Arena Careers

Position Title: Senior Organizer

Position Location: Candidates are welcome to apply from across the U.S. Those that are near a Popular Democracy office in DC or Brooklyn may be asked to work from the office one or two days/week if necessary. Applicants outside of those areas may be required to travel to a Popular Democracy office occasionally.

Popular Democracy is seeking a Senior Organizer to join the Organizing Department. This is a full-time, exempt position.

About Popular Democracy:

Popular Democracy works to promote equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We work with 50 affiliates in 34 states and DC to build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations that envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. We are a rapidly-expanding, changing organization that partners with organizations across the country to build political power and win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.

About the Position:

We are seeking a Senior Organizer to lead the implementation of strong organizing programs with assigned affiliate organizations. This work includes serving as a primary point person for assigned affiliates and providing direct support to drive member recruitment and capacity building. The Senior Organizer will also collaborate with Organizing Directors in conducting affiliate organizing assessments, setting organizing and capacity goals, and tracking progress towards those goals. This role will also provide direct training and field support and will collaborate across Fightback and Communications + Narrative teams to drive initiatives. This position may be deployed to the field for blitzes, site visits, actions, and direct affiliate support.

It is expected that the Senior Organizer will travel and attend in-person trainings, meetings, and actions with CPD/A affiliates and partners approximately 1-2 a month.

We estimate that candidates will have about 10 years of relevant experience, but our review of candidates for this role will focus on whether they can fill the needs of the position, not years of experience.

The Senior Organizer will report to the Director of Organizing.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Senior Organizer will:

• Facilitate and maintain relationships with affiliate organizations, partners, policy makers, and funders, encouraging participation and support for Popular Democracy initiatives and growth with guidance from supervisor.
• Serve as the primary point person for assigned affiliates, providing direct support to affiliate staff to drive growth and capacity building.
• Support assessment of affiliate organizing programs and facilitation of goal setting for organizing metric and capacity goals and track progress towards those goals.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of scaled organizing programs.
• Adapt and implement training and “train the trainer” practices directly with affiliates and their members.
• Lead regular relational organizing committee spaces in assigned issue or cohort to practice leadership skills and scale basebuilding efforts.
• Collaborate in the development of programs that drive member engagement and development.
• Use current and new technology to evaluate organizing methods and tools to achieve scaled outreach and activation of members.
• Support internal coordination, alignment and accountability around organizing methods, campaign methods, and organizing metrics.
• Assist and/or lead in planning and implementing meetings or events in the Organizing department as needed and assigned.
• Support department goals by drafting materials, facilitating meetings, and supporting organizing tactics, as assigned.
• Coordinate work both within the Organizing team and across departments to achieve objectives as in consultation with supervisor and/or department director(s).
• Coordinate the collection and maintenance of data and assist in preparation of reports for Management and funders as assigned.
• Support fundraising efforts as assigned, including providing background materials and writing routine and prospecting grant proposals and reports, and/or participating in relevant meetings with donors or donor forums.
• Other related duties as needed and assigned.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in grassroots organizing, base-building, campaigning or electoral engagement;
• Strong project management experience including demonstrated experience in effectively implementing systems and processes.
• Knowledge of and experience in using digital data tools such as EveryAction, ThruTalk, Hustle, etc.;
• The ability to and experience in facilitating meetings, committee spaces and community trainings using popular education methodology;
• The ability to build relationships and collaborate with a broad range of people and diverse organizations and partners;
• A demonstrated commitment to scaled recruitment and leadership development, especially of those most impacted;
• Fluency in Spanish language skills preferred, but not required;
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep understanding of challenges facing low-wage workers, immigrant communities, communities of color, disabled people, LGBTQ+ folks, and people at the intersections of the above communities.

Salary and Benefits:

This position is included in a collective bargaining unit represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild. Specific employment terms are subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The salary for this category 3 position is determined by a salary calculation system that is set by the CBA and is not negotiable. The starting salary is $81,500 and can increase up to $91,500, depending on a variety of factors as described in the CBA.

We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 15 vacation days your first year, 12 sick days per year, additional PTO, including holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 401K plans.

Popular Democracy is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.