Human Resources and Administrative Assistant

Department: General Administration/President’s Team
Supervisor: VP/CHRO and Director of the President’s Office

 

Human Resources Assistant (50%)

The HR Assistant ensures timely implementation of Sojourners employee benefits, including responding to employee changes and questions, updating vacation and sick leave tracking, and maintaining systems and files under the direction of the VP/CHRO; and financial administration tasks under the direction of the Senior Accountant. The HR Assistant also works with the Office Manager and outsourced IT support in implementing new technology systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Update health insurance enrollment and COBRA; manage annual health insurance renewal and updates to staff.
  • Update life/disability and dental insurance and FSA, dependent care, and transportation enrollments, including annual renewals and census reports.
  • Assist with Sojourners 401k plan paperwork, questions from staff, and updates; file semimonthly 401k employer match reports; organize annual plan meeting for staff.
  • Ensure departing staff protocols are implemented and files updated, in coordination with the Office Manager.
  • Assist in keeping employee personnel files updated; circulate HR change forms; research new plan coverage and HR software as time and finances allow.
  • Implement required state and optional training and other benefits of outsourced payroll service; ensure state unemployment insurance documentation.
  • Financial administration tasks, including daily outsourced accounts payable gatekeeper role; weekly vendor maintenance, backups, and import processing; annual mailing of hardcopy federal tax returns; ad hoc filing and assistance with a variety of DC tax returns; monthly timesheet process.
  • Assist in providing information as needed for the annual financial and workers’ compensation audits.
  • Maintain organizational insurance and update coverage as needed.
  • Research and implement efficiencies with payroll, timesheets, vacation tracking, etc., as needed and as finances allow.

Administrative Assistant to the President (50%)

The Administrative Assistant to the President coordinates the internal and external schedule and activities of the President’s office, manages the President’s speaking events, provides administrative support for the Board of Directors, and provides support for organization initiatives on behalf of the President’s team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Support to the President and President’s Team (35 percent)

  • Manage all aspects of the President’s schedule, providing context as needed to assist in discerning priorities and, coordinates briefings and staffing support as needed.
  • Represent the President in making initial contacts, responding to invitations, and arranging meetings; provide appropriate follow-up to meetings involving the President.
  • Screen correspondence; assist with the preparation of letters and other communications.
  • Set-up and manage digital records for the President’s office and Board of Directors
  • Coordinate technology needs, including telephone, software, hardware, and training
  • Complete monthly expense forms for the President.
  • Provide administrative support to the Board of Directors including preparation of materials, schedules, board records, and in-person support during meetings.
  • Assist in organizational initiatives on behalf of the President’s team, including strategic planning, annual budget process, organization calendar, staff orientation and retreat, leadership convenings, The Faith Table and others.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Speaking Event Support (15 percent)

  • Manage incoming speaking event inquiries, including negotiating details of contracts, managing logistics of scheduled events, creating/editing Sojourners’ event publicity, and assisting with decision-making on speaking invitations. Invoice hosts for event-related expenses and track event receivables, including honoraria.
  • Book all travel arrangements for President and any accompanying staff.
  • Assist Senior Research Associate with preparation of briefing materials for events.
  • Coordinate and integrate opportunities at speaking events with Advocacy, Mobilizing, Communications, and Advancement Teams to maximize opportunities.
  • Provide administrative support and leadership to the expanded speakers bureau of Sojourners staff: helping to coordinate speaking events and negotiating and communicating with hosts.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Minimum two years’ experience with HR benefits and basic office and financial administration; executive-level scheduling experience a plus.
  • Knowledge of health insurance, 401k, FSA, and life/disability plans and requirements and office technology and systems; experience working with multiple external vendors.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to provide timely information and responses to new and current staff questions, board members, and speaking event hosts.
  • Commitment to Sojourners’ racial justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging core values and competencies.
  • Professional writing skills.
  • Attention to detail and excellent organizational and time-management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to follow-through on tasks without continual oversight.
  • Ability to analyze systems and create efficiencies.

 

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net or HR and Administrative Assistant search, Sojourners, 408 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This position will be based in the Washington, D.C., office with minimum in-office days required.

Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Starting annual salary for this position is $45,000 to $55,000, based on experience. Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days’ paid vacation, 12 days’ paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, and a positive, faith-based work environment.

Assistant Editor

Department: Editorial
Supervisor: Editor, Sojourners magazine

Sojourners has an immediate opening for an assistant editor to work collaboratively and creatively with our editorial staff to produce Sojourners magazine, a monthly publication on Christian social justice. They would participate in the planning, editing, and production of the magazine, assist with research and assessing queries, and have some opportunities for writing and reporting. The right candidate will have excellent editing skills, a heart for Christian faith and justice, a desire to help tell important stories, and an understanding of the diverse religious landscape in America. This position would be based in Sojourners’ Washington, D.C. office.

