Application Guide

How to Apply for Program Data Director

at Community Change

🏢 About Community Change

Community Change is unique for its explicit focus on centering the leadership of impacted people of color in movements for immigrant rights, economic justice, and racial equity. Working here means directly contributing to tangible policy wins in areas like housing, early childhood education, and immigration reform through a data-driven, movement-building lens.

About This Role

As Program Data Director, you'll build and lead a new team from the ground up to translate complex data into actionable insights that strengthen base-building strategies and measure program impact. This role is impactful because it directly connects data work to on-the-ground organizing and policy change across multiple justice initiatives.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by reviewing data from immigrant rights organizers in Texas, then mentor a junior analyst on visualizing housing displacement patterns, before co-designing metrics with economic justice staff for their new guaranteed income campaign. The day balances technical leadership with collaborative strategy sessions across issue areas.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Community Change

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Community Change Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years experience designing impact measurement frameworks specifically for social justice or community organizing programs (not just corporate analytics)
  • Demonstrates proven ability to mentor and manage a small team while fostering a collaborative, non-extractive data culture that serves organizers, not just executives
  • Can articulate how their data work has directly advanced racial equity or immigrant rights campaigns in previous roles
  • Shows deep understanding of both quantitative analysis AND the political context of economic justice movements

📝 Tips for Applying to Community Change

1

Quantify your impact in social justice contexts: Instead of 'analyzed program data,' write 'designed metrics that increased voter turnout by 15% in immigrant communities during 2022 midterms'

2

Explicitly connect your data philosophy to Community Change's mission - mention how you'd ensure data practices center impacted communities rather than extract from them

3

Highlight any experience with multi-issue organizing (immigrant rights + economic justice + racial equity) since this role coordinates across all program areas

4

If you've built a team before, detail how you developed junior staff from underrepresented backgrounds into data leaders

5

Include a portfolio link showing impact frameworks you've designed, especially if they measure movement-building outcomes like leadership development or coalition strength

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your philosophy on ethical data practices in movement work - how you balance rigorous measurement with community autonomy', "Specific examples of translating data into programmatic wins (e.g., 'Our analysis of eviction patterns informed a successful housing campaign in X city')", 'Experience managing data work across multiple issue areas simultaneously, as this role serves immigrant rights, economic justice, AND racial equity programs', "How you've built data capacity among non-technical staff in previous organizing contexts"]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Community Change's recent campaign wins (like the 2023 Child Tax Credit expansion or state-level immigrant driver's license laws)
  • → Their network of partner organizations (Center for Popular Democracy, FIRM, etc.) to understand coalition context
  • → Their public-facing data work like the 'Powering the Vote' reports to see current data capacity
  • → Testimonials from community leaders in their videos/annual reports to understand their theory of change
Visit Community Change's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe how you would design an impact framework for a base-building organization - what metrics would you prioritize beyond simple participation counts?
2 How would you handle tension between organizers' qualitative insights and your team's quantitative findings when they conflict?
3 Walk us through how you'd structure the first 90 days for this new Program Data Team at Community Change
4 What data practices should social justice organizations avoid to prevent harming the communities they serve?
5 How would you measure success for a campaign like 'Childcare for All' that combines policy change, narrative shift, and base-building?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using corporate analytics language without translating it to movement contexts (e.g., focusing on ROI instead of community power)
  • Presenting data work as neutral or objective without acknowledging political context and power dynamics
  • Proposing overly complex systems that would burden organizers rather than serve their campaigns

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Community Change!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →