Northeast Wisconsin Community Co-op Organizer

[kevin...@citizenactionwi.org]

Objective: Citizen Action of Wisconsin seeks a dynamic and socially committed person to lead our democratic and member-driven organizing work in Northeastern Wisconsin. This position is located in Northeast Wisconsin, preferably in Green Bay or the Fox Cities.

Description of Work: In 2015 Citizen Action of Wisconsin launched an innovative new organizing model called an “organizing co-op.” In this model members pay for the organizer through monthly donations averaging $20 and make democratic decisions through an elected steering committee and issue work groups. The new model has drawn national attention as a model for building real grassroots power without dependence on out-of-state funders. So far Citizen Action has successfully established 6 organizing co-ops across Wisconsin. More information at http://www.citizenactionwi.org/coop

In 2016 Citizen Action launched the Northeast Wisconsin Organizing Co-op, a member-run and member-funded project that works on a number of social justice issues chosen by its members. We are seeking an organizer, under the guidance of the Organizing Director and the elected Steering Committee, to continue the work and further build the membership of the co-op.

Duties will include supporting the current issue work already underway, working to develop the grassroots electoral capacity, and maintaining and building co-op membership. The successful applicant for the position will need to be able to work on a variety of issues and campaigns, work with members to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills, and inspire new people to join the co-op. The successful applicant will also serve as a bridge between co-op members in the region and Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s statewide strategic campaigns.

Organizational Background: Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an issue focused non-profit organization committed to achieving social, economic, and environmental justice. We are dedicated to achieving a Wisconsin and an America where every human being has an equal opportunity to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. Citizen Action of Wisconsin brings together thousands of activists and allied groups across Wisconsin to deepen democratic participation and create an issue environment that advances a progressive public policy agenda. Most fundamentally, we believe that issues matter.  It is through transformative issues that capture the public imagination and reveal the dissonance between our nation’s ideals and its economic and social realities that average people see their stake in the public sphere and are motivated to participate in their democracy, resulting in meaningful and lasting change.  Citizen Action’s lead issues are economic and climate justice, health care reform, criminal justice reform, substance use prevention, and the protection and expansion of democracy, and also leads a values-based communication project to improve the messaging of progressives in Wisconsin.

Citizen Action is spearheading the development of innovative new grassroots organizing techniques, and seeks candidates who are interested in embracing new dynamic approaches. More information on current Citizen Action of Wisconsin programs can be found at citizenactionwi.org

 

Job Responsibilities:

·         Work with Executive Director, Organizing Director, and local leadership teams to lead a local Organizing Cooperative membership drive to build on current membership.

·         Directly organize and develop members and volunteers to participate in the current issue work of the Northeast Wisconsin Co-op and Citizen Action existing campaigns.

·         Build grassroots electoral capacity of the Co-op to inject issues they are already working on into elections.

·         Maintain and build membership of the Organizing Co-op, by establishing and implementing member recruitment and retention strategies

·         Serve as a bridge between Citizen Action and local co-op members, by participating in strategic planning, and collaborating with Citizen Action staff throughout the state.

Master Citizen Action member-tracking system, track membership dues numbers in real time, and renew memberships which expire.

        Help organize coalitions and networks of members to advance critical issues of local importance in tandem with Citizen Action staff together with a wide range of prospective allies.

·         Develop Citizen Action’s story project, which includes developing compelling stories from individuals who are impacted by such issues as economic insecurity, expensive healthcare, infringed upon democratic freedoms and more.

·         Embrace and effectively utilize new communications technology, working within Citizen Action’s cutting-edge social networking and web technology programs to augment on-the ground organizing.

·         Coordinate program and logistics for public events, mobilizations and other grassroots activity.

·         Work in a focused way to advance strategic goals, and provide timely weekly reporting of organizing progress.

·         Integrate Citizen Action’s values-based communication into all organizing work.

 

Qualifications:

·         Philosophical commitment to progressive values, economic justice, and health care freedom, for everyone in America

·         Demonstrated experience in labor, community, political or faith-based organizing (1-2 years experience is preferred but not required)

·         Ability to understand public policy issues and translate them into compelling organizing issues that motivate average people to act

·         Familiarity with Northeastern Wisconsin politics, geography, institutions and constituencies strongly encouraged

·         Experience fundraising, especially small dollar individual fundraising, is helpful. Willingness to commit substantial time to small donor fundraising and developing that skill is required.

·         Experience working with a broad array of organizations in a coalition on issues of social and economic justice

·         Experience with and commitment to working on racial justice issues and/or working in communities of color a plus.

·         Good written and verbal communication skills, including ability to produce effective flyers, email alerts, coalition reports, blogs, and effective social media posts

·         Strong creative strategic thinking skills

·         Computer skills including e-mail, composing documents, designing flyers, working with data bases, and social networking (Familiarity with NationBuilder, GoogleDocs, Google Analytics, Hootsuite, as well as managing Facebook pages and/or Twitter accounts)

·         Experience with online list-building and voter files a plus

·         Ability to resolve conflicts while maintaining effective relationships

·         Excellent listening, interpersonal and problem solving skills

·         Strong personal time management skills, organization skills, and the ability to work under pressure

·         Bilingual a plus but not required

 

Salary and Benefits:  This is a full-time position which includes health care, dental and vision, employer-matched 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, cell phone allowance, and other benefits.  Some weekend and evening hours required.  Compensation is based upon experience and demonstrated organizing skills.  This is a union position, represented by OPEIU Local 9, AFL-CIO.

 

Application Process:  E-mail cover letter and résumé to Kevin Kane, Lead Organizer at Kevin...@citizenactionwi.org

Please, no calls.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status