Leadership Development Director

Position: Leadership Development Director

Department: Leadership Development

Supervisor: Chief of Leadership and Participatory Visioning (interim President/Executive Director)

Salary: $90,000 - $110,000 annually

Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance covered at 100%; flexible work schedule; flexible paid time off with approval from supervisor; paid holidays; phone and travel allowance; child and pet-friendly workplace.

Position & Status: Full-time, 40 hrs/week, exempt

Anticipated Start Date: September 29, 2025

Location: Hybrid (based in Oregon). This role allows for up to three days of remote work per week, with a requirement to attend monthly meetings in Oldtown, Portland. Will be required to work weekly evening hours in Oldtown.

Physical/Cognitive Details: Regularly required to use a computer and phone to perform work and communicate with others for several hours each day during agreed-upon work days. The noise level in the office is moderate.

ABOUT IMAGINE BLACK

Imagine Black (formerly known as PAALF Action Fund) helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our political participation and leadership to achieve those alternatives. Since our start in 2009, we have envisioned a world where people of African descent enjoy the rights, resources, and recognition to be a thriving, resilient, and connected community.

At Imagine Black, we have strengthened our commitment to a Black Queer Feminist (BQF) theory and practice. BQF provides a more holistic understanding of our conditions and connectedness as Black people. As a result, we understand that liberation for all Black people can only be realized by lifting up the voices and experiences and prioritizing the issues of historically silenced and vulnerable groups within Black communities – specifically, queer, trans and GNC, femme, poor, disabled, working and undocumented people (adapted from BYP100).

Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) multi-issue grassroots organization in partnership with our sibling 501(c)(3) organization, Imagine Black Futures. We have a staff of nine and an operating budget of around $3.5M.

More information about Imagine Black can be found at imagineblack.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

Imagine Black seeks a dynamic and experienced Leadership Development Director to lead our political education and leadership development programming. This role will be critical in shaping the next generation of Black leaders and our non-Black accomplices by overseeing structured learning programs that deepen civic engagement, build political power, and cultivate Black radical imagination.

The Leadership Development Director will supervise our Education managers, ensuring they are supported and equipped to engage Black Oregonians and non-Black accomplices in transformative learning experiences. Additionally, this role will collaborate closely with the Organizing team to lead at least two cohort per year within the “Black Seeds School,” our flagship Black organizing school. This individual will work to ensure Imagine Black’s values, including self-determination, just transition, and the abolition of systems of oppression, are embedded in leadership training across Oregon and Washington.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in movement building, political education, leadership development, and popular education methodologies. They should be skilled in curriculum design, facilitation, popular education, and creating inclusive, community-centered learning experiences, with a deep commitment to Black liberation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Popular Education Programming (40%)

• Oversee the development and implementation of leadership development curricula, ensuring alignment with Imagine Black’s values and movement-building strategies.
• Supervise and support the Education Manager and Creative Education Manager in leading book clubs, workshops, and creative political education programming.
• Work with the Field and Organizing team to lead at least two cohorts per year within the Black Seeds School, providing deep political education and organizing training to Black Oregonians.
• Develop and maintain a leadership pipeline for Black organizers, ensuring participants have continued engagement and mentorship opportunities.
• Research and integrate popular education models into Imagine Black’s leadership development programs to ensure engaging, interactive, and community-centered learning.

Strategy and Evaluation (30%)

• Work with Imagine Black’s Field and the Organizing, Narrative, and Development teams to integrate leadership development into the organization's broader strategy.
• Build partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations to expand leadership development opportunities and deepen the impact of Imagine Black’s programs.
• Ensure that programming aligns with the political landscape in Oregon and Washington, adjusting curriculum to reflect policy shifts, movement priorities, and community needs.
• Work collaboratively with the Imagine Black team to assess the effectiveness of book clubs and workshops, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Assist in outreach efforts to recruit program participants, ensuring broad engagement across Black Oregonians and non-Black accomplices.
• Create and implement learning assessments to measure participant growth and program impact.
• Maintain accurate records of leadership program attendance and outcomes for reporting and evaluation purposes.

Supervision & Team Development (20%)

• Supervise and coach the Education and Creative Education managers, ensuring alignment between their work and the organization’s mission.
• Provide mentorship and training to staff, ensuring they have the resources and skills needed to excel in their roles.
• Support team members in developing new educational tools and materials, particularly those that blend creative expression and political education.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for team members.

Organizational Support (10%)

• Support the development team in identifying funding opportunities and crafting compelling grant narratives and reports on leadership development.
• Attend internal staff and department meetings and collaborate with other staff as needed.

The duties mentioned above are intended to serve as a partial list of all responsibilities required for this position. This job description is intended to provide a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. This role may only be necessary to perform some of the listed duties and may be required to perform additional duties as requested.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of experience in organizing, movement building, leadership development, or related fields, with a strong commitment to Black liberation, social justice, and Imagine Black’s mission of advancing Black civic power in Oregon.
• Commitment to Imagine Black’s mission of advancing Black liberation and civic power in Oregon.
• Deep understanding of Black radical imagination, self-determination, Black resistance history, and frameworks for dismantling oppression, with a commitment to applying a Black Queer Feminist lens to organizing and leadership development.
• Strong knowledge of popular education principles, with experience designing and facilitating interactive, community-centered training, workshops, and leadership programs for diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with the political landscape in Oregon and Washington, or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn regional political contexts to effectively engage in civic and political participation.
• Proven ability to mentor and develop staff, with strong supervisory experience in leadership development and movement-building spaces.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience developing educational materials, reports, and presentations.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple programs and initiatives while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality work.
• Experience working and communicating with communities within the African diaspora, mainly descendants of enslaved Africans, as well as African and Caribbean immigrants and refugees.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, maintaining flexibility and adaptability to shifting priorities.
• Solid understanding of adult and community education, with experience engaging diverse learning styles and facilitating transformative learning experiences.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google applications, and other digital project management and communication tools.
• A creative and innovative mindset, driven to experiment with new popular education methods to deepen civic engagement and leadership development.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with Imagine Black’s Black Leadership Academy or other movement-based leadership development models. 
• Bi- or multi-lingual applicants are encouraged to apply, especially those fluent in Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, or Somali.
• Lived experience with Black community issues, particularly in Oregon.
• Experience managing cross-departmental collaborations.
• Knowledge of creative learning methods, such as arts-based education, storytelling, or interactive workshops.
• Knowledge of electoral justice campaigns to increase community power through strategic mobilization.
• Familiarity with political strategy and the local and state political landscape.
• Experience with managing grant budgets related to leadership development and education.
• Comfortable with platforms like Asana, Zoom, EveryAction, and Slack.

Imagine Black offers excellent benefits, including full medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance covered at 100%; flexible work schedule; flexible paid time off with approval from supervisor; paid holidays; phone and travel allowance; child and pet-friendly workplace.

TO APPLY

Please apply through the provided link by submitting your resume and cover letter. Your cover letter details your interest and qualifications for the position, emphasizing experiences and competencies that align with the role’s requirements.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to those received by Monday, July 28, 2025.

Please do not send emails or make phone calls regarding your application.

Racial equity is of utmost importance for our search. If you do not meet all of the required qualifications for this role but feel you can be a great addition to our team, please apply and let us know why we should meet you! 

Imagine Black profoundly embraces diversity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool because we know the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.