Job Posting: Community Organizer for Oregon Rural Action

[shaunm...@gmail.com]

Hello Locavores! We wanted to alert you to the job openings that we
have for community organizers, both part-time and full-time. It would
be great if there were individuals in our own communities who were
interested in taking their involvement to the next level as a paid
staff organizer. Please see the job announcement below for more
information.

Thanks!
- Shaun


OREGON RURAL ACTION
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Work with members and a small staff in rural eastern Oregon to build a
strong, grassroots, democratic, multi-issue organization. We seek
someone who likes to work with people from many different backgrounds,
who is disciplined and detail oriented, who can juggle many different
things, who thinks strategically and holistically, who has a passion
for community organizing, and who is comfortable being in the
background. Experience as a community organizer is advantageous.
Some night and weekend meetings, and overnight travel, are required.
As an Oregon Rural Action organizer you won’t be tied to a desk,
you’ll meet lots of people, and you'll help make change happen at the
grassroots level.

Oregon Rural Action is working to build strong communities by
organizing community members to promote social justice, agricultural
and economic sustainability, and stewardship of the region's land, air
and water. Current campaigns and projects include seeking food
security; promoting regional farmers' markets; building a local meat
campaign; keeping pharmaceuticals out of the Umatilla and Columbia
Rivers; supporting energy efficiency and community scale renewable
energy; calling for food safety policy that is sensitive to the needs
of small, local producers; opposing a mandatory National Animal ID
system; and holding our public officials accountable and engaging
citizens.

Responsibilities of an Organizer Include:

- Maximizing the power and participation of members;
- Empowering individuals to speak for themselves;
- Formulating sound organizing strategies;
- Identifying, recruiting and developing leaders;
- Conducting one-on-ones on a regular basis;
- Working with people to define problems and issues, and helping them
think through the strategies and tactics necessary to act with
confidence and make change;
- Recruiting members;
- Enabling members and leaders to hold good meetings;
- Building evaluations into all aspects of the work;
- Ensuring that members receive a consistently high standard of
appropriate and effective training;
- Developing an annual self-development plan;
- Fundraising

Qualifications: Commitment to Oregon Rural Action’s mission and
values, ability to get along with people from diverse backgrounds,
good listener and communicator, smart worker. Also helpful:
experience (either as a volunteer or staff) with a nonprofit
organization working for social change; experience in a political
campaign; familiarity with the public policy process; familiarity
with rural communities, people and issues; experience with the media
and fundraising; experience running a business and marketing.
Priority will be given to those willing to make a two year commitment.

Salary and Benefits: We are looking for both part-time and full-time
community organizers. Salary and hourly wage is competitive. Health
insurance, three weeks vacation; sabbatical program after five years
of employment available for full-time staff.

Application Deadline: November 9, 2009

Please send a cover letter (tell us why you want the job), resume,
writing sample and 3 references to: Search Committee; Oregon Rural
Action; P.O. Box 1231; La Grande, OR 97850; or email the same to
and...@oregonrural.org.