Open Opportunities

 Reports to: Director of Civic Engagement and Marketing

The primary goal of this position is to assist and support the administration and marketing functions of Disability Lead’s programs.

About Disability Lead

Disability Lead is a network of people with disabilities who use our power to create an equitable and inclusive society. Our vision is that people with disabilities will lead with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity as a vital part of the civic fabric in the Chicago region. And our mission is to increase civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities — consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Alongside our Network, we lead with our disability identity to pursue our vision with a voracious belief that creating a more equitable and inclusive society matters and is an obligation of everyone. We believe our disabilities are an asset and that we are most powerful when we are represented by an intersectional voice. We believe our leaders will change the world by delivering disability justice. And our leaders can and will create solutions for our most intractable social problems because they are inherently disability issues.

To feel engaged, connected, and empowered to make a difference, we know our employees must feel valued. We strive to build a culture where inclusion is a reflex, not a nice idea. This includes providing accommodations through every phase including application, hiring, onboarding, and working day to day. We strive to create a place where employees can come and feel a deep sense of pride, passion and belonging that transcends any role and is unified in our shared commitment to supporting new leaders and improving our region’s civic life. We hold to be self-evident that creating a space where different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds can come together to build something new, that we can create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers results as unique as our program (the only one of its kind in the nation).

Position Description

Disability Lead seeks someone with a passion for learning about all aspects of non-profit administration, with a special focus on Marketing. The Programs Coordinator will assist in the execution of Disability Lead programs and will plan and implement digital communications, support relationships with our Network and year-round recruitment efforts, and support administrative functions for the organization. This position is a full-time salaried position. This position reports to the Director of Civic Engagement and Marketing and works closely with all team members at Disability Lead.

NOTE: This is a remote work position; however, in-person work is required as needed. Disability Lead programs are currently based remotely, with occasional events and meetings in Chicago, IL. Disability Lead provides employees with equipment that is essential to their job duties, like laptops, headsets, monitors, and docking stations. In addition, and as budget allows, Disability Lead will provide a stipend to help cover the costs of telecommunications (internet, phone, etc).

Key Responsibilities 

Marketing and Communications (50% of the expected time)

• Maintains digital space including the website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and blogs
• Creates graphics and images to be used online and in print.
• Prepares accurate records and reports on the goals of the outreach plan created by the Director of Marketing.
• Writes and sends email communications using email builder software.
• Supports outreach activities, including community events (Disability Power Series), recruitment activities, and other communication opportunities.
• Supports events (in-person and virtual).

Program Administrative Support (50% of the expected time)

• Serves as liaison to the Network by checking in with Members, identifying opportunities for Members with staff, and maintaining current Member information.
• Supports the team with light administrative work including scheduling, internal processes, and activities related to programmatic success
• Maintains the organization’s CRM (Neon) with contact information and key metrics.
• Schedules meetings and maintains calendars for the organization.
• Understands and supports the organization’s internal systems and governance including board and program committees.

Basic Qualifications

• Created and owned a social media content calendar
• Written content for an email listserv and used an email content builder
• Provided administrative support including scheduling for multiple parties

Preferred Qualifications

• Interest in making a significant contribution to a disability leadership organization. 
• Strong social justice lens in all aspects of work. 
• A deep commitment to the values of the organization and a passion for the mission.
• This is a mostly virtual position. Internet accessibility and daily usage is required. 
• Solid independent worker and multi-tasker who enjoys working in a small and collaborative team environment.
• Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook). 
• Strong attention to detail, including proofreading skills and general organization.
• Experience managing virtual events and use of technology and platforms like Zoom. 
• Experience scheduling meetings with multiple parties.
• Strong knowledge of social media, graphic image creation, and other basic marketing platforms.
• Experience with databases and understands and extensively utilizes the database that contains outreach records.
• Must have excellent interpersonal, and strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Preferred — familiarity with designing an accessible materials and events (in person and virtual). 

Salary and Benefits 

Disability Lead offers a competitive salary and benefits package that meets industry standards. The pay range is $50,000-$55,000 annually. Pay is commensurate with knowledge and experience.

Disability Lead follows a flexible remote schedule to reflect the needs of our employees. Unlimited flex time is available for healthcare needs and does not count toward vacation, sick, or other personal days off. Benefits include health insurance that is largely organization-supported, free vision and dental insurance, paid vacation, personal days, and sick days. Disability Lead provides a Simple IRA with up to 3% matching should employees contribute. All employees of Disability Lead are encouraged to pursue educational and professional development goals. Disability Lead may provide financial support, time off, or flextime for development opportunities.

Application process

It is the policy of Disability Lead to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants to employment. Disability Lead prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, and age, physical and mental disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, order of protection status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

Applications must include the below materials to be considered. Please include your full name in the subject line of the email.

Interested individuals must submit the following materials to application@disabilitylead.org:

• Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Current resume
• Two writing samples of past material you have written, ideally social media campaign copy and graphic design
• 3 professional references 

For questions regarding this announcement, or to request accommodations to participate in the application process, please contact application@disabilitylead.org.

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Reports to: Director of Civic Engagement and Marketing

Works in close collaboration with: Executive Director

The primary responsibility of this position is developing and implementing internal and external programs in support of Disability Lead’s mission and vision.

