Cultural Strategy Director
April 8, 2024Reports to: Co-Executive Director
Classification: Full Time; Regular; Exempt; At Will
Location: Remote, anywhere within the United States (outside the United States will be
considered if feasible for the organization);
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 32 hours a week. Start and end times are flexible, but must be able to attend predetermined team and staff meetings.
Salary: $118,000 – $123,287 annually. The salary range is determined by Forward Together’s salary
equity structure. Offers will only be made within this range.
Benefits: Benefits are generous, with fully paid employee and dependent coverage for health, vision, and dental; and long-term disability insurance. Paid time off includes sick days, vacation, and holidays. In addition, we close our offices for two weeks in December.
Deadline to Apply:
Internally: April 4, 2024. Please contact Kemi Alabi and PRLS to express your interest in this position. If we do not receive internal applicants, then the job announcement will be posted externally.
Externally: April 25, 2024. We encourage applicants to apply early. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Tentative Start Date: July 1, 2024.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Cultural Strategy Director harnesses the power of culture to achieve reproductive justice for trans and queer people of color. This position plays a pivotal organizational role by directing a core programmatic department, setting long-term strategy, and maximizing the impact of Forward Together’s cultural contributions.
This position is part of the senior leadership team. Senior leaders hold specific parts of the strategic plan while also being responsible for overall implementation of the plan. This requires senior leaders to collaborate and hold what is good for their team’s work and the whole of the organization.
This position reports to the Co-Executive Director and supervises the Cultural Strategist and Narrative Strategist. Additional direct reports, including an Artist in Residence, may be assigned.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Cultural Strategy Leadership
● Sets the strategic direction and leads development of all cultural strategy programs and projects, including a multi-year narrative power project for trans youth of color and annual visual art-based campaigns.
● Identifies opportunities for artist/organizer collaborations that advance our long-term narrative goals and deepen relationships across reproductive and queer/trans justice networks.
● Identifies and represents Forward Together in cultural strategy coalitions and networks.
● Oversees development of materials and resources, including artwork, stories, tools, etc.
● Documents and evaluates cultural strategy programs, projects, and strategies.
● Shares Forward Together’s models, positioning the organization as a cultural strategy leader.
● Supports media and communications strategies in collaboration with the Communications Department, including acting as a spokesperson.
● Travels regularly for convenings and other collaborations.
2. Staff Teams and Supervision
● Works closely with organizational leadership to ensure overall integration of strategies and provide leadership across all departments/teams.
● Supervises and provides leadership and guidance to the Narrative Strategist, Cultural Strategist; develops and supervises other positions as organization grows.
● Supports and provides leadership to the artist consultants leading Artists for Radical Imagination.
● Participates as an active member on assigned cross-departmental teams.
● Actively participates in all-staff meetings and quarterly strategy sessions.
● Travels to other offices for strategy/evaluation sessions up to 3 times a year.
3. Department Budgets and Administrative Systems
● Develops and manages the annual Cultural Strategy budget.
● Effectively utilizes all financial and 501c3 related management systems. Examples include: accurate and on-time reporting of monthly credit card expenses.
● Maintains and updates the Forward Together CRM (constituent relationship management system) for the individuals, organizations and work tracking related to them that this position manages.
● Accurately tracks and reports lobbying activities.
4. Training and Presentations
● Develops leads trainings and presentations around Forward Together’s work.
● Provides curriculum development support to both staff and allied organizations.
● Attends conferences and trainings as needed for advancing program.
5. Fundraising
● Collaborates with the Development Department to ensure alignment between program and grant deliverables.
● Participates in grassroots fundraising campaigns where applicable.
● Attends/presents at funder briefings or meetings as assigned.
OTHER DUTIES
● Adheres to organizational values and practices around challenging oppression by exhibiting behaviors indicating inclusion and respect in all facets of the work (programmatic, operational, and interpersonal).
● Utilizes direct communication and proactive problem solving to address internal organizational challenges and disagreements.
● Works proactively and in good faith as a member of the staff team to support and strengthen the overall stability and effectiveness of the organization.
● Completes required reports and paperwork as needed.
● Vendor and consultant management as needed.
● Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
● Minimum 8 years’ experience working with art and/or storytelling, communications and social change, with a demonstrated track record leading collaborative cultural strategies.
● Excellent written, verbal, and group facilitation skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with people at all levels and from various backgrounds.
● Experience working in partnership with and for queer and trans communities of color.
● Committed to racial, gender and reproductive justice and Forward Together’s mission.
● Management-level experience, including program development, budget management, and employee supervision.
● Ability to hold simultaneity in both leading a team and organizational leadership.
● Strong organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
● Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work with emergent opportunities and competing priorities.
● Ability to hold confidential information, use discretion, and exercise keen awareness of other people’s needs.
● Proficiency with Microsoft Office, GSuite, and the basics of database and conferencing software.
● Ability to travel across the United States for trips of up to 4 days up to 6 times per year
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES SPECIFICATIONS
Physical Demands
As a reproductive justice organization, we understand the intersection between reproductive and disability justice. With this, we want to make candidates aware of the physical demands required of the positions and welcome requests for reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with a disability to perform essential functions. The functions are:
● constantly operating work equipment, such as a laptop and applications, computer, printer
● participate in Zoom meetings averaging 60% of the time
● communicate with staff and be able to exchange accurate information
Remote Work Environment
In addition, we want to make candidates aware of the work environment required of the position and
welcome requests for reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with a disability to perform essential functions.
● Position is remote. Employees may work anywhere in the United States. Permanent locations outside of the United States will be considered if feasible for the organization.
● Remote employees will be provided with a computer, mouse, keyboard, desk, chair, printer, ergonomic equipment, and other office equipment as necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.
● Technical support and a monthly stipend will be provided for internet and cell phone use.
● Employees must attend mandatory staff retreats, either in-person or virtually. If in-person, retreat location may be inside or outside, and the noise level may range from quiet to loud.
TO APPLY
Applicants should answer the following question during the application process:
● Why you are interested in this role with the listed responsibilities?
● Why you are interested in working for a cultural strategy and movement building organization fighting to secure reproductive justice for queer and trans people of color?
Click here to access the application portal.
People of color, people with disabilities, Indigenous, queer, transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming people are strongly encouraged to apply.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.