Program Manager – Monitoring & Training

About Western States Center  

Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy. For 30 years, our work has advanced social, racial, and economic justice by convening, developing, organizing, and supporting the communities most affected by inequities. We’ve played a catalytic role, working with community partners to build people-centered movements, develop new leaders, and shift culture – with our eyes on the prize of an inclusive democracy where people can live, love, and work free from bigotry and fear.

In response to the current climate of heightened threats to inclusive democracy, we focus our work into four pillars: Movement Building, Leadership Development, Shifting Culture, and Defending Democracy. Our programmatic focus in 2023 and beyond is to advance our work in each of these areas.

Position Overview 

Western States Center is expanding to meet the urgent challenges facing our country and the growing threat of white nationalism and organized bigotry. We need a dedicated and talented Program Manager to help us meet these challenges with updated digital tools and infrastructure, to work with a high degree of independence and to support in achieving WSC’s strategic goals.

The Program Manager will focus on monitoring and training activities. This role is part of WSC’s Momentum Program team which works to counter the dangerous ascension of white nationalism across the country. The Program Manager will help define the Program’s priorities by identifying key trends and activities of anti-democracy groups in WSC’s core region, the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, and beyond. The Manger’s monitoring and training will help shape both rapid response and longer-term efforts to counter white nationalist or other bigoted activity, and will help educate and empower WSC staff, community partners, civic institutions and media through trainings, coalition and advocacy work. The Program Analyst will report to the Momentum Program Director.
This is a full time salaried position supervised by the Momentum Program Director. Benefits include health and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid sick leave, and four weeks paid vacation. Compensation is dependent on applicant’s years of relevant experience, ranging from $70,000-$80,000.

Responsibilities: 

• Monitor the activities, strategies, rhetoric and trends of anti-democracy groups across the ideological spectrum in WSC’s core region and beyond;
• Assemble research and analysis on tight deadlines and synthesize the rhetoric, activity and goals of anti-democracy groups for different audiences, including as community groups, civic institutions and media;
• Flag key trends, developments, rapid response actions, threats, media opportunities and other actionable items for WSC staff;
• Help identify concrete opportunities to diminish the impact of white nationalism and other bigoted authoritarian social movements;
• Help to draft/write media talking points, training materials, monitoring memos and trend analysis for WSC staff, consultants and key partners;
• Conduct outreach to and build relationships with state and local partners;
• Create and give presentations and webinars on the white nationalist movement and its goals, strategies, and impacts on communities;
• Serve as a team player for broader programmatic work, particularly within the Momentum program, including supporting national tables, cohort facilitation and training, engaging with partners, working on toolkits, and more;
• Work with communications staff to identify and execute digital opportunities to amplify rapid response efforts and ensure message alignment; and
• Liaise with consultants as needed, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 2-3 years of experience in monitoring anti-democracy movements in the United States, such as white nationalist, anti-semitic, paramilitary, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, or other bigoted groups;
• Experience working on programmatic initiatives at the state or local level.
• Comfort with public speaking and facilitating for large groups; experience engaging with media is also a plus;
• Ability to work with a broad range or partners across different sectors, including civil rights organizations, community leaders, public officials and the faith community;
• Ability to thrive in a diverse, multi-racial working environment both internally and externally.
• A strong racial and gender justice analysis.
• Ability to work independently and to coordinate multiple projects at once.
• Ability to to be responsive to current events and opportunities in the field
• Excellent critical thinking and judgment.

Location:

The role will be remote with travel up to 1-2 times per month.

Application Process:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For priority consideration, please submit the following through our application form by July 6, 2023:

• Cover letter clearly outlining the specific skills and knowledge you bring to the role; and
• Resume detailing relevant experience, work history, education and accomplishments.

Western States Center is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.