Organizing Director

Organizing Director

KIWA is a multiracial worker center, with roots in the Korean democracy movement and racial and economic justice movements of the U.S. We organize mostly Latino and Korean workers in the retail and restaurant industries. Founded in 1992, the mission of KIWA is to build the power of immigrant workers and residents to transform our workplaces and communities, in Koreatown and beyond. Worker organizing is central to our theory of change. Our methods are workplace organizing, leadership development, policy innovation, civic engagement, affordable housing development, housing justice advocacy, services, and cultural change.

Overview

The Organizing Director will lead KIWA's worker and community organizing programs. Central to the role is planning and executing successful workplace organizing campaigns to build enduring worker power. In addition to worker organizing, the role includes membership expansion and leadership development, as well as coordination of communications, community organizing, and legal strategies in the context of organizing campaigns. This position supervises KIWA's Organizing Team, guiding organizing strategy, and ensuring our mission is carried through all aspects of KIWA's work. The Organizing Director plays a key leadership role in the organization and collaborates closely with the Executive Director and the rest of KIWA's leadership team to steward KIWA's vision and ensure impact.

Roles & Responsibilities

Organizing Program Leadership & Strategy

• Design and implement comprehensive worker organizing campaigns that build power.
• Implement a long-term base-building strategy. Ensure KIWA's organizing efforts are rooted in the growth of our base and worker leadership development.
• Oversee the structure and coordination of member committees and leadership bodies.
• Support KIWA's policy and community campaigns, integrating worker and renter leadership development

Supervision & Development

• Supervise, train, and mentor organizing staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability and mutual support within the organizing team.
• Develop and lead trainings for staff and leaders including organizing skills and campaign strategy.

Community Engagement & Coalition Work

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government entities, partner and ally organizations, coalitions, and community leaders and members that move our campaigns forward. Represent KIWA as assigned in coalitions, campaigns, and movement-building spaces.
• Support advocacy and mobilization in public actions, meetings, and events.

Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to KIWA's overall strategy, planning, and program development as part of the Leadership Team.
• Collaborate across the organization to ensure alignment between the organizing program and KIWA's policy, outreach, and communications work.
• Assist with fundraising, reporting, and evaluation of KIWA's programs.

Skills, Knowledge, and Qualifications :

• At least 6 years' experience in labor or community organizing, with a minimum of 3 years in a supervisory role.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to establish and cultivate respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Commitment to worker organizing in a multiracial context: understanding of KIWA's mission and a commitment to building power with immigrant workers and their communities.
• Experience planning and executing successful organizing campaigns, in particular workplace campaigns.
• Strong leadership development and facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of the labor movement including labor history, current organizing conditions, labor law, and workers' rights.
• Desired: Familiarity with the Los Angeles labor, political, and community organizing landscape.

Other Requirements

• This role includes long and/or unusual hours, including some early mornings, late nights, and weekends.
• Must have a valid driver's license and a working car - driving is part of the job.
• Travel - mostly locally; some statewide, and possibly occasionally nationally and internationally
• Must be fluent in English and bilingual in Spanish or Korean

Additional Information

• Reports to: Executive Director
• Status: Exempt, full-time, regular, in-person
• Compensation & Benefits: $95,000 - $125,000, based on relevant successful experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including employee health, dental, and vision insurance; paid holidays and time off; and a retirement plan with employer match.
• KIWA is a unionized workplace. This is a management role outside the bargaining unit.

Apply by sharing your cover letter, resume, and three references.

Start date: Immediately upon hire or as agreed.

Deadline: We will schedule initial interviews with selected candidates after August 11, 2025. This position is open until filled or canceled.

KIWA is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender identity, religion, color, sex, disability, sexual orientation or national origin. Candidates whose backgrounds, identities, and/or lived experience have been historically marginalized in roles like this are strongly encouraged to apply.