Director of US-Mexico Programs

Founded in 2019, Equis is a set of organizations working to create a better understanding of the Latino electorate, invest in new and innovative approaches to reach and engage them, and uplift the Latino leaders of tomorrow who will implement and carry forward this important work. We envision a world where Latinos are influential and powerful. To make this a reality, we believe we need to start by changing how Latinos see themselves and how the rest of the country sees them. Our community, democracy, and country deserve a future that is built for and by Latinos.

Moonshots are a series of long-term projects designed to fill crucial gaps in the arenas of democracy, culture, media, and talent. The scope of our work is extensive and designed to engage Latinos in multiple arenas because we believe that this moment requires a complete re-thinking of how we engage Latinos. Our approach is to work collaboratively with partners and allies, lead with learning and research, and build programs that address the deep-rooted issues that prevent our community from participating becoming influential and powerful. 

• Culture Moonshots are intended to develop and deploy a Latino cultural strategy that creates community and expansive cultural norms, tells a new story by and for Latinos, and creates moments that prime the Latino community for mass mobilization.
• Democracy Moonshots are designed to radically transform the civic experience of Latinos in this country and raise their participation in elections and civic life to levels commensurate with their potential as the second largest voting bloc in the country.
• Media Moonshots are Equis initiatives to change the media landscape for Latinos by creating original content on existing platforms like YouTube. 
• Talent Moonshots are designed to deepen and improve the bench of Latino talent so our community has a seat at the table across all industries but especially government, civic organizations, policy, and philanthropy. 

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Culture and Media, Equis is seeking an experienced, bi-lingual candidate to oversee our US-Mexico programming within our Culture Moonshot. This position will develop and execute a long-term strategy for programming to bridge gaps in knowledge, understanding, connection, and community between the United States and Mexico. This position will be responsible for planning and executing 2-3 annual trips to Mexico with a cohort of US-based, primarily Mexican-American, leaders and will also oversee continued learning and community-building initiatives with program alumni. This position will oversee a small team of advanced staff and work closely with key stakeholders across Equis and externally to plan and execute trips and post-trip activities. 

Returning to one’s country of heritage or originis a transformative experience. However, the Mexican diaspora in the United States has been denied the opportunity to connect with their home country or learn about the outsized role the US and Mexico relationship plays in our shared economic, social, cultural, historical, and political fabrics. 

Since its founding Equis has planned and executed trips to Mexico for leaders in the United States to increase connectivity and understanding between the two countries. Previous trips have brought primarily Mexican-American leaders from across industries including government, business, advocacy, non-profit, and entertainment for immersive, multi-day trips to Mexico City and surrounding areas. Under the umbrella of our Cultural Moonshot work, Equis is enacting a cadence of regular trips for Mexican-American changemakers. Trips are designed to strengthen connections between the US and Mexico, educate leaders on the importance of the relationship between the two countries, and create a network of leaders who feel deeply connected to their heritage and one another.

• In alignment with the Chief of Moonshot Strategy and Director of Strategic Initiatives for Culture, oversee the planning and implementation of Equis’ US-Mexico programming including planning 2-3 trips to Mexico City and surrounding areas each year
  • Monitor the early development and launch the Project, including stakeholder engagement, early planning and implementation efforts, and the development of Key Performance Indicators. 
  • Develop and communicate status/milestone, successes, stories, and roadblocks of initiatives. 
  • Ensure a smooth operation of overseeing the budget, vendors, and contracts. 
• Conceptualize, design, and implement pre trip, in country programming and post trip programming that creates and cultivates community amongst participants and alumni
• Ensure timely follow-up and implementation of projects and ideas iterated during the course of each trip
• Conceptualize and implement an impact and learning strategy for participants
• Hire, manage and develop a team of 2-3 full-time employees as well as contractors
• Build and maintain relationships with partners both in the United States and Mexico
• Manage vendors and consultants who support the projects, including event management, partner engagement
• Create, manage, and steward budget and cash flow trips, working with the Finance and Operations teams 
• Support fundraising, including in material creation and grant reporting
• Other work as needed

• 7+ years of relevant, full-time work experience
• Experience in a mission-driven organization
• Experience moving multiple projects from ideas to implementation
• Managing strategic planning for complex projects and events
• Developing assessment and evaluation of projects
• High level manager of people and work 
• Rigorous attention to detail coupled with superb organizational skills. 
• Proven track record coordinating various work flows at one time. 
• Comfort with a fast moving, transparent, and feedback driven culture. 
• Bilingual in Spanish and English is a must
• Demonstrated interest, commitment and connection to Mexico and Mexican American community.

• Preference for at least 8 years of experience in fields of event management, advance, training, organizing, civic engagement. campaigns, policy, media, or government
• Experience curating events and experiences for diverse audiences
• Experience developing and running cohort- based experiential learning programs
• Deep experience living and working with Latinx and/or immigrant communities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Get stuff done attitude
• Experience starting new initiatives and programs
• Network of on-the-ground connections in political, civic, cultural, and/or private sector in Mexico, particularly Mexico City

THIS POSITION REPORTS TO

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Culture and Media

As this is a remote position, the person in this position must be able to work on a computer for all or part of the work day. This position requires the ability to travel which may encompass all or part of the work day. Travel may involve transportation via airplane, car travel, or trains and for extended periods of time.

Remote (USA), with frequent domestic and international travel according to CDC guidelines, which may increase to frequent travel depending on time of the year. Equis has implemented a pro vaccination policy, subject to exemptions. Candidates must be willing to follow the established policy to prevent and limit the exposure of COVID-19.

Full-Time

This is a fully remote (USA only), full-time position with occasional domestic travel and a competitive salary range of $115,000 - $142,000. This salary range represents a good faith estimate of what Equis may pay for this position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as budget availability and commensurate with the selected candidates’ experience. This position is currently funded through 2025.

Equis offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% Medical, Dental, Vision at no premium for employees, Company Paid Life Insurance, Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability, Health Reimbursement Account with employer contribution, Unlimited PTO and generous paid holidays, 4% Employer Match 401(k), Annual Professional Development Stipend, Work-from-home Stipend, Wellness stipend, Paid Parental Leave, and Emergency Relief Fund.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Please send your resume and a brief cover letter here or via our career page. For your application to receive full consideration, please explain in your cover letter why you are interested in working at Equis and how your background and/or experience demonstrate your commitment to Equis’s core goal of enhancing the well-being and power of the Latino community. In the submission of an application, your consent is provided to share your resume with partnering organizations.

Equis believes in an open and inclusive work environment that encourages respect and is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, including but not limited to sexual harassment. We embrace our differences as we prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, genetics, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, or military status in any of our operations. We prioritize not just equality, but equity in our practices and policies. Given who our employees are and the community we serve, we pay special attention to equity in the arenas of racial justice, gender justice, educational access, citizenship status, and language justice.

Equis is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, predisposing genetic characteristic, domestic violence victim status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. 

Equis is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the recruitment process, please email ptc @ equislabs.us.