Southeast Michigan Regional Organizer

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) — one of Michigan’s largest, most impactful political advocacy organizations tackling drinking water contamination, the rapidly-worsening impacts of climate change, and efforts to undermine our access to the ballot — is seeking a dynamic, permanent, full-time Southeast Michigan Regional Organizer to help anchor our organizing work to run aggressive, focused campaigns that elect champions and hold elected officials accountable while in office.

This work is centered around the organization’s statewide #OurWaterOurVote brand, and the Southeast Michigan Regional Organizer will work as a member of our Advocacy & Outreach team. They will engage voters and community partners to grow our volunteer base and build collective strength in Southeast Michigan, especially in Oakland County, Western Wayne County, and the City of Detroit. Together, #OurWaterOurVote campaigns pressure our elected leaders to act on pivotal issues facing Southeast Michigan families — like toxic air contamination, aging infrastructure that pollutes our rivers and lakes, and the dramatic impacts of climate change. We then focus on that work at the local, state, and federal levels to have the fullest impact.

The ideal candidate has a tenacious, self-starter attitude with experience in either political candidate campaigns, issue-based 501(c)(4) community organizing, or union worker organizing. They are an organizer at-heart, or have relevant experience that would set them up for success when communicating with volunteers in person, on the phone, or in virtual meetings. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and able to build genuine relationships with diverse constituencies. They are passionate about politics and want to be immersed in the high-speed world of it.

Job Responsibilities

The Southeast Michigan Regional Organizer, a permanent position based in the Detroit metro area that reports to the Southeast Michigan Regional Coordinator, is responsible for the following:

• Recruiting, supporting, and training a robust team of volunteers to advocate for stronger protections for our air, land, water and public health
• Collaborating with other departments and supporting them in an effort to help reach organizational goals
• Organizing and attending community events and meetings to engage and expand Michigan LCV’s member base in Southeast Michigan, including Detroit and the surrounding area
• Daily reporting of the region’s data to the Southeast Michigan Regional Coordinator
• Keeping a steady pulse on the local political lay of the land and local environmental issues, sharing that knowledge with staff and key partners, and using those issues and opportunities to engage citizens in Michigan LCV’s work
• Participating in all Michigan LCV political election work — doing the hard work of campaigning, which means door-to-door field canvassing, text and phone banking, and attending campaign events
• Develop and maintain relationships with youth including, but not limited to, work at college campuses, high schools, churches, and other youth-led organizations

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who excel at building genuine relationships, who are natural problem solvers, self-starters, and results-driven, and who are looking to become long-term community leaders.

• Reliable access to transportation for travel across the state, the internet, and a phone to use for work purposes as well as the ability to participate in campaign activities, either phone banking or canvassing
• Must live in or be willing to quickly relocate to the Detroit metro area
• Experience working with a variety of database systems, including Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, Voter Activation Network or Every Action
• One year of experience organizing and inspiring action in volunteers who represent a rich mix of people across race, gender, sexual orientation, and other group identities is preferred
• Experience managing multiple projects in a goal-driven, hard-deadline, focused environment
• Cultural Competence: Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity and the ability to learn and build on varying community norms. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Understanding of how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems. Willingness to learn and continue to develop cultural competence in line with organizational goals.
• Ability to work Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Wednesdays from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, and Thursdays 12:00 - 8:00 PM, with ability to work many weekends and other evenings as needed
• An ability to build genuine relationships and lead conversations with a wide-range of stakeholders — especially those most impacted by environmental issues, including environmental justice organizations, communities of color, and underserved communities — through phone calls, in-person meetings, social media, events, and more, to broaden and deepen participation in the democratic process and to pass stronger laws to protect our natural resources and public health
• One year of experience working on electoral or issue campaigns in field operations is preferred

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $41,500.00 - $48,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Parental leave
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Dental insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Detroit, MI: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person