Responsibilities:

  • Manage the editorial process of some feature articles
  • Edit and proofread magazine copy as assigned
  • Assist with proofing of digital magazine content
  • Assist with various small departments of the magazine
  • Write occasional reviews, commentaries, and features for Sojourners and sojo.net
  • Assist with managing article queries and submissions
  • Read and comment on article drafts and contribute to Slack and email brainstorms/feedback
  • Participate in planning of magazine by attending weekly staff meetings and semi-annual retreats
  • Assist with cross-platform projects with sojo.net and fulfilling of grant-funded project work and tracking
  • Help coordinate and supervise any volunteers or short-term interns
  • Other responsibilities and duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  • At least two to four years of editorial experience, including copywriting, editing, and proofreading; proficiency with AP Style; work in magazine format and/or nonprofit journalism a plus
  • Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communications skills; copyediting experience
  • Awareness of issues affecting underrepresented communities a plus, as are theology or religion-related training and/or experience (some examples include a background in pastoral work or faith-based activism, religion journalism, or academic study in theology or religion)
  • Ability to work independently as well as creatively with the editorial staff
  • Experience in cross-platform content creation preferred
  • Strong organizational skills for managing several projects and deadlines at once
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; web content management skills a plus
  • Desire to work in a Christian workplace that strives to continually deepen its commitments to social justice
  • Understanding of Sojourners' place in the religious media landscape.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net or Assistant Editor search, Sojourners, 408 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This position will be based in the Washington, D.C. office with minimum in-office days required. Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply. Starting annual salary for this position is $47,500 to $55,000, based on experience. Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days paid vacation, 12 days paid sick/personal leave, 12 paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, and a positive, faith-based work environment.

Digital Organizer - Early Childhood Development

Department: Mobilizing
Supervisor: Director of Mobilizing

Optimal development is every child’s right! Black and brown children’s potential is often and disproportionately sabotaged by systemic racism, harmful policies, discrimination, and violence. Sojourners is embarking on an exciting opportunity to build early-childhood development champions by partnering with churches and lay leaders to protect and promote the health of children and primary caregivers in key stages of life.

We are seeking a Digital Organizer to create a robust online engagement strategy that builds power around early childhood development priorities. The Digital Organizer will be part of the SojoAction team and will use social media and tech tools to drive transformative digital organizing campaigns. The Digital Organizer will channel the power of the collective to build Sojourners’ base of supporters, developing leaders, and helping people share their stories and demand action from elected officials and stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have an organizer’s mindset and strong technical skills. They will know how to use and train others to use social media, texting, multimedia, databases, and spreadsheets to bring in new supporters and lead people up a ladder of engagement. The digital organizer works closely with Sojourners Political Director, Church Network Coordinator, and Director of Mobilizing.

This is a three-year position tied to existing grant funding, which could be extended contingent upon future funding.

Responsibilities:

  • Build Sojourners base of supporters through digital advertising, organic social media, texting, and other digital tools for a new early childhood development campaign.
  • Reach out to potential supporters, move them up a ladder of engagement, and deepen their commitment and capacity for leadership within the early childhood development movement.
  • Provide early childhood development updates and mobilization opportunities to our constituents through our Faith-Rooted Advocate Network (FRAN) quarterly trainings, newsletter, brown bag lunches, and general action opportunities.
  • Draft compelling advocacy emails, texting campaigns, and social media content for a new early childhood development campaign.
  • Craft engaging social media posts, cultivate community online (through WhatsApp or Facebook groups), and explore how new social media platforms and features (FB messenger, Instagram, etc.) can be used for organizing.
  • Create compelling graphics and videos for social posts, online ads, email blasts, etc.
  • Manage data and tracking systems in collaboration with the Digital Community Manager.
  • Collaborate with SojoAction Team members to help supporters share their stories through videos, images, writing, press interviews, storytelling trainings, etc.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • Two to four years of organizing/digital organizing experience.
  • Understanding of fundamentals of organizing, the difference between organizing and mobilization, and a desire to help people step into leadership and drive change around early childhood development.
  • Basic knowledge of or willingness to learn Engaging Networks software, Canva, Capitol Canary, etc.
  • Strong organization and tracking skills with attention to detail and deadlines.
  • Strong relationship-building and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Knowledge about early childhood development preferred.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net or Digital Organizer – Early Childhood Development search, Sojourners, 408 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This position will be based in the Washington, D.C., office with minimum in-office days required.

Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Starting annual salary for this position is $50,000 to $60,000, based on experience. Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days paid vacation, 12 days paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, and a positive, faith-based work environment.

Digital Community Manager

Department: Mobilizing
Supervisor: Director of Mobilizing

Our faith compels us to build a just future where everyone can thrive, and no one is afraid. SojoAction builds hope and creates change together with those who believe a more just world is possible.

