Arena Careers

About The People’s Lobby

The People’s Lobby is a membership-driven organization of people across the Chicago region that work together to build widespread support for public policies and candidates – including people from our communities – that put racial and economic justice and the needs of people and the planet before the interests of big corporations and the very rich.

We train leaders to build bases in our communities, organize support for progressive legislation, endorse candidates and take direct action to pressure elected officials and other powerful people to put the interests of people and the planet first.

Job Description

The Digital Engagement Coordinator works with the Communications Manager to maintain and expand our social media presence and bring new people into the organization through organic posts as well as paid digital ads, texting, email, and other communications strategies and tactics. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong commitment to and ability to convey our organizational mission, values, objectives, and worldview, and have experience managing social media for an organization, cause, or campaign. This position will require close collaboration with the Communications Manager as well as staff organizers and members.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Use social media and digital communications to:
• Advance our campaigns, reach new people, and inspire them to join the organization. This includes working with organizers to explain our issue campaigns in an accessible, non-jargon-filled way in organic posts.
• Identify new potential bases of people who are strategic to the organization’s campaign and power building priorities that we can use digital tools to connect with.
• Raise our profile in the public sphere by taking credit for our wins.
• Raise money from small donors.
• Engage with elected officials, media, and allies.
• Publicize events with concrete turnout results.
• Pressure targets to deliver on our demands.
• Effectively manage relationships by monitoring our various inboxes and replying to folks in a timely manner.
• Create graphics (using Canva or other tools), videos, and other assets to make our social media posts eye-catching.
• Maintain relationships with staff and leaders so our online messaging is consistent with the rest of our work.
• Create and execute digital strategies, including paid digital ad campaigns, to reach specific audiences in targeted areas. Work with organizers to identify audiences, develop content, execute campaigns, quantify results, and use those results to optimize strategy as campaigns progress.
• Write, target, and execute text campaign scripts to reach both existing members and targeted voter lists.
• Help our website up to date with new events, campaign victories and updates, online action opportunities, press hits, etc. Work with comms manager to periodically review and update old material.
• Executing fundraising campaigns via social media, email, and more.
• Consistently evaluate past, current, and emerging platforms to keep an eye out for new opportunities to engage members and reach new people.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Covering events (video, photography, live-streaming)
• Writing emails to our list of 10,000+ engaged progressives
• Creating letter campaigns, petitions, and other opportunities to take action online
• Supporting the communications manager in earning traditional media coverage (writing press releases, pitching and developing relationships with reporters)

Qualities of a Successful Candidate:

• Has a demonstrated commitment to equity, justice, and liberation for all people.
• Is a people person who likes spending time on the internet. Can serve as a friendly point of contact for people reaching out to the organization.
• Has at least one year of experience doing digital organizing, fundraising, communications, and/or social media work related to organizing, advocacy, or politics for an organization, cause, or campaign (this can be volunteer work).
• Is a strong writer with the ability to identify and connect with diverse audiences, make rigorous and persuasive arguments, translate complex ideas into understandable language, tell emotionally compelling stories, and move people to action.
• Has some experience designing and managing outreach, advocacy, digital advertising, and/or fundraising campaigns on Facebook, Google, Twitter, and/or other platforms.
• Is excited to be part of an organization that follows an agitational model of organizing with intentional rigor, discipline, and accountability.

The People’s Lobby is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work and strengthens our mission. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are passionate about social justice and who share our commitment to equity and inclusion.