22 February 2010

Sydney Alliance for Community Building

The Sydney Alliance is a new, not-for-profit, independent coalition of community, religious and union organisations. Its role is to strengthen relationships between these organisations and build active member-based/rank-and-file leadership inside these organisations to build a better city and a more powerful civil society. Our organising is underpinned by the some traditions of community organising that Barrack Obama practiced in Chicago.

In this role you will be working with a range of community, religious and union organisations across Sydney to bring together diverse organisations and identify common interests. We are looking for a person who is highly motivated, a very strategic thinker and who has personal or work experience with community, religious or union organisations and who wants to be part of an ambitious project for social change.

Purpose of the position:

• Work with organisational leaders to identify their organisations strategic needs and how these connect to the work of the Alliance.
• Expand the number of organisations involved in the Alliance and work with existing member organisations to bridge relationships across religious, community and union organizations.
• Develop leadership amongst organisational members through training and mentoring.
• Develop and support campaigns which create an agenda for the common good in Sydney.

Key responsibilities

• Meet and plan with organisational leaders and members to identify their issues, concerns, vision and values.
• Prepare and deliver community organising training programs to support the organising work of the Sydney Alliance.
• Mentor organisational leaders and members to strengthen their organisations internal capacity, and to identify commonly experienced issues.

Experience....

At least 2 years experience working to build participation and membership within and across community organisations, religious organisations and unions (we are particularly looking for someone with experience working with community organisations). However, we are also looking for a bridge builder a person who has the ability to work with different types of organisations and understand how different organisations work.

Strategic thinker....

We are looking for someone who thinks strategically about how civil society organisations and social change work. This requires someone who is creative, ambitious and able to understand how social and political power operates, and how it can be challenged. You will be interested in social and economic issues.

Strong communication skills....

We need a very effective communicator who knows how to actively listen and has good questioning skills

Reflection, self starter and open to challenge....

We are looking for someone who is capable of self-reflection. We need a person who is highly self-motivated and can work with limited supervision. A Sydney Alliance community organiser must be interested in being challenged, and in learning and growing through working on establishing this new coalition.

Applicant must have a car and a current drivers license.

Experience working with organisational leaders (pastors, rabbis, union leaders / staff, etc.)

Adult education skills & Additional language skills

Salary ranges from $67,000 to 72,500, depending on previous experience.

Reporting process....

The Organiser will report to a lead Organiser and meet weekly.

Application Process....

Final candidates will be expected to participate in multiple interviews. If possible we would also like the candidate to also attend and a 2 day orientation / training session in March 2010 (there are several sessions on weekdays 3-4 March or 4-5 March, or on weekends - Saturdays 13 & 20 March or on Sundays 14 & 21 March). All are held in different locations across Sydney.

Initial employment will include a 90 day probation period.

Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend group interviews scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday 18 March.

To apply send cover letter and CV to Liliana Capacchione at lcapacchione@sydneyalliance.org.au

5pm 17 March 2010

Liliana Capacchione

Administration Officer

02 8007 6055

02 9261 3505

lcapacchione@sydneyalliance.org.au

www.sydneyalliance.org.au