Careers

HEAL’s National Organizer will be responsible for assessing and seizing opportunities to move HEAL’s Platform for Real Food forward within the current political context. They will coordinate closely with all staff to organize with members and allies.

Four years ago, HEAL launched with an ambitious vision for transformative change grounded in a 10-plank platform co-developed by 50 organizations. After operating in defense mode over the last four years, the current political opening provides a powerful opportunity to advance HEAL’s platform.

The National Organizer will work with HEAL members to track political opportunities and assert HEAL members’ priorities in service of advancing HEAL’s platform. They will work with allies to lead power-building efforts and strengthen coalitions.

The ideal candidate will have a background in intersectional organizing and an understanding of federal policy. They will hold a strong movement-building lens and commitment to building lasting relationships through joint action, with a sense of how to seize political moments as they arise. They will be nimble and strategic, have a keen understanding of the intersections of food, agriculture, climate change, immigration, labor, racial justice, and the political landscape, and will know how to work with others to achieve shared goals. This is a two-year position with opportunity to extend.

• Identify opportunities to advance HEAL’s platform
• Keep staff and members apprised of key policy opportunities and make recommendations for action
• Build relationships across coalitions and sectors
• Provide input to relevant formations to advance HEAL’s platform 

Co-founded by the Food Chain Workers Alliance, the National Black Food & Justice Alliance, Real Food Generation, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, HEAL is a multi-sector, multi-racial coalition building collective power to transform our food & farm systems, with racial justice and community self-determination at the core. We are led by our member organizations, who represent over 2 million rural and urban farmers, ranchers, fishers, farm and food chain workers, indigenous groups, scientists, public health advocates, policy experts, community organizers, and activists nationwide.

HEAL is committed to achieving food and farm systems that are healthy for our families, accessible and affordable for all communities, and fair to the hard-working people who grow, distribute, prepare, and serve our food — while protecting the air, water, and land we all depend on.

Our staff team is small and mighty - we are highly accountable to our members, and to each other. Each of us contributes to the overall functioning of the organization, maintaining relationships with members, and adapting workflows to support one anothers’ needs. For more about how our team operates, please see our protocols and principles.

The essential responsibilities of the position are included in, but not limited to the items listed below.

• Research and identify opportunities to advance HEAL’s platform and support appropriate staff and members to cultivate relationships and/or take action
• In coordination with HEAL’s leadership, assess the political landscape and join coalitions or formations on behalf of HEAL, as appropriate
• Make recommendations to HEAL leadership to guide action on political opportunities
• Maintain relationships with HEAL members to advance policy
• Drive the process of integrating HEAL’s platform with all programs and communications 

• Participate in program and project meetings, cross-organizational meetings, and special organizational efforts.
• Maintain competency in issue areas. Maintain and update working knowledge of issues related to gender, economic, environmental, and racial justice to ensure relevance of HEAL campaigns and communications.
• Participate in planning and strategy sessions to achieve HEAL’s goals using the experience and learning in this position to inform HEAL’s work plan, infrastructure development, and strategic planning. 
• Represent HEAL in coalition spaces.  

This position is remote, and HEAL offers reimbursement for work-related internet, cellphone, and other office needs. HEAL currently maintains an office space in Oakland and local staff are welcome to (safely) make use of this space. When public health conditions allow, domestic travel will be required for meetings and conferences.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.  

• Deep understanding of power-building and the political moment
• Demonstrated experience with intersectional organizing
• Experience with campaign development and execution
• Familiarity with policy processes at local, state and/or federal levels and how to strategically engage in them
• Working knowledge of a range of relevant issues including climate, labor, and agriculture
• Skills in building and holding multiple complex relationships, and a high degree of accountability and integrity to those relationships
• Ability to confront traditional power structures in a way that builds trust
• Project management skills, with the ability to to adapt as needed, self-manage, and to prioritize between and manage multiple demands.
• Strong English language verbal and written communications skills; the ability to synthesize and clearly articulate ideas verbally and in writing
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Online Office Tools   

• Existing relationships in food, agriculture, climate, labor, or a related field
• Experience working with partners across geography
• Proficiency in Spanish  

As a complex coalition, we seek individuals who are highly organized systems thinkers. For all positions, HEAL seeks individuals with a demonstrated understanding of the intersections of racial, economic, and environmental justice, who are committed to transformative change.

Position type & Compensation: This is a two year 100% FTE exempt position. Salary range is $70,000-$75,000.

Movement Strategy Center’s 100% FTE benefits package includes:

• 20 days vacation leave per year
• 12 standard holidays and 2 personal days per year
• 12 sick days per year
• 1 week paid MSC family and medical leave after one year of service; an additional week of paid leave for each additional year of service, up to 4 weeks
• Medical, vision, dental for employees and dependents (requires 30 day waiting period and a per paycheck employee contribution)
• 100% employer sponsored basic life, short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage
• Access to a 403b retirement plan. Access to FSA and Commuter Benefits. 

Additionally, HEAL closes down our office for a winter hibernation period and a summer rejuvenation period.