Lead Organizer

Job Details

Job Details

Job Location:

San Jose, CA 95133

Position Type:
Full Time Salary Range: $81,736.00 - $81,736.00 Salary Job Shift: Any Job Category:
Management

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

The Lead Organizer plays a key role in anchoring the organization’s work in strong, trust-based relationships with young people and community partners. This position supports youth-led organizing efforts across schools and community spaces while fostering the growth and leadership development of emerging organizers. The Lead Organizer is responsible for guiding both the day-to-day implementation and the long-term direction of organizing strategies, ensuring alignment with community needs, organizational priorities, and campaign goals.

Through coaching, coordination, and strategic planning, this role strengths the organizing team’s skills, supports sustainable movement–building, and helps create meaningful political and organizing spaces where young people can build power and belong.

This full-time, exempt position involves discretion and independent judgment and is based out of one of CFJ’s four office locations (Fresno, Long Beach, Oakland, or San Jose). All members of the Organizing Team are required to work in person within their designated. community and home office; this is not a hybrid or remote position. The role also requires occasional statewide travel.

• Impactful Collaboration Engages peers and teams to root themselves in the work. Recommends projects or programs needed for achieving department goals and implementsprocesses to ensure high-quality, impactful results for the community. Interpretsdepartment level goals and completes or delegates tasks to be done in order to achieve goals.
• Problem Solving Asks and answers:
  Who can help us? Leverages other teams' expertise to solve long-term foreseeable problems that affect the department or function. Proposes solutions that fall outside of already defined process and procedures to operate more efficiently.
• Sustainability Possesses high degree of emotional intelligence; coaches peers todevelop presences and rootedness. Speaks about and trains community leaders on developing resilient protagonism. Solicits…