About Disability Lead

‍Disability Lead is a network of people with disabilities who use our power to create an equitable and inclusive society. Our vision is that people with disabilities will lead with power and influence for full participation and equal opportunity as a vital part of the civic fabric in the Chicago region. And our mission is to increase civic engagement and diverse leadership in the Chicago region by developing and building a network of leaders with disabilities — consistent with the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 Alongside our Network, we lead with our disability identity to pursue our vision with a voracious belief that creating a more equitable and inclusive society matters and is an obligation of everyone. We believe our disabilities are an asset and that we are most powerful when we are represented by an intersectional voice. We believe our leaders will change the world by delivering disability justice. And our leaders can and will create solutions for our most intractable social problems because they are inherently disability issues.

 To feel engaged, connected, and empowered to make a difference, we know our employees must feel valued. We strive to build a culture where inclusion is a reflex, not a nice idea. This includes providing accommodations through every phase including application, hiring, onboarding, and working day to day. We strive to create a place where employees can come and feel a deep sense of pride, passion and belonging that transcends any role and is unified in our shared commitment to supporting new leaders and improving our region’s civic life. We hold to be self-evident that creating a space where different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds can come together to build something new, that we can create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers results as unique as our program (the only one of its kind in the nation).

Position Description

As a brand new position, Disability Lead is seeking an experienced non-profit leader who is passionate about creating and implementing innovative programs around leadership and civic engagement. This position would be well-served by someone who is curious with a deeply creative spirit, enjoys both the fine details and the big picture, and is an independent thinker who works well on a small collaborative team and thrives in a remote startup environment, building innovative programs. The ideal candidate is fluent – or has the desire to become fluent -in designing and implementing fully accessible virtual and in-person programs for cross-disability audiences.

 NOTE: This is a remote work position; however, in-person work is required as needed. Disability Lead programs are currently based remotely, with occasional events and meetings in Chicago, IL. If the candidate is based outside the Chicago region, Disability Lead will support travel. Disability Lead provides employees with equipment that is essential to their job duties, like laptops, headsets, monitors, docking stations. In addition, and as budget allows, Disability Lead will provide a stipend to help cover the costs of telecommunications (internet, phone, etc.).

 Key Responsibilities

The Education and Learning Services Manager leads the planning and administration for Disability Lead programs and activities related to disability leadership and civic engagement. Responsibilities include planning, event design and execution, research, and community engagement for both established and new programs. This position also serves as an external ambassador for these programs and Disability Lead.

• Planning and Design: Develops a strategic, replicable series and calendar of programs for our Fellows and Members informed by a learning framework grounded in disability rights and leadership development.
• Institute: Delivers a year-long Fellows experience including a 5-day immersive, intensive, and transformative cross disability retreat that infuses disability identity into leadership development.
• Network: Develops ongoing multi-access learning and professional development opportunities for Disability Lead Members and external supporters committed to disability inclusion.
• Oversees year-round calendar for Power Series events.
• Oversees year-round calendar of educational and networking events for Disability Lead Members/Fellows connected to antiracism and disability justice work, and centers critical local and national topics, resources, and issues in disability rights, justice, and legislation
• Supports our communities of practice by creating events, sharing content, and nurturing connections
• Internal learning opportunities
• In support of a core value of Disability Lead of lifelong learning, this position will create new learning opportunities for our staff, board, and other internal stakeholders, which integrate antiracism and disability justice. These opportunities would, ideally, engage with critical local and national topics, resources, and issues in disability rights, justice, and legislation.
• Administration
• Manages all aspects of events within the Learning Services portfolio (in-person and virtual), including all logistics for a diverse, cross-disability audience.
• Supports other activities consistent with a small team environment.

Skills and Experience

• Interest in making a significant contribution to a disability leadership organization. 
• Strong social justice lens in all aspects of work. 
• A deep commitment to the values of the organization and a passion for the mission.
• This is a mostly virtual position. Internet accessibility and daily usage are required.  
• Successful project management of multiple, complex projects to meet deadlines
• Illustrated track record of successful and innovative nonprofit program design and implementation.
• Strong attention to detail
• Enjoys working both collaboratively and independently
• Capacity for learning is equal to capacity for designing educational programs.
• Basic familiarity with cross-disability accommodations in virtual and physical environments, and willingness to learn how to create uniquely tailored multi-access programming
• Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite(Teams, Outlook, OneNote, Excel, and Word).
• Experience managing virtual events and use of technology and platforms like Zoom.
• Understands and uses social media to engage audiences

Salary and Benefits

Disability Lead offers a competitive salary and benefits package that meets industry standards. This is a full-time position with an annual pay range of $65,000-75,000.Pay is commensurate with knowledge and experience, and opportunity exists for career growth.

Disability Lead follows a flexible remote schedule to reflect the needs of our employees. Unlimited flex time is available for healthcare needs and does not count toward vacation, sick, or other personal days off. Benefits include health insurance that is largely organization-supported, free vision and dental insurance, paid vacation, personal days, and sick days. Disability Lead provides a Simple IRA with up to 3% matching should employees contribute. All employees of Disability Lead are encouraged to pursue educational and professional development goals. Disability Lead may provide financial support, time off, or flextime for development opportunities.

Application process

It is the policy of Disability Lead to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants to employment. Disability Lead prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, and age, physical and mental disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, order of protection status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

Applications must include the below materials to be considered. Please include your full name in the subject line of the email.

Interested individuals must submit the following materials to application@disabilitylead.org:

• Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Current resume
• Two examples of past programming/curriculum you have written and developed
• 3 professional references 

For questions regarding this announcement, or to request accommodations to participate in the application process, please contact application@disabilitylead.org.

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