Arena Careers

The Democratic Socialists of America is a member-run, socialist organization with more than 280 groups in every state and the District of Columbia engaged in movement-building, public education, direct action, advocacy, and electoral politics. Our immediate goal is to build working-class power against the capitalist class while advancing transformative reforms like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, supporting a robust labor movement, electing socialists to office, and shifting the public framing around capitalism and democratic socialism. DSA is a “big tent,” multi-tendency organization that welcomes everyone committed to democracy and socialism.

Young Democratic Socialists of America is the youth and student section of the Democratic Socialists of America, and a national organization of recognized campus chapters and several hundred activists. We are students organizing in our universities, colleges, and high schools to fight for the immediate needs of workers and students while building our capacity to fight for more radical and structural changes.

Position Overview

This position will report to the Organizing Director and work closely with other staff to develop and strengthen Young Democratic Socialists of America chapters and the national body. This position will involve regular travel to meet with local groups approximately once per month.

Responsibilities

• Support national level YDSA campaigns or projects and specifically work to make sure the work effectively engages YDSA chapters and members overall
• Work with other DSA organizing staff and others to identify and strengthen YDSA-DSA partnerships, develop and assist with trainings and opportunities for mutual learning

• Train and support at least one YDSA member committees

• Directly coach and train chapters (in person and remotely) through ongoing relationships around: strategic campaigns, educational and organizing resources, recruitment and and engagement of members, participation in national-level priorities and other points as necessary
• Build and refine new chapter organizing program
• Co-execute at least 1 national gathering per year for YDSA chapters and members in conjunction with elected/volunteer leadership and other national staff.
• Work to provide indirect resources and support to chapters through assisting member organizers, creating new trainings or resources, compiling and sharing best practices and more
• Identify organic leaders or strong organizers and aggressively support their development and opportunities to engage with local, national or other strategic work
• Supervise and develop potential YDSA interns at different phases of the school year.
• Handle administrative matters related to travel, record keeping and perform other duties which may arise based on the needs of the organization.

Requirements

• At least two years of experience organizing to win a collective bargaining agreement, a contract, legislation, campus administration pressure campaign or other reform that increased grassroots power.
• Experience organizing students on campus.
• Thorough understanding of academic settings, politics, and calendars at secondary and post-secondary levels.
• Track record of recruiting, training, and managing volunteers, mobilizing large numbers of people to take action, developing grassroots leadership, and winning concrete campaigns.
• Exceptional listening, interpersonal, and general communication skills.
• A strong relationship-builder and team player.
• Self starter that can efficiently manage multiple projects at once, use limited resources effectively, and work with a team.
• Handles high pressure situations with positive attitude, tact and professionalism.
• Demonstrated skill at using social media for organizing.
• Able to work irregular hours.
• Available to travel.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Commitment to democratic socialist, feminist, anti-racist, anti-ableist, anti-heterosexist and pro-worker action and identify as a socialist and be grounded in democratic socialist politics; general agreement with the positions and perspectives of YDSA and DSA.

Preferred

• Experience organizing students on campus at HBCUs, community colleges, and/or trade schools and organizing with BIPOC student organizations
• Grassroots fundraising experience.
• Familiarity with Google Drive/Google Suite.
• Experience with ActionKit or other CRMs.
• Graphic design and/or illustration skills.
• Popular or political education background.
• Creativity.
• Sense of humor.

Reports to: Organizing Director

Work Schedule: Full-time. Work hours will fluctuate according to campaign needs and members’ availability.

Salary: $56,000, non-exempt

Benefits: We offer employer paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their spouse/partner and/or dependent children, and three weeks of vacation in the first year of employment, then four weeks each year thereafter.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild.

Application Deadline: June 14th, 2024 with applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Democratic Socialists of America will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of their job if doing so does not result in undue hardship. If you are in need of accommodations during the application process or interview, please contact jobswithdsa@dsausa.org.

No phone calls or recruiters, please.

Democratic Socialists of America is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a staff that reflects the working class. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, DREAMers, as well as members of the LGBTQ communities.