About the Texas Organizing Project (TOP): Founded in 2009, TOP is the leading statewide organizing group in Texas, advancing racial and economic justice through community and electoral organizing. Our programs are anchored in the three largest metro regions of the state: Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. TOP has a base of more than 300,000 members and supporters who reflect Texas’ growing population of Black and Latino families. Through on the ground organizing, grassroots leadership training, direct action, policy advocacy and electoral engagement, TOP has made substantial gains in policy solutions and public investments in neighborhood infrastructure, family sustaining jobs, affordable housing, community schools, health access and immigrant rights that have improved the lives of our communities. TOP also runs the largest independent grassroots electoral field operation in the state, engaging hundreds of thousands of voters of color each election cycle.
Position Summary:
The Lead Organizer will supervise a team of community organizers and will work to ensure our campaigns are interconnected. The lead organizer is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating our team’s organizing approaches to ensure that our base of directly affected communities is front and center in decision-making and building our people power. The lead’s short term focus will be on housing.
This is a management-level position that reports directly to the Campaign / Organizing Director. The lead organizer will supervise 3-5 community organizers, who work directly with our base.
Key Areas of Responsibility
● With members of the staff team, build a membership base with a focus on directly-impacted folks from Black and Latino communities.
● Support organizers in developing strong leaders in accordance with TOP’s established leadership ladder.
● Manage, train and develop organizing staff to ensure consistent practices and implementation of organizing tools (door knocking, phone banking, one on ones, etc.) to reach campaign goals and complete administrative tasks like conducting performance reviews, approving timesheets, etc.
● Support organizers experimenting with new methods to build a base and develop strong leaders in order to continually improve TOP’s approach to building people power.
● Facilitate/lead effective organizing weekly check-ins and team meetings.
● Take part in co-creating campaign plans with grassroots leaders and other staff.
● Support organizers to engage their members and leaders in campaigns that achieve short term victories and make measurable progress toward TOP being a pro-Black organization that is dismantling racial capitalism.
● Work with other lead organizers and campaign directors to build a strong organizing culture within TOP.
● Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the political and racial justice sphere in Black and Latino communities.
● Represent TOP at community activities to enhance the organization’s community profile.
● Establish good working relationships with community partners to help achieve the goals of the organization.
● Develop and manage membership recruitment, development, and retention systems.
● Consistently track, input, and support organizers to input data into the EveryAction database, training provided.
● Participation in electoral organizing during election season on an as needed basis, including door-knocking and phone-banking.
● Embody TOP values, putting into practice organizational and individual staff development practices
● Assist with fundraising as needed.
● Assist with other duties assigned as necessary.
Qualifications
● 3-5 years of experience as community organizer, including base building and leadership development.
● At least 1 year of experience managing a team, project, or campaign, and supporting the development and growth of team members.
● Personal interest, passion and commitment to leadership development of grassroots leaders and engaging new communities in social and racial justice work.
● Relentless drive, tenacity and a willingness to do what it takes to advance our mission and animate TOP’s values: Solidarity, Visionary, and Regeneration.
● Personal and professional commitment to do the challenging work of building a pro-Black organization that is on a path to dismantle racial capitalism.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated focus on outreach and giving and receiving input/feedback.
● Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and work in a fluid and fast-paced environment.
● Excellent time management, project management, and delegation skills.
● Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
● Ability to work effectively with strong personalities, peers, public officials, and allies.
● Willingness to work long and often irregular hours, including evenings and weekends (flex scheduling available)
● Full time access to a car.
● Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish.
● Computer competency – Word, Google Suite, Internet required; Experience in working with database systems a plus
TOP is an equal opportunity employer.
*This position supervises positions that are within a bargaining unit that is represented by a union.
Salary & Benefits: $60,000 to $65,000 or commensurate with experience. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), staff development, paid holidays including a week-long summer break and year end week of rejuvenation, personal time, parental leave, sick leave, and travel reimbursement.
Applicants should email cover letter, resume, and references to recruit@organizetexas.org.