Sojourners is in the process of strengthening a network of faith-rooted advocates equipped for both online and offline action and engagement through its mobilizing arm, SojoAction. The Digital Community Manager develops and executes a digital advocacy and mobilizing program in support of our mission, strategic advocacy, and movement-building goals. The Digital Community Manager is a fast-paced, self-driven position requiring advanced proficiency in digital technology and strong interpersonal skills, including knowledge of movement and community building strategies and a commitment to agility and innovation.

Responsibilities:

  • Help identify, track, cultivate, and strengthen Sojourners’ external relationships with digital leads across the progressive faith landscape.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration and/or engagement between Sojourners and the organization’s partners, including pitching content for social media, messaging strategy, action alerts, and more.
  • Gather social media toolkits, messaging guides, and other materials and implement distribution through Sojourners/SojoAction email lists and social media channels.
  • Increase, manage, and cultivate a robust online community of 50,000+ supporters.
  • Design and implement strategy to grow Sojourners/SojoAction base of online supporters that are interested in our social justice and mobilizing work through digital advertising, organic social media, texting, influencer campaigns, and other digital tools.
  • Collaborate with Messaging Team and SojoAction/Mobilizing Team in developing digital strategies for campaigns.
  • Draft strong email campaigns and action pages that will help mobilize potential supporters and allies who will join us at the intersection of faith and justice work.
  • Assist in the execution of rapid response digital work.
  • Craft engaging digital toolkits for campaigns and programs and explore how new social media platforms and features can be used for organizing.
  • Stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices for digital content distribution.
  • Manage content and design of SojoAction website pages.
  • Track and report on metrics and progress.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • Three to five years of relevant or applied experience.
  • Powerful storytelling skills.
  • Basic understanding of organizing principles.
  • Strong project management skills.
  • Experience managing advocacy software (Capito Canary and Engaging Networks preferred), customer relationship management software, texting tools, graphic design tools (Canva), and social media management platforms (Buffer) and analytic tools to measure social media engagement.
  • Graphic design experience preferred.
  • Video editing skills preferred.
  • Willingness to learn new skills.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net or Digital Community Manager search, Sojourners, 408 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This position will be based in the Washington, D.C., office with minimum in-office days required.

Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Starting annual salary for this position is $50,000 to $65,000, based on experience. Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days paid vacation, 12 days paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, and a positive, faith-based work environment.

Director of Foundation Relations

Department: Advancement
Supervisor: Chief Advancement Officer

Sojourners is an ecumenical Christian media and advocacy organization that works toward social and racial justice. We are looking for someone who seeks to combine their interests in social justice with their fundraising experience to contribute to the mission and future of Sojourners.

The Director of Foundation Relations is a key member of the Advancement Team and will initiate, maintain, and strengthen relationships with foundations to advance philanthropic support for our organization. The Director will collaborate with Sojourners’ leadership and staff to develop high quality proposals, reports, and other materials for foundation donors. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is highly motivated, able to work independently, and adept at juggling multiple priorities.

Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with program staff and Chief Advancement Officer to develop concepts and proposals.
  • Prepare foundation materials—including but not limited to proposals, project budgets for proposals, letters of inquiry, grant reports, presentations, and acknowledgment letters—by drafting original copy, editing, and formatting as needed.
  • Design and implement strategies and activities to increase support from existing foundation funders and identify new potential foundation support, working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer and senior leadership to drive fundraising strategy.
  • Research the giving interests of foundation funders and identify new opportunities for funding that align with Sojourners’ programs through prospect research.
  • Partner with Sojourners’ senior staff to cultivate relationships with both current and prospective donors and support foundation fundraising.
  • Ensure high-quality stewardship by coordinating intra-organizational efforts to produce grant reports and meet funder requirements.
  • Lead the planning and execution of meetings with foundation staff; research and draft briefings for executive leadership in advance of foundation meetings; and prepare senior staff for foundation meetings and phone calls.
  • Liaise with program and finance staff to track grant spending.
  • Participate in annual budget process.
  • Perform other duties as assigned or needed to move forward Sojourners’ foundation relations portfolio.

Required and Preferred Skills:

The ideal candidate is goal-oriented, a self-starter, has attention to detail, and is a problem solver.

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum five years of professional experience—including at least three years of foundation relations and grants management experience or comparable work with foundations.
  • Demonstrated success managing relationships with both program officers and internal colleagues to create the conditions for success.
  • Demonstrated success in soliciting and renewing contributions from foundations by articulating a compelling case for support through multiple communication tools.
  • Knowledge of social justice philanthropic sectors including democracy, health equity, economic justice, and racial justice is desirable.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Strong analytical and prospect-research skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.
  • Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge database is desirable.
  • Support for Sojourners’ mission.

To Apply: 

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net or Director of Foundation Relations search, Sojourners, 408 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This position will be based in the Washington, D.C., office with minimum in-office days required. Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

Starting annual salary for this position is $70,000 to $85,000, depending on experience. Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days’ paid vacation, 12 days’ paid sick leave, 12 paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, and a positive, faith-based work environment.