Arena Careers

Power Building Director

Location: Michigan

Annual Compensation: $85,000

Position Summary

The Power Building Director is a pivotal movement leader at Michigan United and Michigan United Action, responsible for setting the strategic direction and driving implementation of our core organizing campaigns. This role leads the development of transformative campaigns that build a durable, multiracial base; cultivates grassroots leadership; and advances policy and co-governance strategies rooted in community voice. The Director fosters worker and community engagement, ensures political and organizational alignment, and embeds political education and leadership development across all programs. They also play a critical role in team management, staff development, and external representation—embodying our commitment to equity, mutual respect, and long-term power building.

Essential Functions

Campaign Strategy & Movement Leadership

• Lead the design and execution of statewide campaigns to dismantle systemic injustice and build long-term people power.
• Drive campaign strategies through assessment, research, policy development, advocacy, communications, direct action, and lobbying.
• Ensure all campaigns are rooted in community leadership and aligned with Michigan United’s theory of change.
• Lead development and implementation of issue-based organizing campaigns.
• Engage elected officials, coalition partners, and institutional stakeholders to advance goals while maintaining accountability to our base.
• Identify and launch new campaigns that reflect community needs and strategic opportunities.

Base-Building, Membership, and Political Education

• Lead the strategy for growing and sustaining a formal membership structure that transforms supporters into active leaders.
• Collaborate with staff to facilitate political education, skill-building, and popular education rooted in plain language and engaging formats.
• Ensure base-building efforts incorporate community services where necessary, while centering systemic change.
• Partner with the Movement Politics Director and Field Program Manager to align electoral organizing and GOTV strategies with campaign goals.

Team Supervision and Staff Development

• Manage organizing staff and relevant coalition or policy staff.
• Facilitate weekly supervision and departmental meetings that promote a high-accountability, low-drama team culture.
• Provide ongoing coaching, support, and feedback to build each team member’s leadership and performance.
• Coordinate with HR to implement onboarding plans, performance evaluations, and hiring processes for organizing staff.
• Approve timesheets, expenses, and reimbursements in compliance with internal procedures.
• Monitor metrics and deliverables, maintaining accurate and timely progress reports.
• Lead conflict resolution and support staff through challenges with clarity and care.

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• Serve on Michigan United’s leadership team to help shape strategy and ensure cross-departmental alignment.
• Model Michigan United’s theory of change in all communications, supervision, and decision-making spaces.
• Strengthen and expand strategic partnerships, representing the organization in coalitions, briefings, and public forums.
• Support fundraising by providing impact data, campaign narratives, and strategic insight for grant proposals and funder meetings.
• Collaborate with the finance department to manage departmental budgets, track expenditures, and steward resources effectively.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in grassroots organizing, campaign development, or movement leadership
• Experience managing teams and developing leadership among staff and community members
• Firm grounding in racial, economic, and gender justice frameworks
• Excellent facilitation, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking skills
• Ability to travel throughout Michigan and work evenings/weekends as needed
• Ability to travel out of state as needed
• Deep alignment with Michigan United’s values and theory of change
• Access to reliable transportation

Benefits

• Health insurance and a $1,200/year Health Savings Account (HSA) after 90 days, or a monthly insurance stipend
• IRA eligibility after earning $5,000 in the preceding two-year period
• Internet stipend: $34.62 per pay period; Phone stipend: $23.08 per pay period
• 15 days PTO in years 1–2, increasing with seniority; subject to blackout around elections
• Paid sick time and a generous paid holiday policy
• Paid summer break
• Two-month paid sabbatical after four years of full-time service
• Mileage reimbursement policy

Work Environment

This position requires residency in Michigan. Staff are located across the state, with headquarters in Detroit. Regular in-person meetings, events, and travel are expected. While work hours are generally standard business hours, flexibility is required for occasional evening and weekend responsibilities. Periodic out-of-state travel may be required.

Application Instructions

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply via the Paylocity link. If you are unable to apply via the link, please send your application to [email protected]. Applications should include a resume, letter of interest, and three professional references. Please ensure your cover letter highlights your experience related to the responsibilities outlined in the job description and your commitment to Michigan United's mission.

Michigan United is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a racial, gender, and economic justice organization, we actively encourage underrepresented individuals based on race, ethnicity, income, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.

Organizational Background

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for the dignity and potential of every person. We organize around immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, rural issues, healthcare, and civic engagement. Together with our affiliated 501(c)(4), Michigan United Action, we build long-term political power and work to transform political and economic systems to prioritize people and the planet.Our offices are in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint. As a racial and economic justice organization, we strongly encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds, by race, gender identity, income, immigration status, and lived experience, to apply.Michigan United is represented by SOUL of MU & MUA (Statewide Organized United Labor of Michigan United and Michigan United Action) and is affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit, Local 34022. This position is not within the bargaining unit.