The Director of Community Partnerships & Democracy is responsible for cultivating partnerships with community organizations, leading PDR’s collaborative governance strategy, and facilitating learning cohorts to support grassroots organizations advancing multi-racial democracy, human rights, and public goods for all. 

This position is part of the PDR programs team and participates in PDR’s programmatic work. The Director of Community Partnerships & Democracy reports to the Senior Program Director.

About Partners for Dignity & Rights

For over 20 years, Partners for Dignity & Rights has collaborated with grassroots organizations to innovate worker- and community-led solutions to protect human rights, expand democracy and public goods, and hold corporations accountable for exploitation and abuse in global supply chains.

The most effective impactful, transformative approaches are shaped and led by those who are the most impacted. Our work with movement partners is rooted in principles of racial equity and human rights as we work together to make meaningful change in people’s lives today and win long-term structural change for tomorrow. 

A key strategy towards advancing our vision of multi-racial democracy is co-governance, an approach in which community groups and government bodies come together in genuine partnership, sharing decision-making power to co-create policies and practical solutions. The goal: to build on the power of both community and government to make for more effective, impactful, and sustainable results. 

This job is remote within the continental U.S., although the position may choose to use PDR’s New York City office space.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Co-governance Work

• Develop and implement strategies to grow co-governance and other inside-outside strategies to support grassroots organizations in advancing multi-racial democracy and human rights. 
• Foster collaboration and engagement with strategic partners in national and local coalitions.
• Support worker and community organizations in strengthening analysis of the field and incorporating learnings.
• Identify gaps in the field and develop strategic interventions, including research needs, learning opportunities, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with PDR team to advance shared goals and build a strong shared analysis and narrative.

Design and Facilitate Learning Spaces

• Design learning cohorts to support community organizations in sharing best practices, advance co-governance strategies to build multi-racial democracy, strengthen public goods, and build power. 
• Develop curriculum, participatory learning activities, and documentation to support learning cohorts.
• Design and facilitate in-person and virtual learning spaces and convenings. 
• Plan and coordinate logistics for in-person meetings and convenings in collaboration with PDR team and partners.  
• Cultivate and support systems and practices for participant feedback and reflection to continuously improve methodology and outcomes.
• Ensure all learning spaces are participant-centered, inclusive, accessible, and support diverse groups of people to build trust, deepen skills, and move towards shared goals.

Desired Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in community organizing or movement building at a local or state level, with a plus for experience in co-governance efforts or shared decision-making between community and government.
• Strong relationship-building skills and proven ability to cultivate trust across diverse communities, organizations, and stakeholders.
• Skilled facilitator whose approach is rooted in racial justice and has a track record of supporting diverse groups of people to move towards shared goals. 
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically while managing multiple projects, shifting priorities, and partner needs.
• Culturally competent and experienced working with people of many backgrounds and identities, including low-income communities, people of color, and LGBTQ+ communities, and supporting their leadership.
• Strong writer and communicator with the ability to convey ideas to a variety of audiences.
• Detail-oriented with excellent project management and problem-solving skills. 
• Adept at using the tools of a virtual workplace, including Zoom, Google Office suite, and troubleshooting tech.
• Willingness to travel often for work – at least monthly within the U.S.
• Ability to communicate fluently in English is a must, fluency in Spanish is a plus.
• This job requires mostly sitting and working at a computer, with the ability to access a major U.S. airport for travel.

Partners for Dignity & Rights is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and individuals from other historically underrepresented groups to apply. 

For candidates with a less traditional background, we may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Salary and Benefits

Partners for Dignity & Rights establishes set salary tiers for different positions and this position is set at $88,150 a year. 

At PDR, we believe that caring for our team is an essential part of fulfilling our mission, so we offer robust benefits to support your health, your family and financial well-being, and needs for rest and renewal. 

Health: Full health insurance, vision, and dental insurance for staff (as well as partners and children); an additional $4,000 reimbursement available for any medical costs not covered by insurance; and 100% employer-sponsored basic life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance coverage.

Financial well-being: PDR provides a Simple IRA retirement plan with 2% employer contribution; as well as dependent and childcare benefits, ranging from $3,750 to $15,000 a year for up to three dependents; and reimbursement for student loan or educational expenses.

Rest and renewal: PDR offers generous paid time off including a schedule designed to accommodate our busy lives. We work ½ day Fridays and close the office for a week in December. We also offer 20 paid vacation days, 14 sick days, 12 holidays, and 3 personal days annually. Long-term employees also earn a paid sabbatical after 8 years of service.

Growth and development: Staff receive annual professional development funds as well as an annual remote office stipend annually and partial cell-phone reimbursement

How to Apply
Please email your cover letter and resume to . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a deadline of December 11, 2026. The ideal start date for this position is early February, 2027.

*Note on use of AI in this role and in our hiring process: our team strives for minimal use of AI tools in our work. We are looking to hire someone who values human-created writing and design and will be screening applications accordingly.