Forsyth County Field Organizer - Carolina Federation

[Gabe Gold Hodgkin]

Carolina Federation

Field Organizer

Full-Time Through November 2020

Forsyth County, North Carolina

About the Carolina Federation

The Carolina Federation is a statewide organization that brings local people together across race and the rural-urban divide to build political and electoral power in their own communities and across North Carolina.

At a time when the right-wing still holds power in North Carolina and far too many campaigns overlook the importance of long-term investment in local communities, we are developing a bold approach to multi-racial organizing and voter engagement for our state. By unleashing the full potential of our diverse communities, we can create real change in the lives of our people, win elections that were previously unwinnable and transform the political terrain. Our approach to building power is defined by our relentless commitment to bringing new people into political action, our deep investment in local leadership, and our intentional integration of cultural work with community and electoral organizing.

Our Challenge

In 2020, we are faced with the challenge of supporting our local multi-racial chapters and affiliates to grow their own leadership, political power and voting base, while also living through the dual pandemics of viral contagion and racialized violence that have ongoing, devastating impacts on our leaders' lives and their communities. And we must do so while also moving forward our plans for the critical, large scale voter contact necessary to deliver key electoral victories needed to build the long-term political and electoral power of our people. 

Indeed, in this moment we are contesting not only for the immediate needs of our communities, but also for the future of our state and the nation. North Carolina is a key battleground between the right-wing and our vision of multi-racial, progressive populism. Our ability to demonstrate the power of transformative electoral organizing to move new people into action -- in the face of overwhelming community crisis -- will be put squarely to the test this year. 

About the Field Organizer Position 

In this electoral moment of both challenge and opportunity, we are looking to bring on talented, driven Field Organizers to build our 2020 electoral organizing program.

In order to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our organizers and the communities we organize, and in compliance with COVID-19 public health guidelines, our field program will initially be entirely remote. We will only move to in-person events and canvassing if it becomes convincingly safe to do so. With this in mind, we are also seeking organizers who bring resourcefulness to the challenges of digital organizing, and who are ready to bring serious time management to remote work.

Broadly, our Field Organizers will be responsible for implementing our field program at the local level, including:

• Meeting ambitious direct voter contact goals, both by building volunteer teams, and by participating in direct voter contact.
• Recruiting, training, and coaching neighborhood volunteer teams to plan and do direct voter contact.
• Participating in direct voter contact: calls and digital organizing for now, in compliance with social distancing guidelines; potential for canvassing if and only if it becomes safe to do so.
• Working closely with local leadership to ensure that our field activity is supporting the long-term power building work of Durham for All, Forsyth Freedom Federation, Guilford for All, and New Hanover for All.

In addition, we would be excited about a Field Organizer who would:

• Be thrilled to help grow an innovative political organization alongside an extraordinary team
• Fit our culture of courageous leadership and playful camaraderie, and
• Share our deep love of people and ferocious commitment to power and transformation.

What We’re Looking For In A Field Organizer

These are the types of skills, competencies and qualities that we are looking for in a Field Organizer: 

• A core commitment to building power through elections, issue campaigns, and organizing, centered around the leadership of working-class people and people of color.
• An ability to move others to take collective action to achieve shared purpose.
• A desire to learn and grow as an organizer and a leader. Prior organizing experience helps but is not required.
• Seeking candidates who can be located in Forsyth County. Preference for candidates from Forsyth County or North Carolina.  

Benefits and Compensation

This is a full-time, salaried position at the equivalent of $45,000 a year, as well as employer-based healthcare. This position runs through the end of November 2020. 

Hours and Challenges

This position requires flexible and (at-times) long hours, including nights and weekends. It is the intense and often unglamorous work of organizing necessary to transform this country, including:

• We work 6-day weeks, including Saturdays and Sundays, with Mondays off except for the day before Election Day.
• Hours run from 12:30-8:30PM on weekdays.
• Saturday and Sunday hours vary by region.
• 14-hour days during the eight days of Get Out the Vote:
  • Sat 10/17, Sun 10/18
  • Sat 10/24, Sun 10/25
  • Sat 10/31, Sun 11/1, Mon 11/2, Tu 11/3

Organizing during a global pandemic brings additional challenges, including long days in front of a screen.

Location and Travel

We are looking for Field Organizers for Forsyth County. Although the work is primarily remote, the ideal candidate will live in or near Forsyth County.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter, resume, and at least 2 references in a single email to both of the following addresses: jo...@carolinafederation.org and for...@carolinafederation.org. Please use the subject line “Field Organizer Application - [Your Initials]”. For example: “Field Organizer Application - GGH”.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We are looking for a candidate who would be available to begin work ASAP.

In your email or cover letter, please include how you heard about this position.