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Description

TITLE: Electoral Communications Manager

LOCATION: State-wide (Michigan) - Hybrid Position

ANNUAL COMPENSATION: $58,240

RELOCATION COSTS COVERED: $3,000

STARTING BONUS: $3,000

RETENTION BONUS: $3,000

POSITION DURATION: This position is considered temporary and will conclude on November 18th, 2024. Position may be extended (subject to funding and circumstance) following the 2024 election.

DESCRIPTION / OVERVIEW:

Are you someone who has an interest in how politics shapes our lives? Have you ever seen or experienced systemic oppression and felt a calling to dismantle it? Are you someone that doesn’t feel wholly represented by business as usual politics? Are you looking for a high energy political home focused on justice for the 2024 election cycle and beyond?

MI United / MI United Action is going to contact hundreds of thousands of voters in 2024 with strategic resolve and an ambitious voter contact strategy. Our methods of transformational organizing produce voters that are 6.5x more likely to take action and increases in volunteer participation of up to 40%.

We are looking for a high energy individual who is ready to be a “hype-master” and tell the story of the 2024 election through the lens of our canvassing fellows, relational organizers, volunteers, members, and staff as we embark on this ambitious campaign. We are building a movement of people across the state of MI and we want to document it and motivate people to join us in the fight for justice and equality. You will be responsible for developing and implementing systems to transfer the leads you acquire from digital ads and online engagement to relational organizers for continued engagement.

The Electoral Communications Manager will work with the Communications, Organizing, and Movement Politics departments to document and share the work of our teams in 2024. At the end of the electoral cycle they will produce a communications report detailing the work they were able to document to be used to tell the story of our 2024 electoral work.

MI United’s Theory of Change:

Michigan United is building a vibrant, inclusive movement in Michigan where community members are organizing to build power to affect change at local, state, and national levels. We are working to dismantle systemic barriers perpetuating inequality by building power. Michigan United defines power as the ability to act, and it comes in the form of organized people and organized money. We focus on issues from a racial, economic, and gender justice lens. We are a hub of people-centered leadership development, issue organizing, and civic power building. We are movement builders.

Michigan United’s theory of change is rooted in our core values. We start from the position that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and live with dignity. We’re committed to bridging gaps and fostering unity across different communities, recognizing that our destinies are linked in the fight for equity and justice.

Michigan United is dedicated to dismantling white supremacy, economic injustice, and patriarchy, transforming lives through tangible victories and leadership development. We believe in the power of a united community driven by a shared vision and strategic action, capable of making significant impacts at local, state, and national levels. Our focus on organizing communities, training leaders, and tackling systemic barriers is crucial in shaping Michigan's future.

Our commitment to a movement that reflects our multiracial base is at the core of our work, guiding us as we organize and mobilize communities, build collective power, and seek just outcomes. We are steadfast in these principles, aiming to create a Michigan where government and economy are inclusive, accountable, and equitable.

Michigan United's approach is grounded in practicality, driven by our values, and focused on building a state where dignity, equity, and justice are realities, not just aspirations. Through strong relationship-building, continuous leadership development, and strategic collective action, we pave the way for the radical, systemic changes our communities need and deserve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

As the Electoral Communications Manager, your responsibilities will include attending and documenting MUA’s electoral work in communities across the state. You will report directly to the Movement Politics Director.

Your typical week responsibilities could look similar to this:

• Travel to canvassing locations in Detroit, Flint / Saginaw, and Grand Rapids (potentially more) to take photos, conduct interviews, shadow canvassers, capture video, collect stories, and share content on social media with a goal of encouraging more volunteers to join
• Participate in weekly relational organizing Virtual House Parties to take screenshots, conduct interviews, capture video, collect stories, and share content on social media with a goal of encouraging more volunteers to join
• Create content about MUA’s electoral activity and to promote upcoming engagement opportunities as well as digital ads for relational organizing leads
• Track the effectiveness of ads and posts by analyzing metrics and adjusting tactics for greater success
• Attend and participate in Communications team meetings where appropriate
• Provide communications support at electoral events such as Virtual House Parties

Programmatic responsibilities include:

• Envisioning and creating a high energy political home for 1100 MU Action Leaders
• Attending monthly staff development trainings
• Working with the data team to develop and improve ways to track volunteers through the ladder of engagement from inactive to leader
• Coordinate with the Communications Department, Electoral Data Manager, Relational Organizing Program Manager, and Canvassing Fellowship Deputy Director and Managers to develop a system of tracking digital ad leads and working to move online engagement into in-person action
• Work with the Communications department to schedule social media posts, use available tools in accordance with best practices, and develop and implement organizational narrative strategies
• Provide communications support at electoral events such as Virtual House Parties
• Preparing a final report on what MUA accomplished in 2024 including a collection of stories, photos, videos, and graphics that tell the story of what we did

REQUIREMENTS

• A commitment to MI United Action’s theory of change and a strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization
• A desire to learn and grow as a leader and further develop communications skills
• Previous communications experience
• A high energy, self starter capable of executing plans and implementing creative solutions to problems
• Experience creating social media content
• Ability to work with individually within larger teams to achieve a common goal
• Reliable transportation
• Not required, but would be advantages to success in this role: Video editing experience, graphic design experience, photography skills, event planning experience, organizing or canvassing experience, proactive mentality, commitment to transformational storytelling (not transactional)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees can be hybrid, but must be based in the State of Michigan. Team members are located throughout the state, with our headquarters being in Detroit. There will be in-person events, meetings, and activities. Our work schedule is standard business hours with flexibility. Evening and weekends availability is required. There will be periodic travel around the state, with intermittent out-of-state travel.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance and a $600/year Health Savings Account or monthly Health insurance stipend are available after 90 days of employment
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA) after earning at least $5,000 within the preceding two year period
• Internet and phone stipend of $125 a month
• Paid time off accruing at 4.616 hours every 2 weeks (subject to black out dates around primary and general elections)
• Paid sick time policy beginning at 16 hours and accruing up to 80 hours
• Floating Holiday Policy
• Mileage reimbursement policy

OUR COMMITMENTS:

DISABILITY, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

MI United / MI United Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.

TRAINING

MI United / MI United Action has a robust training program that will be made available to staff as part of their work schedules. Training may include developing organizer and management skills.

DEVELOPMENT

MI United / MI United Action believes in transformational, not transactional, organizing. We take our duty to develop our members, volunteers, leaders, and staff into the next generation of this movement’s leaders very seriously. Previous staff and current members, volunteers, and leaders are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply.

APPLICATION DETAILS

• Submit resume, statement of interest, and three references (at least two references must be work-related, one may be personal)
• You may apply via Paylocity. If you are having difficulties uploading your materials to Paylocity please send them via email to: resumes@miunited.org. Please do not submit your resume to both Paylocity and our email.
• Please put the name of the position you are applying for in the email subject line
• Resumes that do not adhere to these instructions will be discarded

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for the dignity and potential of every person. Michigan United organizes along with the following issue areas: immigrants’ rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, rural issues, healthcare, and civic engagement. Michigan United, along with Michigan United Action, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first. Our main office is in Southwest Detroit, with additional offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint.

As a racial and economic justice organization, we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race, ethnicity, income, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply.

Michigan United is represented by SOUL of MU & MUA (Statewide Organized United Labor of Michigan United and Michigan United Action), affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit, Local 34022. The person hired for this position will not become a bargaining unit member.