Description

ABOUT COMMON GROUND

Common Ground Kentucky and Common Ground Kentucky Action (aka Common Ground) are dedicated to supporting and coordinating statewide power building through leadership development, shared strategy development, issue-based campaigns, and civic and voter engagement. We are guided by values of justice and racial equity and work with our partners to build multi-racial people-power grounded in a shared vision for a Commonwealth where everyone thrives.

Common Ground is a team of at least eight staff who support and coordinate our 40 partner organizations in achieving our 10-year Path to Power of building a base of 158,000 Kentuckians committed to disrupting the status quo via a combination of coordinated programs, convenings, one-on-one support, and training.

POSITION

The Program Director leads and optimizes Common Ground's Program team in ensuring that our staff support and coordination of our partner organizations is aligned, strategic, and pointing towards our 10-year collective Path to Power. The Program Director leads Common Ground's efforts to build a strong coalition infrastructure that is grounded in skilled, rigorous, and impactful organizing, base building, and leadership development. Through a birds-eye view of our various partner support programs, the Program Director is responsible for guiding program staff to connect their work, rigorously implement programs for maximum impact, and fully collaborate in their support of individual partners. This will require cohesive management of various programs including an organizing and coaching training program, coalition-wide data management and tracking, and integrated 501c3 and 501c4 electoral coordination programs.

The Program Director is also responsible for on-boarding new coalition partners, leading the planning of coalition calls and convenings, being the first line of contact for partner support, and convening a cohort of partners working together on long-term strategy and narrative project.  

Finally, all Common Ground Directors are expected to participate in the work to ensure sustainable operations and strategic alignment of the organizations. The Program Director will work with the Development Director on fundraising and communicating program impact, the Operations and Finance Director for budget development and expense tracking, and other staff to develop annual work plans and long-term organization strategy, and working with various staff as needed to ensure internal and external policies support the needs of partners and long-term strategy values.

The Program Director reports to the Co-Executive Directors. The preferred start date for this position is January 19, 2027. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategically Lead and Coordinate the Program Team (45%)

• Lead program team meetings to work plan; identify ecosystem-wide strengths and weaknesses; and cultivate programs, big-picture strategy, and ecosystem infrastructure that best supports partners and meets the Path to Power priorities of power building and strong coalitions
• Regular check-ins with the program staff and consultants to review work plans for detailed alignment.
• Supervise the Data Manager and two part-time field staff to ensure that all programs incorporate rigorous and strategic data targeting and evaluation

Partner Management and Convening Support (45%)

• Convene an existing cohort of coalition partners working together on long-term strategy and narrative project and coordinate with other program team members to offer one-on-one support, coaching, and leadership development to each cohort partner
• Recruit and onboard new partner organizations into the coalition every year to Common Ground
• Lead the planning for partner calls, annual partner convening, partnership governance process in collaboration with the Partnership Committee, Co-Executive Directors and other Program Staff
• Convene a monthly Partnership Committee of partners who support the partner management work
• Oversee partner regranting processes
• Communicate with partners via partner e-newsletters and one-on-one conversations as needed
• Train and support staff to ensure shared participation in partner management responsibilities

Other staff responsibilities as needed (5%) 

• Collaborate with the Development Director to prepare for and lead meetings and presentations with donors; as well as work to secure grants and individual donors based on annual, role-specific goals
• Attend staff meetings and other staff check-ins; participate in co-leadership development with other staff
• Participate in annual budget and work plan development
  
  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary Range: $65,000 to $80,000 depending on experience and potential. This is a full-time, permanent position based in Kentucky, that requires a willingness to occasionally work outside of normal business hours. We practice a 32-hour work week. Working days are Monday through Friday, with each employee having some flexibility in setting their hours. Some evening and weekend work will be required.

Benefits: 100% employer-paid medical, dental and vision insurance, retirement plan with 6% employer match, term life insurance, thirteen paid holidays, and three weeks paid vacation and three weeks paid sick days annually. 

LOCATION

Common Ground’s office is located near downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Residence within the state of Kentucky is required. The Program Director may work remotely, but occasional travel to Louisville and across the state is required.

HOW TO APPLY

If interested, please email your cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references to hiring@commongroundkyaction.org. In your cover letter, tell us why you are interested in this position at this organization and what skills and experience you would bring to the role. The deadline for consideration is Monday, November 9, 2026. The preferred start date for this position is January 19, 2027. 

Common Ground Kentucky Action is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where contributions are valued and celebrated, and our employees thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do the best work of their lives.

Common Ground Kentucky Action believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications, without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or parental status, sexual orientation, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, citizenship, physical or mental disability, military service, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established under law. Common Ground Kentucky Action will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with applicable laws. 

Justice-impacted applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet all of the qualifications described.

Common Ground Kentucky Action is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please inform hiring@commongroundkyaction.org.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for a person who is ready to be a strong, strategic leader on our team. We also know there has historically not been enough investment in organizing in Kentucky. This has made it harder for people to develop their organizing experience to meet the full list of requirements below. We encourage interested Kentuckians to apply if this job description feels like the right fit for you, you meet some of the qualifications, and you believe you could thrive with on-the-job training to skill up!

Minimum

• Demonstrated commitment to our values and record of success working well alongside directly-impacted Kentuckians like Black communities and communities of color, women, working people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other oppressed communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to, and vision for, long-term power-building
• Lived experience that would inform Common Ground’s work throughout Kentucky
• Experience and demonstrated practice in program management, preferably in political, nonprofit, and/or grassroots organizations
• An aptitude for managing the immediate details of projects while also progressing towards longer-term strategies.
• Experience and demonstrated practice in community organizing, training, base-building, and leadership development.
• Experience with or knowledge of basic field and data practices, issue organizing, and integrated voter engagement
• Relationship-oriented, with the ability to develop authentic relationships built on trust and accountability
• Able to work independently and in a team setting
• Advanced proficiency in Google Drive
• Experience managing and mentoring others
• Valid state driver’s license and a mode of transportation
• Ability to travel within Kentucky

Preferred

• Experience working in coalition and managing relationships and expectations with contractors, vendors and partners
• Experience with supervising others with healthy and productive styles
• Advanced proficiency in project management tools
• Experience with or knowledge of database administration
• Experience teaching or facilitating training for adult learners
• Event management experience

Common Ground will prioritize hiring Kentucky residents for this role. Kentuckians who have left the state but are hoping to return home are also encouraged to apply. Common Ground will provide a reasonable relocation stipend, if applicable.