Description

About PON

PON is a network that develops the multi-entity talent, capacity, and infrastructure needed for power-building organizations to scale and expand what they are doing to turn back authoritarianism and advance collective liberation. The network, which includes The Capacity Shop and Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund (CEPEF) along with programmatic partner Bolder Advocacy (the “partners”), coalesced in 2022 with a planning grant from the Ford Foundation to address the historic underinvestment in and unmet demand for multi-entity capacity building work across the social justice field.

As bold power-builders continue to punch above their weight, they are turning to multi-entity structures. Safe and bold multi-entity operations ensure that power-builders navigate today’s high-threat environment that could limit their power and increase risk for their structures and impact. Long-standing gaps in values-aligned multi-entity operations capacity for organizations, ecosystems, infrastructure, and staffing call for greater investments in safety, security, and resilience. PON is advancing an ambitious plan to address these needs and meet these gaps by providing technical assistance and resources for complex multi-entity actors across the social justice field.

Services will be delivered through four strategic program areas:

1. Wayfind to Protect the Field - connecting organizations with the resources needed to respond to immediate threats while building towards long-term safety and solidarity
2. Weave Connective Tissue - convening and aligning rapid response providers, election protectors, and multi-entity operations capacity builders
3. Develop Leadership & Knowledge - hosting bootcamps, conferences, peer circles, online classes, and other tools and resources so that people have the knowledge and trusted relationships to operate boldly and safely
4. Build State-Based Infrastructure - building back office hubs, shared managed services, and operational capacity across state-based ecosystems and networks of organizations

This position is shared with our sister entity Power and Protect Operations Action Fund (PONAF), a separate 501(c)4.

The PON Navigator Role

The PON Navigator is a limited term full-time staff position reporting to the Program Director for a one-year duration. The Navigator will be a public facing role, responding to and soliciting requests for information and assistance, building relationships with providers, and leading PON’s work to connect members of the field with the multi-entity operational and hardening resources they need to safely grow and thrive.

This role requires strong interpersonal and project management skills, the ability to engage in cold calls and outreach, a desire to learn and seek out information, analytical skills, the entrepreneurial talent to bring a program to life, and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple organizations in a fast-moving and dynamic environment.

Primary Responsibilities

The following responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel classified in this manner. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Navigator Program

• Work closely with the Program Director to develop the navigation program, including processes, protocols, tools, etc.
• Support applicants with all aspects of case management from intake and assessment through identifying and matching applicants with the appropriate resources.
• Serve as lead contact for navigation cases from intake to referral to follow-up that ensures that needs have been met and recommendations implemented.
• Provide coaching support that reduces fear, overwhelm, and other paralyzing feelings and helps applicants develop and prioritize their own solutions.
• Engage in safety planning and assessment, and support training others in safety planning assessment to expand the field.
• Review and triage requests, with the ability to prioritize the most pressing needs and elevate as needed with staff and partners.
• Take in and synthesize information from a variety of sources and share it externally and securely with those in need.
• Monitor and document where groups are in the intake/assessment process and where follow up is needed.
• Engage in targeted outreach to the PON network to educate partners about PON’s navigation service and ensure its utility and success.
• Build and maintain relationships with PON staff, partners, providers, network organizations and other relevant organizations.
• Track and assess types of navigation requests to help identify emerging trends and needs in the field.
• Track and develop reports of program outcomes.

Resource Hub

• Build and maintain the PON Resources & Referral Library.
• Collate materials, vet, tag, and update content.
• Use AI and other tools to enhance accessibility and ease of use of the library.
• Lead on ways to disseminate, share, and drive engagement with the library.
• Conduct triage calls to help match organizations to resources and providers.
• Conduct follow-up calls to ensure that organizations have received support.

Operations & Development

• Develop the necessary systems to build out a successful navigation program - intake forms, ticketing system, tracking of requests, etc…
• Refine and improve the intake process to be efficient and effective.
• Maintain and update navigation request files, documenting all steps taken and resources provided.
• Utilize our project management system for tracking tasks and deliverables for all the people involved in the navigation program and resource hub.
• Support fundraising efforts, such as planning and implementing events, contributing to communications and funder collateral, and developing proposals and reports.
• Ensure compliance with financial and administrative policies.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This is a remote position based in the United States with a strong preference for someone in the tristate area (NY, NJ, CT). Domestic travel for partner meetings, program meetings or other purposes may be required up to 20% of time.

Physical demands include being able to work on a computer including sitting at a desk for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation; manual dexterity to operate a keyboard; able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in-person and be understood by others; able to hear and understand speech, including on the phone; able to understand and follow oral and written instructions; able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 10 pounds, etc.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and proactive team player who thrives in both independent and collaborative work, with a commitment to social justice values and an understanding of multi-entity operations and compliance. They must have a solution oriented mindset and the determination to track down needed resources and information, as well as comfort with ambiguity.

This is a small start up organization, so the Navigator should be willing to roll up their sleeves and do work that is expected and also that emerges unexpectedly while navigating competing priorities in an ambiguous and constantly changing context. The following qualifications and attributes will contribute to the Navigator’s success:

Required Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience in multi-entity operations and compliance, preferably as an operational leader in a multi-entity organization and/or a coach of executive leaders on multi-entity operations.
• Fluency in systems, political, and power analysis and demonstrated commitment to participatory democracy and collective liberation that is rooted in an analysis of power and the role of base building, leadership development and mutual aid in creating social change.
• A solution oriented mindset, unafraid to try multiple avenues in pursuit of an answer.
• Strong verbal communication skills and a comfort with cold calls/outreach.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills, with attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate ideas and research via multiple forms (written, oral) to a variety of audiences (funders, director staff, frontline staff, etc.).
• A love of learning and processing information.
• The ability to work collaboratively across multiple organizations in a fast-moving and dynamic environment.
• Ability to think strategically and make assessments of opportunities and threats within the political landscape.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom, and project management tools (Clickup, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with triage, crisis hotlines, case management, or similar services that entail helping people navigate and secure resources.
• Experience managing or curating digital libraries, resources, or knowledge management systems.
• Experience working in high pressure/rapidly changing environments.
• Experience as an executive coach or life coach.
• Experience with organizing and building power for social justice, racial justice, and democracy.
• Familiarity with AI tools for knowledge management or communications.
• Research experience, including qualitative data collection and analysis (experience with quantitative data analysis a plus).

How to Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter through this job portal. The cover letter should speak to your prior experience with similar responsibilities and why you are interested in PON’s mission. Applications accepted until we find the right fit or March 31st - whichever is first.

Studies show that people from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply to jobs when they meet all the qualifications. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.

PON contracts with Resilient Strategies LLC for backend organizational support including hiring and employment. Resilient Strategies is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply. Pursuant of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.