Greater Birmingham Ministries strives to serve people, build community, and pursue justice.
Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) was founded in 1969 in response to urgent human and justice needs in the greater Birmingham area. GBM is a multi-faith, multi-racial organization that provides emergency services for people in need and engages the poor and the non-poor in systemic change efforts to build a strong, supportive, engaged community and pursue a more just society for all people.
GBM’s vision is a community-wide commitment to living out the pursuit of peace and justice. We work with people across racial, economic, political, and social identities to build working relationships among faith communities, organizations, businesses, and social networks seeking to engage the entire community in responding to the call to justice for all people.
To learn more, visit our website: https://gbm.org
Responsibilities
● Act as an effective spokesperson for GBM’s vision, work, and campaigns and represent GBM in high-stakes meetings with decision makers
● Advance GBM’s mission and values through nonpartisan voter outreach efforts including civic engagement activities, community education and organizing efforts surrounding electoral field work that advance and advocate around systems change issues affecting low-resourced communities
● Increase voter registration and voter turnout through various engagement strategies and events, ensuring citizens are informed and motivated to participate in the electoral process
● Build and/or foster partnerships with organizations, faith groups, and educational institutions – locally, regionally, and nationally
● Implement innovative engagement and education strategies tailored to the community
● Build and maintain relationships with local community organizations, faith groups, and educational institutions with the goal of partnership for voter registration, GOTV, and other Civic Engagement activities
● Conduct voter education sessions and focus groups to provide accurate information about the voting process
● Share daily, weekly and program overall report outs with relevant leadership; maintain records and report on events, turnout data, partnerships, and outreach activities
● Develop and distribute voter guides and educational materials
● Lead phone banking, texting, canvassing campaigns
● Recruit, train, and manage volunteers
● Working closely with GBM’s team to contribute to developing and implementing strategy to achieve campaign goals in our Systems Change, Faith & Action, and Direct Services Programs.
Desired Skills and Qualifications
● 4+ years of professional/paid organizing experience with workers, community groups, and/or unions
● Experience leading and/or engaging community coalitions with diverse stakeholders is strongly preferred
● Excellent communication and social skills including the ability to develop new contacts and build transformational relationships with grassroots communities and organization leaders
● Ability to continually assess, follow up, and deepen the commitment of key stakeholders
● Maintain good judgment, flexibility and creative thinking in difficult situations and evolving circumstances
● Demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, and social skills in work and interpersonal interactions
● Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
● Ability to develop and follow a work plan with minimal supervision
● Knowledge of and experience working within the political landscape and/or within diverse coalition spaces in Alabama or local Southern Communities strongly preferred
● Ability to build and sustain authentic and productive working relationships with colleagues across race and other group identities, including external partners;
● Ability to continually assess and deepen the commitment of key stakeholders, and workers through regular 1:1s, thoughtful asks, and securing of commitments through effective turnout;
● Maintain a high level of timely follow-up to follow through on commitments – both personal commitments made as well as commitments made by partners, allies and workers;
● Maintain flexibility: be ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities and adapt quickly to change;
● Familiarity with social media platforms, GoogleSuite, VAN, Canva, and openness to learning other programs such as Powerbase -GBM’s CRM database and other web based platforms;
GBM Offers:
● Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for the employee
● Generous paid time off including – vacation and sick days, federal holidays, and a few floating holidays each year.
● Training and professional development opportunities are available upon completion of the probationary period
● A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices
How to Apply:
Applicants must include information about their connection to or experience working in Birmingham Metro or the surrounding region in their application materials. Email a cover letter, resume, and three work references to gbmjobs@gbm.org. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Only applications submitted via this process will be considered. No phone calls, please. As part of the candidate screening process for this role, applicants may be asked to complete a leadership analysis, writing assignment and/or technical skills assessment.
GBM Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
We are an EEO/affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. We work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforce zero-tolerance policies against discrimination and sexual harassment. Those who identify as persons of color, women, veterans, formerly incarcerated persons, LGBTQ+, and/or have had experience working with one or more of those groups listed who seek to be part of our coalitions are strongly encouraged to apply.
