Director & Lead Organizer, Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty

Director & Lead Organizer, Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty
Status: Part-time (20 hours/week) exempt. 
Reports to: Chair, Steering Committee, RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty
Location: This is an in-person position, with office space in Providence, Rhode Island, and 
regular travel to the Rhode Island State House. There will be occasional travel throughout 
Providence and more widely in the state of Rhode Island. 
Compensation: $30,000-35,000 for 20 hours/week, December 1, 2025 - November 30, 2026.

To apply, please e-mail resume and cover letter to riinterfaithcoaltion@gmail.com with “Director & Lead Organizer Application” in the subject line. Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on October 13, 2025, and will continue until a candidate is found. To learn more about us, please visit www.EndPovertyRI.org.

About RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty: The Coalition was founded in 2008 to serve as a faith-based voice on systemic issues that 
underlie poverty. Today, we are a coalition of diverse religious communities and advocacy partners throughout the state including more than 80 endorsers, regional faith organizations, local congregations, service and advocacy organizations. As people of faith, we believe all Rhode Islanders should have these basic needs: affordable housing, nutritious food, accessible healthcare, quality education, environmental justice, and work with decent wages. To work toward these goals we connect, educate, empower, organize and advocate. The organization is led by a paid Director/Lead Organizer and a Steering Committee of faith leaders, advocates, and policy experts. 

Key Responsibilities 
Faith-Based Organizing 

• Empower, mobilize, support, coach and inspire people of faith to participate effectively in the 
• efforts to reduce poverty in Rhode Island. 
• Recruit new faith leaders and congregations through one-on-ones, outreach and networking. 
• Maintain and develop connections with existing faith leaders and congregations. 
• Recruit, train and develop faith-based leaders to serve as advocates and educators within their own communities. 

Legislative Advocacy 

• Lead internal Coalition process to develop annual legislative platform. 
• Work closely with key allies and community partners to develop advocacy partnerships and goals. 
• Train Coalition members to advocate directly with key decision-makers and lawmakers on important anti-poverty policies. 
• Maintain a lobbying presence as needed at the State House and track bills of interest. 
• Organizational Development 
• Support and sustain the Steering Committee as the decision-making and advocacy base of the Coalition. 
• Record and convey financial information to the fiscal agent and the Executive Committee. 
• Help maintain and grow organizational funding through grant proposals, soliciting individual donors, and submitting reports to funders.

Event Planning and Leadership 

• Coordinate the Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House.
• Organize the annual Interfaith Poverty Conference. 
• Organize lobby day to highlight and promote our legislative agenda. 

Communications 

• Update our website and social media.
• Write and disseminate press releases, give interviews, and/or coordinate spokespeople.

Qualifications and Requirements: 
We are looking for candidates with a demonstrated, passionate commitment to both the interfaith community and the anti-poverty movement. We expect our Director/Lead Organizer to be mission-driven, collaborative, strategic, outcomes-oriented, organized and self-starting. Applicants should have excellent oral and written communication skills, strong listening skills, problem-solving ability and the capacity to relate well across lines of difference. We prefer someone with organizing experience or the equivalent and the ability to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. At the center of our advocacy is a focus on representing the diversity of impoverished communities. Reporting to The Director & Lead Organizer reports to the Chair of the Coalition’s Steering Committee, a group made up of faith leaders dedicated to advocacy to reduce poverty. The Coalition operates under the auspices of the Jewish Alliance, our fiscal agent. We are committed to a reasonable and realistic plan for a part-time position. To this end, the Director & Lead Organizer will document work time spent each week.

Salary: This is an 11-month salaried position (December 1, 2025 - November 30, 2026) with an expectation of 20 hours per week or 86.6 hours per month. The flexible monthly hour structure allows the Director/Lead Organizer to adjust their schedule as needed, particularly during legislative sessions when extended hours may be required. No work will be expected in the month of August.

Accountability & Work-Life Balance: Monthly reports will be submitted to the Executive Committee. This structure is designed to maintain accountability while preventing burnout and supporting sustainable work practices. 
 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary: $30,000 - $35,000 annually.
• Individual membership to the Dwares JCC fitness center, pool, and gym.
• Paid sick time accrued at 1 hour/35 hours worked. 
• Health and dental benefits are not provided.

Growth Opportunity: We are actively working to secure additional funding with the goal of expanding this position to full-time in the future. 

The RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty is committed to equity and inclusion. We do not discriminate in hiring or the provision of services on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, differing abilities, or any other protected characteristic.