Food AND Medicine: Political Campaigns Manager

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Founded in 2002, Food AND Medicine (FAM) is a progressive grassroots community organization working for food justice, worker rights, civic engagement, political action and education, especially around issues affecting workers and the issues causing and resulting from poverty. Our work and name is based on the belief that no one should have to choose between food, medicine and other basic necessities. We use a hybrid of intentional direct service and community organizing to build power among working class and low-income people, and see our work as “solidarity, not charity.” We work closely with local labor unions, including the Eastern Maine Labor Council, AFL-CIO, as well as many partner organizations and allied groups.

We are seeking to add an experienced and versatile Political Campaigns Manager to our team to manage our political program, supervise and mentor a small number of staff, build relationships with and develop leaders among our members and volunteers. This full time, in-person position is based in Brewer (Bangor). As a small organization, staff wear many hats; there is a potential for the job responsibilities for this role to adjust based on the skills of the right candidate.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build on FAM’s programs to develop, implement and manage a robust political program on the local, state and federal levels. This includes identifying and developing leaders in issue driven political campaigns, creating turfs, scripts, recruiting and supervising canvassers, analyzing and reporting results.

• Develop and implement meetings, one-on-one outreach, surveys, events and the like to involve FAM’s constituency of workers, unions and low-income people as volunteers and leaders in committees and programs.

• Organize programs and committees that support collective power building. Specific activities for members include attending events and actions, story telling, speaking to the media, and attending committee meetings.

• Facilitate members’ consciousness of and foster analysis of obstacles to low-income communities’ access to basic necessities in relation to broader social issues and systemic inequality, and the effect of the political process on those issues.

• Contribute to organization-wide events and fundraising activities including grant research and writing, phone banking, database updating, membership fundraising and event planning.

• Contribute to our civic engagement, public transportation, housing and/or collective gardening programs.

• Other duties as assigned; as part of a small staff we are all expected to chip in as needed.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of three years experience required in developing and managing political and/or issue campaigns. Familiarity with reporting and disclosure requirements for electoral and issue campaigns.

• At least two years experience in grassroots community or union organizing strongly preferred. Familiarity with grassroots and/or union organizing strategies and techniques, and willingness to learn tactics specific to FAM’s methodology and goals.

• Three years experience in volunteer management and/or staff supervision, particularly in a unionized workplace; familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and related processes.

• Excellent project management skills, including planning, delegating, and overseeing tasks and meeting deadlines. The ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and to complete assigned projects under deadlines is critical.

• A commitment to FAM’s mission, values and approach.

• Strong computer, problem-solving and analytical skills are required, including proficiency in a variety of office and campaign-related programs.

• Strong writing skills, and the ability to represent FAMs goals, objectives and outcomes for programs and projects, both verbally and in writing. Public speaking skills are a plus.

• Physical requirements include ability to spend hours listening and talking; working via computer and telephone; driving frequently to meetings and events; light lifting of equipment and materials.

• Willingness to work occasional long days; night and weekend meetings or events is a normal part of this work.

• A collaborative working spirit and desire to explore ideas, test assumptions, and find solutions as a team.