Jobs to Move America

Strategic Campaigner - Organizer
Western States Program

Remote (Los Angeles preferred)

 

Position: Strategic Campaigner - Organizer
Department: Western States Program
Position Type: Full-Time ─ Exempt
Location: Remote, Los Angeles
Reports to: Western States Director
Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000 based on relevant experience

At this critical time for lower-income, frontline communities and people of color, Jobs to Move America (JMA) is uniquely positioned to advance a powerful agenda for equitable job creation and expanded access to training for historically underrepresented groups. Here is information about our organization.

Who we are ─ About Jobs to Move America:
Jobs to Move America is a national and multi-regional strategic policy center that works to transform public spending and corporate behavior using a comprehensive approach that is rooted in racial and economic justice and community organizing. We seek to advance a fair and prosperous economy with good jobs and healthier communities for all. To learn more, visit our website: www.jobstomoveamerica.org.

What You’ll Do ─ Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Strategic Campaigner-Organizer plays a key role in building a coalition support structure to advance racial, gender and economic equity in strategic, publicly funded sectors including public infrastructure, transit, and manufacturing in California and across the country. This structure supports community benefits agreement campaigns that encourage global manufacturing firms, and the public entities that fund or provide benefit to those firms, to commit to practices that create family-sustaining U.S. jobs and to generate economic opportunities for low-income communities of color, women, and other groups that have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing family-sustaining jobs.

Within 6 months

• The ideal candidate is able to dive into our campaigns and take initiative over their work. You should have most of the following qualifications:
• A demonstrable commitment to racial, gender, social and economic justice and experience centering such issues within an organizing context;
• At least 2-3 years of experience in labor, community and/or political campaigns with working knowledge of Southern California political dynamics and coalitions;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate JMA’s work to the public and to a wide variety of stakeholders which may include coalition and union partners, elected officials and government employees, workers, community stakeholders and others;
• Ability to continually assess and deepen the commitment of key partners, and workers through regular 1:1s, thoughtful asks, and securing of commitments through effective turnout, sign ons, public comment, meetings with officials, etc;
• Conduct multiple 1:1 conversations to (1) gather an understanding of how to successfully move a public purchasing policy at one or more major Southern California utilities or related public agencies and (2) exercise moving partners into action by recognizing self-interest and overlapping goals;
• Use existing or new research to develop raps, talking points, asks, power mapping and shared commitments to build a coalition around supporting JMA’s campaigns
• Ability to plan for meaningful 1-on-1 meetings, group meetings and engage with workers, representatives of public agencies, company representatives, residents and potential allies to advance our work.
• Meaningfully contribute to the development of a campaign report and/or worker-community surveying project
• Help cultivate relationships with public agency staff, attend regular board and committee meetings, review meeting materials, and monitor agency procurements and contract compliance;
• Comply with all organizational policies and procedures, including timely attention to administrative responsibilities
• Contribute to JMA’s organizational development, for example assisting with fundraising, providing peer evaluations, and participating in JMA staff committees (not to exceed 15% of time)

After 1 year

• Develop campaign power building, coalition expansion and policy recommendations based on organizing and research;
• Ability to tailor information to different audiences and frame data to meet the needs and objectives of campaigns;
• Showing ability to move people into action, move coalition partners to taking decisive action;
• Begin taking steps towards expanding the reach and influence of the coalition
• Maintain self-awareness of when you’ve hit the limits of your expertise and demonstrate initiative and openness to tapping experts as needed

About you ─ Required Qualifications:

• Can articulate the impacts that racialized, gendered, and economic inequities have on the working and living conditions of historically marginalized and disinvested communities in the US; can demonstrate familiarity with designing work plans and work products that incorporate these considerations;
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, including comfort with factual and persuasive writing and planning organizing discussions
• Consistency in following up to ensure coalition and partners can fully participate in campaign actions and planning
• Demonstrated ability to take a collaborative approach in ensuring that the organizing needs of a campaign are met (will consult with communications, legal, research, policy and other teams to gather input and must be flexible to making changes)
• Ability to build and sustain authentic and productive working relationships with colleagues across race and other group identities, including JMA employees as well as external partners
• Demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, and social skills in work and interpersonal interactions
• Ability to participate in a culture of feedback with a commitment to continually strengthening practice of courageous and non-violent communication including:
  • communicating clearly and directly with colleagues, being proactive to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, especially across differences, consistently strengthening ability and practice in giving and receiving both positive and constructive feedback to support each other’s learning and personal growth
• Maintain flexibility: be ready to take advantage of unexpected opportunities and adapt quickly to change
• Must be highly organized, able to multitask, and manage competing priorities
• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude
• Demonstrate ability to work independently and carry out assignments to completion
• Must have reliable transportation and ability to attend in-person events and conventions in Southern California
• Familiarity with GoogleSuite
• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant campaign and research experience can be considered in lieu of a four-year degree

Other Physical Requirements:

• Communicate clearly over the phone with reasonable accommodations
• Routinely operate a laptop or computer
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
• Must be able to talk, listen and speak clearly on telephone with reasonable accommodations

What Else You Should Know ─ Compensation/Benefits:

• Salary Range $65,000-$80,000 with annual salary increases
• Depending on geographic area, a one-time cost of living adjustment (COLA) may be added to the salary
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for the employee and dependents
• Generous paid time off including 12 personal days, 12 federal holidays, and 2 floating holidays each year. JMA has a paid, two week winter break at the end of each year. Employees can accrue up to 20 vacation days and 20 sick days. After 5 years of work, all staff are eligible to apply for 3 months of sabbatical leave.
• 401(k) plan with 5% employer contribution after 6 months of employment
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Utility/Internet monthly stipend for those working from home
• Work from home office set up provided if needed
• Training and professional development opportunities are available upon completion of the probationary period
• A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and practices
• Qualifying Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer
• JMA is a unionized workplace. This position is included in the collective bargaining agreement.

How to Apply:
Complete the form at the following link HERE and upload a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references by May 1.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Only applications submitted via the above link will be considered. No phone calls, please. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications may not receive a reply. Candidates who advance in the interview process will be asked to provide a writing sample.

JMA Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement
We are an EEO/affirmative action employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability. We work to ensure fair treatment of applicants and employees and actively enforce zero-tolerance policies against discrimination and sexual harassment. Those who identify as persons of color, women, veterans, or formerly incarcerated persons, and/or have had experience working with one or more of those groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

JMA Diversity and Inclusion Statement
JMA believes that diverse, engaged, and motivated employees are essential to achieving our goals of economic, racial, and social justice. JMA believes that each employee's voice is valuable and that when all employees contribute ideas to the organization’s operation, it enhances the success of the organization overall.

In order to assist us in achieving our goals as a diverse and inclusive workforce, we ask optional self-identification questions in the job application.