Texas Organizing Project: Political Coordinator- Houston Texas

[Kimberly Olsen]

The Texas Organizing Project is seeking applicants for a Political Coordinator position based in Houston, TX.   The ideal candidate is interested in strategic grassroots organizing combined with electoral work that elevates issue based campaigns to advance the interests of low-moderate income communities.   This person will be able to balance a number of important local and statewide relationships and a variety of responsibilities and projects in a fast-paced environment.

 

Who We Are

The Texas Organizing Project (TOP) is a Texas-based, non-profit organization promoting social and economic equality for low to moderate income Texans through community and electoral organizing working in Harris, Dallas and Bexar Counties.  

 

Our grassroots organizing is anchored by dues paying members who take ownership and have a personal stake in the success of efforts to better their neighborhoods and communities.  TOP provides a unique opportunity to recruit and develop grassroots leaders, build a membership base and implement effective electoral organizing strategies.  TOP’s work impacts choices made by decision makers that affect quality of life issues such as living wage jobs, quality community schools, access to health care, livable housing and safe neighborhoods. TOP also runs the largest independent grassroots electoral field operation in the state, touching nearly 700,000 voters, primarily unlikely voters of color, in 2014.  Harris County, where Houston is situated, is the third largest county in the country with a population of over 4.4 million, it is larger than half of the states in the US including Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico.

 

Job Summary

The Political Coordinator is responsible for developing and implementing a political strategy primarily in Houston/Harris County that achieves membership empowerment, assists organizing efforts, and builds capacity to advance TOP’s issue agenda.  This includes working to increase member participation and partnership building with stakeholders.   In addition, running large scale volunteer and paid field operations to increase electoral engagement in communities of color with historically low voter turnout.  

 

Responsibilities

 

1) Running and assisting in the design of member volunteer political programs

• Working with organizing staff and member leaders to build member volunteer capacity to do electoral organizing work – phone banks, block walking, public events and volunteer recruitment
• Creating ongoing structure for successful volunteer programs
• Direct recruitment and management of volunteers
• Working with organizing staff to develop program, set goals, and accountability systems
• Co-creating lit and other programmatic and communications materials

 

2) Running and assisting in the design of paid field programs

• Designing field strategy including identifying opportunities, running win numbers, etc.
• Creating and managing program budget
• Co-developing training and hiring systems
• Field work supervision - hiring and holding accountable field staff
• Metric design set up and daily reporting to state Political Director; Some written reporting
• Working with allies for wrap around and/or coordinated program opportunities
• Some local fund raising

 

3) Driving Member Endorsement Process

• Working with organizing staff to move process from engaging members and staff, setting meeting dates, and working with staff to prep and turn out members
• ID races and opportunities - gathering intel internally and externally (with allies), doing electoral analysis.
• Working with organizing staff and member leaders to understand issue priorities and how they relate to races
• Working with organizing staff and members to pull together candidate questions – researching issues, drafting questions and working with legal staff
• Coordinating candidate participation start to finish, from scheduling to thank yous
• Working with Communications and Organizing staff to publicize endorsements externally and internally
• Keeping senior staff up to date on endorsement process

 

4) Additional tasks:

• Managing some local ally relationships
• Helping keep elected officials and allies apprised of ongoing work of TOP

• Supporting special projects related to election work
• Some travel required

 

Experience and Skills

·         Strong background in developing civic participation projects and campaigns and/or social , racial, or economic justice campaigns

·         Demonstrated ability to contribute to creating a positive work environment that encourages personal responsibility, initiative, and innovation

• Political Field work 1-2 years experience
• Volunteer recruitment and management work 2+ years
• Experience working with allies and in partnership with ally organizations 1-2 years
• Experience supervising other staff or volunteers
• Basic database knowledge including work 2+ years/election cycles working with VAN
• Proficient in Excel and Google docs
• Excellent at multi-tasking - ability to keep track of multiple details and balance multiple projects
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus
• Must have a car

 

Location: Houston, TX

 

Salary and Benefits: Commensurate with experience plus full benefits.

 

To apply: Send resume, cover letter, salary requirements, and the names and contact information of three references to czer...@organizetexas.org

 

TOP is an equal opportunity employer – women and people of color are encouraged to apply.