What are the responsibilities and job description for the Political Organizer position at Texas Organizing Project?
About the Texas Organizing Project (TOP): Founded in 2009, TOP has become a leading statewide organizing group in Texas, advancing racial and economic justice through community and electoral organizing. Our programs are anchored in the three largest metro regions of the state, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. We have a base of over 277,000 members and supporters who are reflective of Texas’s growing population – people of color, low moderate income families. Through on the ground organizing, grass-roots leader training, direct action, policy advocacy and electoral engagement we have made gains in policy solutions and public investments in criminal justice, neighborhood infrastructure, family sustaining jobs, affordable housing, community schools, health access and immigrant rights. TOP and its partner PACs have also run the largest independent grassroots electoral field operation in the state, running programs in four of the largest counties.
Job Description: TOP’s culture is a highly collaborative environment that engages staff and members as full partners. Political Organizers are responsible for building out local electoral and political organizing strategies with TOP leaders and organizers that advance issue-based campaigns. This includes managing member endorsement processes, implementing member GOTV programs that deliver change for TOP’s community base, and building and maintaining relationships with local elected officials and ally organizations in coordination with the issue based campaign leaders/organizer teams. Core responsibilities include:
- Managing our member campaign endorsement program – providing technical assistance to members to help make the most informed decisions (win scenarios, candidate viability, election intel, candidate financials, election timelines, office responsibilities, etc) and working with organizing staff and members to support them in developing endorsement criteria, developing questionnaires and conducting endorsement screenings, and setting member participation goals.
- Co-creating with leaders a member GOTV program and then managing and implementing the program (Examples include but are not limited to holding public events with endorsed candidates, designing volunteer voter engagement programs, etc.)
- Creating development opportunities for members: developing a power analysis – how political power relates to winning our issue and policy campaigns, developing hard organizing skills, and developing specific electoral organizing skills: how to run the decision making processes/endorsement process, how to run successful events, how to design GOTV programs, and building strategic relationships with allies, candidates and elected officials
- Support the Electoral Strategy Coordinator in designing local electoral campaign and win plans
- Move over to play a role in the GOTV program including but not limited to Trainer, Recruiter, Canvassers. (This role would not be managing the program or staff).
- Participation in electoral organizing during election season on an as needed basis, including canvassing/door-knocking, and phone-banking.
- Organize events including committee meetings, community listening sessions, town halls, and political education events on at least a quarterly basis
- Strategize, develop, coordinate, and execute digital outreach tactics that respond to the overall goals of the political department and organization at large
- Maintaining a local political presence in the county – representing the organization in local meetings with electeds and partners, as appropriate and in partnership with leaders of the appropriate issue campaign.
- Researching relevant offices and elections that impact our issue campaigns
- Identifying ongoing opportunities to put our members in direct contact with elected decision makers to advance our issue organizing campaigns
- Working with staff and members to integrate political strategy into their campaign efforts
- Some legislative work may be required.
- Consistently track and input data into EveryAction database, training provided
- Other duties as assigned.
- Participation in community organizing inflection moments that might require rapid response bread-and-butter organizing tactics like canvassing/door-knocking, phonebanking, etc.
- Strong commitment to social, racial and economic justice
- Minimum one year experience working in organizing or electoral spaces
- One to two years organizing experience preferred
- Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills
- Ability to work well with all religious, cultural, ethnic and social groups
- Ability to identify, recruit and develop community leaders
- Experience running or managing small scale electoral programs a plus
- Willingness to work irregular hours including evenings and weekends (flex scheduling available)
- Willingness to learn and grow within the TOP culture
- Valid driver’s license, with full time access to a vehicle.
- Computer competency – Zoom, VAN (or other electoral database), Google Docs, Internet required.
- Regular travel.
- Willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done.
- Some evening and weekend hours will be required – with ramp up during election time.
- Position reports to TOP Statewide Political Director
TOP is an equal opportunity employer.
TO APPLY: Please email a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to recruit@organizetexas.org.
This position is within a bargaining unit that is represented by a union.
Salary: $55,000 – $60,000 Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA, paid
holidays including a summer break and a weeklong period of rejuvenation at the end of each calendar
year, personal leave, parental leave, sick leave, and travel reimbursement.
Salary : $55,000 - $60,000