive Director, given the right candidate. Individual applicants should outline their vision for a senior staffing structure that supports long-term executive sustainability.
The ED(s) will harmonize vision and strategy for Coleman, build the leadership of our members and staff, and lead grassroots organizing, advocacy, and voter engagement to advance racial, educational, and economic justice.
Ideal candidates are grounded in member-led organizing with a track record in base-building, leadership development, and movement building. They are deep listeners who share the lived experiences of our member base and are able to build relationships, advance systemic solutions, and navigate the politics of organizing in a progressive urban city.
Develop and implement strategic plans advancing Coleman’s mission for racial, social, and educational justiceSet and monitor annual goals, making adjustments as neededProvide leadership and oversight for Coleman (501c3) and Coleman Action Fund (501c4)Evaluate current and new programs for alignment, effectiveness, and sustainabilityLead and support member-driven campaigns to secure policy and budget wins at SFUSD, City Hall, and beyondBuild strategic alliances with partner organizations, coalitions, and movement alliesStrengthen organizational capacity for grassroots organizing, leadership development, and voter engagementLead and support Coleman’s 18-person, multi-generational, multi-racial staff; directly supervise senior staff membersEnsure strong systems for staff leadership development, supervision, and team collaborationFoster an organizational culture rooted in racial justice, member leadership, and collective actionCollaborate with the Leadership Team (Policy, Organizing, Development & Operations, Youth Justice Initiative, and Finance Directors)Lead fundraising with the development team, securing resources to sustain and grow the organizationManage an annual budget of $2M with fiscal responsibilityBuild and maintain strong relationships with donors, foundations, and institutional fundersOversee compliance, reporting, and financial governance for both 501c3 and 501c4 entitiesManage Coleman’s office building, tenants, and fiscal governance relationshipsServe as spokesperson(s) for Coleman with media, government, and community partnersBuild and maintain relationships with elected officials, decision-makers, and alliesCommunicate Coleman’s vision, impact, and priorities through compelling public speaking and writingThe Executive Director or Co-Directors will report to Coleman's Board of Directors.
Qualifications
While we understand that no candidate may embody every skill or quality, successful candidate(s) will demonstrate many of the qualifications and attributes listed in the sections below.
5+ years of successful community organizing experience, with demonstrated ability to build power, develop leaders, and win campaignsProven track record of member-led organizing with base-building, leadership development, and movement building at the heartExperience developing strategy and navigating campaign politics and power at multiple levels (city, region, state, national)Experience organizing or advocacy work within progressive urban contexts (San Francisco strongly preferred)Experience with electoral strategies (both c3 and c4 work)5+ consecutive years in a director-level leadership position with proven ability to build powerful organizations, develop individuals and teams, and advance political vision and strategy5+ years of experience managing individuals and teams for collaboration, growth, and outcomesDemonstrated success in setting organizational vision, developing strategic plans, and achieving measurable outcomesProven track record of successful fundraising, including individual donors, foundations, and institutional fundersExperience managing organizational budgets of $1M+ with demonstrated fiscal responsibilityAbility to build and maintain relationships with donors and fundersExceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholder groupsDemonstrated ability to build relationships, influence, and motivate members, staff, allies, elected officials, government staff, partner organizations, and community leadersExperience serving as an organizational spokesperson and representing the organization in high-stakes settingsProven ability to build strategic partnerships and coalitions that advance shared goalsPersonal experience with the lived conditions of Coleman’s base of Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Pacific Islander children, youth, and families (public education, housing, health, employment, carceral systems)Deep understanding of systemic racism, anti-Blackness, and education inequity, with a strong commitment to advancing racial and education justiceDedication to uprooting anti-Blackness, embracing Black joy, dismantling systemic racism, and ending the criminalization of Black and Brown studentsGrounded in restorative values, listening with humility, and building leadership with members and staffCommitment to internationalism and linking local struggles for justice to global movements for liberationAwareness of the historic and current role of U.S. policy in perpetuating oppression globallyValue in strengthening organizational infrastructure and practicing language justice. Bilingual (Spanish / English) is a plusDemonstrated experience designing and implementing strategies that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizational culture and external workProven ability to center DEI in strategic planning, hiring, and organizational developmentExcited to work in a predominantly woman-identified, people of color staff environmentEssential Skills And Attributes
Ability to harmonize visionary ideas and mobilize organizations, alliances, and influencers toward collective actionDemonstrated capacity to practice shared leadership both externally and internallyStrong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to navigate complex political landscapesA track record of accountability and reliabilityAn adaptive leadership style with the ability to problem-solve, navigate complex situations and relationships, and take advantage of strategic opportunitiesA high level of emotional intelligence and capacity for self-reflection and self‑improvementOther Job Expectations
Travel ~20% (within CA and nationally), shared between Co-EDs as determinedSome evening and weekend work, including member and donor eventsOne Co-ED must serve as Property Manager, available for building emergenciesPeople With Lived Experience Encouraged
People (and / or people who have family members) with lived experience surviving the school-to-prison pipeline are strongly encouraged to apply.
What We Offer
We offer a total rewards package guided by our principles of transparency, equity, and wellness.
Salary : $110,000-$140,000 depending on experience (per Co-ED if hired as a team)Benefits : 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverageRetirement : Matching 401(k) planCulture : A collaborative, values-driven environment grounded in racial justice and community powerApplication Procedure
Email cover letter, resume, and three references to hiring@colemanadvocates.org. Applications are due by October 26.
If applying as a duo, each applicant should submit a separate application and reference each other in the cover letter.Equal Employment Opportunity
Coleman is committed to building a staff that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Current and former CMAC, YMAC, SMAC, and PMAC members, BIPOC, and formerly incarcerated applicants with a deep understanding of San Francisco’s unique history and politics are strongly encouraged to apply.
It is the policy of Coleman Advocates to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States or any other classification prohibited by applicable law. Coleman works to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees, actively enforcing policies against discrimination and sexual harassment.
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