Regional Organizer (Grand Rapids)

About the Working Families Party

The Working Families Party

(WFP) is the progressive party for the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that works for the many, not the few. We recruit, train, and support transformational candidates up and down the ballot — and run them to win.

We believe that no matter where we come from or what our color, most of us want the same things. We want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for our kids. We want healthy food and clean water, safe neighborhoods and a safe world. We want to be free.

The Working Families Party is regular people coming together across our differences to make a better future for us all. We’re a multiracial party that fights for workers over bosses and people over the powerful. We want an America which realizes the promise – unrealized in our history – of freedom and equality for all.

ABOUT THIS ROLE:

The Regional Organizer works with leadership bodies of the Working Families Party and senior staff to develop and implement regional strategy and plans to (a) build the leadership, membership, and supporter base of the organization; and (b) achieve electoral and legislative victories that advance the interests of the WFP and working families in his/her region and throughout Michigan.  The Regional Organizer will lead our membership growth and development, as well as our electoral programs for endorsed candidates.

• ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Grow and build our membership base through in-person events, text/call programs, digital organizing, and attending events in the region
• Lead a dynamic in-person and virtual program to welcome new members into the Party through relational organizing, welcome gatherings, and pipelines into membership meetings
• Build a base of activists to support our electoral priorities in your assigned region
• Reach party-building and organizing goals in an assigned region
• Develop knowledge and analysis of the political and community landscape in assigned regions of the state
• Lead and recruit in-person canvasses, virtual phone and textbank events for endorsed candidates in assigned regions
• OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruit, train, and manage local volunteers and allied campaign staff to use organizing tools such as Spoke, PDI, Scale to Win, and Mobilize.

Evaluate the success of our organizing and electoral programs and propose and implement necessary adjustments to methods and processes in response to conditions in the region.

• SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: Minimum two years of in-person or virtual electoral/campaign or neighborhood-based organizing experience
• A passion and commitment to social, economic, and racial justice
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven organizing ability, including effectiveness in engaging potential activists and supporters
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Drive and tenacity to advance our mission and values
• Ability to work independently, including strong follow-through and self-direction on assignments

Attention to detail and the ability to manage the technical aspects of a project such as logistics, paperwork, deadlines, etc.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, peers, public officials, and allies
• Experience in grassroots non-profit, labor, or political organizing a plus
• Fluency in Spanish a plus

Preferred (but Not Required) Skills:

Familiarity working with VAN or other voter file data

Experience with organizing and tools used for phone banking including predictive dialers, broadcast SMS messaging, social media and email/action pages - particularly: Hubdialer, Thrutalk, Upland (Mobile Commons), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Action Network.

Experience and comfort using EveryAction for tracking volunteer activity.

Strong command of Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software.

Experience working in labor or with grassroots organizations in your region

Political intelligence and judgment

REGION: The region is Congressional District 3, which encompasses Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grand Haven, Muskegon, and portions of Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties.

Candidates must currently reside in the region or be willing to relocate.

This is a remote role requiring you to perform some work in person at various locations for meetings and events in the assigned regions. You may need to travel for major events and all staff meetings.