National Association Program Manager

Organization

GSA Network is guided by our vision of full equality and social justice for all LGBTQ people. We have developed a model of grassroots organizing that trains youth activists to understand and challenge multiple systems of oppression, to develop LGBTQ and allied leaders with a vision for broad social justice. Grounded in this model, GSA Network is building the GSA movement by providing resources, training, and grassroots organizing support to GSA clubs working to educate schools about LGBTQ issues and change public policy as well as to emerging GSA Networks in states around the U.S.  As leader of the National Association of GSA Networks we bring together youth and adult leaders from state and regional GSA Networks to share best practices for GSA organizing. As a national leader in the LGBTQ, safe schools, and education justice movements, this is an exciting time for GSA Network as we expand our impact in California and nationally and grow our team.  You can learn more about our work at www.gsanetwork.org.

National Association of GSA Networks

In 2005, GSA Network convened the National Association of GSA Networks, a national network that builds a movement of trans, queer, two-spirit (TQ2S+) youth leaders and allies claiming safer spaces and building power in their schools and communities via youth-driven and youth-lead TQ2S+ organizations (GSA clubs). Today, the National Association includes local organizations in over 20 states throughout the US and territories. The strength of our national network relies on the strength of our local partners. All members of our network are autonomous, bound together in a collective vision for LGBTQ youth empowerment and liberation.

Position

Under the supervision of the Sr. Director, National Strategy & Programs, the National Association Program Manager will support GSA Network’s National Association of GSA Networks, an association of over 20 local, regional, and state-based GSA networks across the country working to build an intersectional movement of GSA clubs (Genders & Sexualities Alliances) and TQ2S+ youth. The National Association Program Manager is a member of the National Team, which is currently working to fortify GSAs as a local political home and center BIPOC youth leaders in this anti-trans and anti-queer political and cultural climate.

The National Association Program Manager will manage and maintain GSA Network’s National Association and membership, providing training, capacity building, and support to statewide and regional GSA networks in organizing GSA clubs and developing programming to engage trans and queer youth of color. The National Association Program Manager may carry out specific regional objectives and goals to support organizations in the Southeast. This role will also support national days of action such as GSA Day for Gender Justice and GSA Day for Racial Justice.

We will prioritize applicants who have a deep familiarity with the Midwestern or Southeastern United States and the LGBTQ+ communities there. These are our regions where we have prioritized direct support and capacity building. Applicants should also have a demonstrated passion for organizing and LGBTQ youth leadership and have experience with the intersecting issues facing low-income LGBTQ youth of color.

Essential Duties & Functions

(The following is used as a partial description and is not restrictive to duties required.)

Coordinating and Organizing National Association (30%)

• Bottom-line the National Association of GSA Networks program through proactive coordination and communication with the support of other National Team staff and supervisor
• Work with supervisor to cultivate membership of partner organizations and build political alignment among membership
• Plan convenings of National Association members including monthly meetings, annual in-person National Gathering, and others as needed
• Organize partners for engagement with National Association collective efforts, regional efforts, and GSA Network initiatives like days of action

Capacity Building (30%)

• Provide direct capacity building, coaching, and problem-solving with local and state-based GSA networks, with support from supervisor
• Regularly assess areas of support needed from the National Association partners and design national, regional, or thematic programming to address needs
• Design capacity building initiatives that can support partners on priorities like GSA organizing and centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color youth leaders, with support of supervisor
• Develop new training curriculum and resources as needed

National GSA Organizing and Leadership Development (10%)

• Collaborate with National Team staff on running the National Trans Queer Two-Spirit (TQ2S+) Youth Council
• Lead GSA Day 4 Racial Justice (day of action) planning with a youth council committee
• Monitor and promote GSA registration
• Respond to GSA inquiries

Administrative and Organizational (10-20%)

• Regularly track relevant activities, contacts, and member participation through GSA Network database, following GSA Network’s data management guidelines
• Submit and keep track of expenses and program budget
• Participate in all-staff meetings and initiatives to build organizational cohesion
• Serve on Leadership Team* after 6 months on staff, which is a rotating body of GSA Network staff responsible for organizational culture making
• Participate in National team planning and goal setting
• Generate communications and social media content to support youth organizing advocacy and campaign programs and activities

Other (20%)

• Collaborate on and exercise leadership in National team initiatives and all-staff initiatives that allow the organization to respond and adapt in emerging conditions

*GSA Network has developed The Leadership Team as a professional development opportunity for staff and a more equitable decision-making structure than the traditional non-profit. The goal of this team is to create a skills-building structure that will build the next generation of leadership and management capacity within the organization. After 6 months of employment, all staff members in good standing are eligible to join a Leadership Team Cohort.

Qualifications

Project Management

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks

• Ability to maintain daily communication and use of organizational communication and task management channels and systems including email, Slack, and Asana.

• Strong organization skills to break down a project into multiple tasks and carry out tasks

• Ability to work collaboratively towards shared goals and objectives and independently on tasks

• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software (Microsoft Office and Google Drive)

Leadership Development, Training, and Facilitation

• Facilitation skills with an ability to lead interactive activities and discussions breaking down complex political and social justice concepts for skill development and political education for youth and adults
• Ability to develop curriculum and training guides that can be implemented by other facilitators
• Ability to assess leadership and skill development needs and develop pathways for capacity building
• Knowledge of and ability to train others on topics such as: youth organizing, distributed/decentralized organizing, organizational development (particularly grassroots groups, including GSA clubs), basic components of organizing – basebuilding, leadership development, and campaigning

Member Organizing and Alignment Building

• 3-5+ years experience with youth organizing, community organizing, distributed/decentralized organizing, or coalition organizing preferred
• Strong relational and socio-emotional skills to build strong organizing relationships
• Comfort with assertive recruitment and agitation in organizing conversations
• Ability to discern alignment and engage in principled struggle
• Strong ability to use systems-oriented approach to developing organizing objectives, structures, and accountability checks for membership

Values and Characteristics

• Strong attention to detail

• Be a self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative and seeks guidance to follow through on projects and tasks

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and with people from a variety of different racial, ethnic, socio-economic, educational, religious, sexual, gender, and generational backgrounds.

• Think and act quickly and strategically

• Flexibility to pivot for unanticipated needs, adapt to new situations and environments and remain calm and graceful under pressure

• Demonstrated passion for trans and queer youth leadership and empowerment, extensive knowledge or personal experience with the intersectional issues facing low-income trans and queer youth of color, and a commitment to social justice.

• Ability and willingness to work occasional nights and weekends events

Work Environment

• Must be able to work remotely and/or in an office environment. (Currently all staff are working remotely from their home)

• Must be able to work at a desk for a prolonged period of time

• Must be able to manually operate and use a computer, phone, and other office equipment.

• Must be able to work at a computer for a prolonged period of time.

• Must be able to communicate clearly in English

• Willingness and ability to travel statewide or nationally (if it is safe to travel)

• Ability to pass a background check

Application

The start date for this position is April 1, 2024 at the latest. Please note that GSA Network will be closed from December 16, 2023 through January 7, 2024. We will begin reviewing applications after this date. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to respond to individual calls or emails regarding the status of your application. We will begin reviewing applications after this date.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GSA Network is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from youth; Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; women and femmes; people with disabilities; and people who are transgender, intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer.

Keywords

LGBTQgrassroots organizingGSA clubsLGBTQ issuesyouth leadershipcapacity buildingadvocacycommunity organizingleadership developmenttrainingfacilitationmember organizingsocial justice