Job Description

For over 20 years, the Sikh Coalition, a national community-based, civil rights organization, has defended Sikh civil liberties in the courtroom, classroom, community, and halls of Congress. Whether it’s working to secure safer schools, combat and prevent hate and discrimination, create equal employment opportunities and access, or empower local Sikh communities, the Sikh Coalition’s goal is working towards a world where Sikhs, and other religious and racial minorities in America, may freely practice their faith without bias and discrimination.

The Sikh Coalition is a nonpartisan, civil rights nonprofit with over 20 full-time staff and over one hundred core volunteers that operates on a $2.8+ million budget with complete financial transparency. Our funding comes from grants, private foundations, and individual donors. We receive no funding from any government agencies.

We strive to do this work with integrity (sach), selflessness (seva) and with the lasting belief that our shared work holds a greater purpose (sangarsh). We will relentlessly pursue our goals while putting the community and these values first.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Managing Director of Education and Community Development, the Community Development Manager will be charged with mobilizing the Sikh community to broadly engage in their local civic life. A successful candidate will administer organizational programs aimed at addressing the needs of the Sikh community nationally. They will be responsible for mobilizing the community to work towards common goals through collective action. They will be focused on building social momentum, driving increased civic engagement, deepening relationships with community leaders coordinating initiatives, and developing partnerships that strengthen the Sikh Coalition’s relationship to the sangat we serve.

The ideal candidate relates well to Sikh community members across demographics, is a demonstrated self-starter, is committed to building relationships and motivating action, has an unwavering commitment to the Sikh Coalition’s vision and values, and exemplifies the Sikh Coalition’s commitment to serving as a catalyst for change.

Job Requirements

In this position, the Community Development Manager will be responsible for: 

• Mobilizing and empowering the Sikh community to deepen relationships with their neighbors, school officials, policymakers, media and partner organizations.
• Engaging and prioritizing engagement and programming with Sikh Student Associations, Khalsa Schools and key community leaders inside and outside the gurdwara structure as it relates to Sikh Coalition programmatic and community engagement goals. 
• Advancing the civil rights agenda of the community by engaging various city and state government officials and mobilizing sangat members to advocate for policies that impact their quality of life.
• Prioritizing engagement with community members as well as school officials and partner organizations to address school bullying by providing and/or delivering lesson plans, anti-bullying resources, and Sikh awareness resources
• Leading out on and training sangat members to manage Sikh awareness opportunities including but not limited to presentations, seva projects, and special events (sports teams, Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month, interfaith events etc).
• Collaborating effectively as a team player and fostering strong working relationships across multiple program areas to achieve shared organizational goals.
• Leading out on community fact-finding and community mobilization in response to a crisis involving the community of Sikh Coalition programmatic priorities. Facilitating Sikh community’s presence in critical spaces by liaising with like-minded local advocacy organizations and participating community-based initiatives including strategically placing community members in leadership positions as needed.
• Developing and sustaining relationships with gurdwaras to increase awareness of Sikh Coalition and its services, deliver content on various priority areas and build community capacity through empowerment workshops
• Working with the Communications & Media team to identify opportunities for amplification, and build community capacity to effectively engage with media to deliver interviews and write op-eds. Also being an organizational community spokesperson when appropriate. 
• Supporting organizational fundraising efforts 

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:  To perform successfully in this position, the following are critical:

Preferred Work Experience and Key Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both verbal and written; fluency in conversational Punjabi is required, written Punjabi is strongly preferred
• Self-starter, thrives in a fast-moving environment where decisions are often made quickly and with great consequence to achieving desired outcomes
• Comfortable speaking publicly, including community facing settings, media opportunities and presentations, training and workshops.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, resourcefulness in setting priorities, and ability to meet evolving deadlines.
• Project management and process development skills, including ability to design and maintain effective systems, gather resources and establish priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to translate ideas into actionable plans and can clearly demonstrate ability to adjust course as needed to ensure that goals are attained.
• Previous work or volunteer experience with the Sikh community is preferred.
• Flexibility with work schedule and must be willing to travel; this position requires frequent evening and weekend work to meet with community members and attend events.
• Bachelor's or Associates degree required.

The ideal candidate will also exemplify the Sikh Coalition’s values:

• Belief in Sikh Coalition values of truth (sach), service and humility (seva) and persistence (sangarsh) as being critical in how we pursue creating change.
• Respect for the faith-based roots of the organization and sensitivity to the specific cultural needs of the community.
• Commitment to consensus-building and shared decision making as a process – coupled with the ability to make decisions and bring together the whole team on delivering against them.
• A commitment to social justice and a strong interest in social justice education and community empowerment.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, remote, exempt salaried position and compensation will depend on the role and be commensurate with experience in the $60,000 - $65,000 range. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, vision fully covered for employees (option to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) available);
• Retirement savings option with a company contribution match;
• Generous vacation and sick leave, including compensation time when weekend work is required;
• Paid parental leave; and
• Commitment to professional development and growth (e.g. applicable professional membership dues may be eligible for reimbursement).

To apply for the position, please apply online. We may ask for writing samples and references before interviewing.

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