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Organizing Director

Full-Time

 

New Rural Project (NRP) is a 501(c)(4) organization that engages young (18 - 40 years old) and historically marginalized residents in rural communities to amplify their voices through increased civic and electoral engagement. NRP works to eliminate barriers to engagement by listening to rural stakeholders and working together to develop community-driven solutions. NRP was co-founded by Cynthia Wallace and Helen Probst Mills in 2021. Both ran for office in rural North Carolina and saw that large numbers of registered and unregistered voters in rural communities simply did not vote. Recognizing the significant impact of this on improving lives through the electoral process, they decided to tackle this issue head on. Our work is focused on the seven counties - Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Robeson, Hoke and Moore - along the North Carolina border with South Carolina.

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NRP is hiring a motivated and experienced Organizing Director to promote and manage its civic and electoral engagement programs in the focus counties of Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Moore, Hoke, and Robeson Counties. NRP requires that the Organizing Director lives in one of the focus counties or a neighboring county (i.e. Mecklenburg or Cumberland). They must be able to travel daily as needed within the focus counties. The Organizing Director will be responsible for coaching and managing a team of Regional and County level organizers. The Organizing Director will be responsible for designing, management, implementing, and executing NRP’s multi-county field program. This role will ensure that grassroots leaders and community stakeholders are supported in driving long-term rural base-building work through civic and electoral engagement. The Organizing Director should be positive, solutions-oriented, and self-starter willing to take on demanding work and capable of motivating diverse rural communities. Candidates with experience developing accountability systems and using creativity to overcome organizing challenges are preferred. The Organizing Director reports to the Executive Director.

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Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead organizing efforts in focus counties, including implementing programs and mobilizing voters and volunteers

• Build short and long term strategies and develop structures and resources for volunteers to ensure we increase voter turnout of Black, Brown, and Indigenous voters

• Oversee the hiring, management, and training of organizing staff including organizers and canvassers with oversight of day-to-day assignments and facilitation of team meetings

• Develop metrics and manage systems of accountability for staff and volunteers

• Lead and assist with the development of training materials for volunteers, staff and community partners

• Create goals and coach, mentor, and inspire organizing staff so that they can best support and grow volunteer base and reach pre-defined metrics

• Act as a bridge between volunteers/organizing staff and other stakeholders to make sure the organization's plans are realistic and set up to succeed

• Meet or exceed metrics-based goals for volunteer recruitment and retention as well as direct voter contact

• Regularly assess development needs of organizing staff

• Build a collaborative and inclusive team culture with staff

• Encourage and support tactical innovations from volunteers and staff helping replicate successful strategies to other rural communities

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Experience and Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 to 5 election cycles in a senior role managing grassroots/issue based campaigns, Voter Registration and/or Get Out The Vote programs, and/or experience working in organizing, issue advocacy, and/or political campaigns at various levels (local, state, and/or national)

• 2 of more years of experience managing teams of organizers and other paid staff

• Experience working with a leadership team to build an organization/campaign and working with strategic partners to build and implement campaigns

• Ability to work within diverse communities and experience organizing AAPI, Black, Latino and Native American voters

• Extremely strong staff management skills, organizational skills and ability to stay focused with attention to detail

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (i.e. Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), Google Suite, and various social media platforms

• A valid driver’s license and one’s own reliable transportation

• Ability to work non-business hours and weekends

• Current experience in NRP’s focus counties is a plus

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Skills and Attributes

• Superior written, communication, interpersonal, leadership and public speaking skills

• Read and write general instructions, professional correspondence, and memos

• Great organizational skills with a consistent commitment to follow through

• Ability to effectively and clearly communicate with different types of stakeholders, from high level elected officials to grassroots activists

• Ability to work in a fast paced, metrics-driven work environment with strong time management skills

• Knowledge of and ability to train in deep canvass techniques

• Proficiency using Votebuilder (VAN), various texting platforms, and other campaign software

• Familiarity and passion for working and living in rural communities including professional or personal experience living and organizing in the South with rural organizing a plus

• A positive, solutions-oriented attitude

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TO APPLY: You can apply for this position by emailing jobs@newruralproject.org writing Organizing Director in the Subject Line. Please send a cover letter, your resume, writing sample (your discretion) and names and contact information for two to three professional references.

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Compensation and Expectations

Salary: $60,000 - 65,000. Benefits include organization paid medical, dental, vision, telehealth and life insurance. Paid holidays. Diverse candidates and current residents of Union, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Moore, Hoke, or Robeson County are highly encouraged to apply.

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The NRP is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination of employment, promotion, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on the basis of gender, disability, race, age, national origin, color, creed, sexual orientation, sex (including marital and parental status), gender identity and expression, religion, economic status, ethnic identity, veteran's status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.