OCAB Committee Chair
Description
Our City Action Buffalo seeks to decentralize its leadership and invest in a shared power model with its member-leaders. One of the ways that it will be putting this into practice in 2026 and into the future is by seeking member-leaders to chair committees and to provide a stipend for that work.
Currently, OCAB has the following permanent, public-facing committees:
Communications, Engagement, & Outreach (better known as “CEO”)
Development
Organizing & Power-Building
Policy & Advocacy
Beyond the key responsibilities outlined below, the committee chair is also expected to participate in quarterly Board and Staff retreats, All-Committee meetings, and brief the Board chair about the progress of the committee prior to monthly Board meetings, if they are not available to attend themselves.
Key Responsibilities
Manage Meetings: Organizes regular monthly/bi-monthly meetings; sets and provides notice of dates, times, locations;; and prepares agendas.
Facilitate Discussions: Guides committee discussions and ensures that the work accomplished within the committees furthers the quarterly goals and organizational mission. The committee chair also provides history, background, and context to guide the committee to make decisions and prioritize work.
Oversight and Coordination: Monitors the progress of the committee, ensures actions align with the committee and organizational goals, and coordinates with other committees when opportunities for collaboration arise.
Documentation: Ensures charters are completed at the beginning of the year and that meeting minutes are taken and stored in the committee’s shared folder, serving as both a record and a form of shared accountability.
Reports Progress: Facilitates communication between the committee and the organization, including the Board, membership, and other committee chairs . The chair is expected to communicate through Discord and other necessary means and report back at relevant meetings.
New Members: Serves as the first point of contact for new members, welcoming them into the committee. The chair is tasked with offering to meet 1-1 to further discuss the history, background, and goals of the committee. They will also make sure that all of their members attend the new member orientation within the first 6 months of being a part of the organization.
Application and Contract Information
Based on the description above, OCAB members are asked to submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a proposal (no more than 1 page).
Annual stipend for these roles is $2,000. The Development chair may receive a larger stipend to fairly compensate them for their skills, expertise, and time to do grassroots fundraising and network with philanthropic partners.
Estimated weekly hours of work expected approximately 2-4 hours. The final number of hours of work and when the hours are worked is at the discretion of the committee chair.
Please email requested items to info@ourcityactionbuffalo.com or PO Box 610, ℅ OCAB Hiring Committee, Buffalo, NY 14213.
Proposals are due to the OCAB Hiring Committee no later than October 31, 2025.
For inquiries about the consulting contracts or items related to the organization, please contact OCAB Board President Jillian Nowak, Esq. at (716) 348-0578 or email at info@ourcityactionbuffalo.com with the subject line: OCAB Committee Chair Application.
First round screening calls will begin at the end of October; second round interviews are expected to begin in early November and will continue until the position is filled. If no candidate is selected by January 1st, the RFP process will open back up and proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.