Youth Organizer

Organization Overview

Californians for Justice (CFJ) is a dynamic, youth-powered organization leading the charge for racial and educational justice in California. Committed to uplifting marginalized communities, CFJ empowers young people particularly from communities of color, immigrants, low-income families, and LGBTQIA2S+/TGNC youth to drive change in their schools and communities. Through grassroots organizing, leadership development, and advocacy, CFJ equips youth with the tools and knowledge to challenge systemic inequities and shape education policy. This youth-led approach ensures that students, not just adults or policymakers, are at the forefront of efforts to transform their educational experiences and opportunities.

With regional offices in Fresno, Long Beach, San Jose, and Oakland, CFJ has scaled its impact across California, serving a diverse cross-section of the state’s youth. The organization’s team of 35 full-time staff, backed by a budget of $4.5 million, remains deeply connected to the communities it serves. CFJ’s work is rooted in the belief that the future of education in California hinges on the voices of young people. Through its campaigns, CFJ ensures those voices are amplified, empowering students to be key drivers of change in education policy and practice.

CFJ is known for its collaborative, purpose-driven culture, where staff are valued for their diverse perspectives and contributions. The organization fosters trust, inclusivity, and shared ownership of its mission, empowering team members to bring their skills and insights to the work of racial and educational justice. With a strong focus on professional development, mentorship, and leadership growth, CFJ ensures that its staff not only make a difference in their communities but also continue to evolve in their careers. Through this approach, CFJ is reshaping education and fostering a more just and equitable future for all students in California

Position Overview

The Organizer will drive CFJ’s grassroots organizing efforts by building youth power through base-building, leadership development, political education workshops, and direct engagement with high school students. They will also play an active role in local and statewide campaigns, supporting action research, mobilizing for actions and delegations, collaborating with coalition partners, and engaging in electoral organizing when needed.

As part of a tight-knit four-person organizing team (including an Organizing Director, Lead Organizer, and fellow Organizers), this role reports to the Lead Organizer while working cross-functionally with CFJ’s regional organizers and other departments.

Additional Details

This is a temporary, part-time, non-exempt role. The Organizer will exercise independent judgment and discretion in all aspects of their work. The position can be based in any of CFJ’s four offices: Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland, or San Jose, with occasional statewide travel required. While CFJ operates in a hybrid work environment, staff are expected to participate in in-person trainings, team meetings, and community-building events as needed.

Organizational Competencies

Organizers at CFJ are expected to demonstrate proficiency in the following competencies:

• Impactful Collaboration - Inspired by the work; inspires others to engage in the movement. Manages projects and recommends deliverables and timelines that are well prioritized and met with an appropriate level of urgency for accomplishing team goals. Results have been rigorously tested with multiple possible scenarios and solutions accounted for. 
• Problem Solving - Asks and begins to answer: What else can we try? Has full knowledge of job area enabling solutions to problems that are tailored for the unique needs of the project. Foresees near-term problems that may arise and creates plans for mitigation or proactively seeks help from leadership in removing roadblocks.
• Sustainability -Initiates resilient protagonism without direction from supervisor. Models rest/reflection/action for community leaders. Is self-aware of their own growth opportunities; Requests and responds to feedback. Learn to share feedback with peers.
• Communication - Begins to practice effective communication to various audiences - executive leaders, community leaders, press, etc. Communicates decisions through documentation, presentations or other communication channels. Communicates effectively across teams, proactively identifies challenges for projects and communicates these issues early to help course-correct.
• Relationship-Building - Achieves goals through effectively working with others. Has built trust by leading by example, adhering to deadlines, operating with empathy, and setting and managing expectations.

Essential Responsibilities

Base Building & Leadership Development (60%)

• Conduct basebuilding activities throughout the school year with high school students including but not limited to: school outreach, classroom presentations, one on ones phone banking, management of three school-­based chapter(s), developing and managing teacher ally relationships, and sustaining an active base of students at chapter(s) based on annual goals.  
• Lead San Jose’s leadership development programming through weekly student leader meetings centered on: skills building, political education, community building, and conducting consistent one ­on- one member check­ins.
• Lead San Jose’s leadership development tracking, manage and oversee our membership goals, and member’s individual leadership development and trajectory through CFJ’s leadership pathways. 
• Manage and implement San Jose’s regional Distributed Leadership Model by recruiting and training a core group of members who will develop their own teams made up of high school youth who will work together to advance CFJ’s campaign and programmatic goals. 
• Supervise a team of high school interns and build their leadership and organizing skills.  

Campaign Organizing (30%)

• Support our local and statewide education organizing and campaign work through action research, coordinating campaign events, delegations with system leaders, and electoral organizing (including phone banking during elections).  
• Participate in ally events and meetings to build and maintain CFJ’s visibility and community solidarity.

Organization wide responsibilities (10%)

• Participate in all grassroots fundraising campaigns and maintain a portfolio of individual and organizational prospects for solicitation.  
• Participate in and be accountable to cross ­department committees, teams, and departments.  
• Assume rotating meeting facilitation, note taking and tech support roles and responsibilities as needed.  
• Provide support and participation for organization wide and regional campaigns and events.  

Essential Qualifications

• One or more years of experience leading youth organizing efforts and/or educational advocacy.
• Strong commitment to social justice, racial justice, and youth empowerment.  
• Strong interpersonal and teambuilding skills, particularly with high school students and key decision-makers.
• Ability to energize, inspire, and move young people to action.
• Excellent problem­solving and organizational skills.  
• Orientation to working in teams, with the ability to work independently and be a self starter.
• Excellent attention to detail, follow­ through and commitment to meeting deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks and projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Proficient computer skills with proficiency in G Suite, and a variety of applications such as google drive and google calendar. 
• California driver’s license, insurance, and regular access to a 4 to 5 seat passenger car.
• Available to work flexible hours, including afternoons, occasional evenings, weekends and multi-day overnight retreats.   

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with one or more of the following areas: action research, campaign strategy,  curriculum development, alliance building, media outreach, grassroots fundraising, building a mass membership base, and educational policy.  
• Has experience in and/or knowledge of the culture and history of youth organizing and education advocacy in San Jose.

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Physical Demands

• 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 at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Benefits and Compensation 

The hourly pay rate for this position is $32.70 per hour, which is aligned with all CFJ Organizer level salaries.At CFJ, we know that real change happens when our team thrives. That's why we provide comprehensive benefits designed to support your health, financial security, and work life balance:

• Full healthcare coverage: 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision insurance
• Financial wellness: 401(k) retirement plan and flexible spending accounts (Medical & Dependent Care FSAs)
• Ample time to recharge:

• Paid holidays 

• Generous vacation and sick leave

• Special COVID sick leave

• Flexible floating holidays for personal and cultural observances

We believe that taking care of our team isn't just good practice, it's how we build sustainable power for the long haul.

APPLY SOON

This position will close on July 1, 2025, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis....so don’t wait!

If you’re ready to build youth power and fight for racial and educational justice with CFJ, click here to apply now.