Careers at CAIR Michigan

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Director of Safe Spaces

Position Summary

The Director of Safe Spaces leads proactive efforts to create more inclusive environments for Muslim religious practice and expression in schools, workplaces, public institutions, and other community settings.

The role is focused on institutional change, strategic partnership building, education, and advocacy. Rather than primarily responding to individual incidents, the Director works with institutions to develop policies, practices, and relationships that prevent barriers to religious expression before they arise.

Core Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, universities, employers, government agencies, correctional institutions, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for proactive institutional reform related to religious accommodation and inclusion.
• Work with institutional leaders to develop and improve policies concerning prayer, Ramadan, Eid, hijab and modest dress, religious grooming, halal dietary needs, and other expressions of faith.
• Develop and deliver trainings, educational programs, toolkits, and resources on Muslim religious practices and religious inclusion.
• Facilitate dialogue between Muslim communities and institutional decision-makers to identify concerns and develop sustainable solutions.
• Develop initiatives and campaigns that encourage institutions to adopt inclusive practices before conflicts or discrimination occur.
• Collaborate with legal, communications, and community engagement teams when systemic concerns require coordinated advocacy.
• Track partnerships, policy changes, trainings, institutional commitments, and other measurable program outcomes.
• Maintain and strengthen already existing community partnerships.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have experience in advocacy, community engagement, education, public policy, nonprofit programming, institutional relations, or a related field, along with:

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Experience engaging institutional leaders and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Muslim religious practices and common accommodation needs.
• Strong presentation, training, and public-speaking skills.
• Ability to develop strategic initiatives and manage partnerships independently.
• Commitment to religious freedom, civil rights, and inclusive institutions.

Program Vision

Safe Spaces works to normalize and protect Islamic practice in American society by moving institutions from reactive accommodation to proactive inclusion.

Success means building lasting partnerships and institutional practices that allow Muslims to freely and openly practice their faith without having to repeatedly fight for recognition or accommodation.