Overview

A little about us…

We are a statewide, grassroots membership organization that fights for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. We organize in communities to build power. We collaborate with organizations and coalitions in communities across New York to win on key issues and elect progressive candidates at the local, state and federal levels. Our member-driven organizing campaigns focus on issues at the state, local, and federal levels, including ending mass incarceration, public education funding, housing, health care, money in politics and taxing the rich. We play a leadership role in organizing major statewide coalitions and campaigns fighting for bold policy changes.

We’re looking to add a lead organizer in the Capital District to our team. This position will report to the regional director for its region. The Lead Organizer’s purpose is to drive their chapter’s on the ground organizing and managing the staff and regional board to create, implement and hit campaign and electoral goals. In this role you will work closely with the regional, regional board, members, and community organizer to create a regional vision and implement it. The Lead organizer also must be a strategic political thinker who responds to community crises and builds a progressive coalition and movement. 

This dynamic, fast-paced role takes an individual with a strong work ethic and a desire to help others while furthering the movement. Success will require skills including supervision and team management, prioritization, organization and attention to detail, perseverance, and a solutions-oriented approach to the work.

Citizen Action of New York takes pride in hiring staff who share our values & characteristics. 

These include:

  • Commitment to Citizen Action’s mission and vision and passionate about issues of social, racial, economic and environmental justice
  • Ability to think strategically and creatively to solve problems
  • A high degree of professionalism and professional maturity
  • Collaborative work style and demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and with people from a variety of different backgrounds

What you’ll do and the impact you’ll make:

  • Organize actions, mobilizations, canvassing, media coverage and other activities as part of our issue and electoral campaigns.
  • Successfully organize events as part of our statewide campaigns.
  • Identify new volunteers and members through frequent door to door and phone banking.
  • Recruit dues-paying members, build our volunteer base and train local members and leaders on organizing skills.
  • Build and provide support to local coalitions and local Citizen Action leadership committees.
  • Raise local funds.
  • Supervise one or more community organizers.
  • Use strong managerial skills to support organizers and member leaders with day-to-day work and lead with vision.
  • Develop and engage with electoral strategy for endorsed candidates. 
  • Responsible for maintaining the chapters’ office space, and reports any challenges to their supervisor/operations department staff
  • Responsible for maintaining and securing organization-owned supplies and equipment assigned to the chapter
  • Supervise the community organizer for the region

Who you are and what you’ve accomplished:

  • At least three years of experience as a community organizer.
  • Demonstrated ability to demonstrate skills, recruit and train staff and volunteers in the core activities of the organization (recruitment, campaign tools/activities, communications, etc). 
  • Effectively use the organization’s training methodology – demonstrating the skill, doing shoulder to shoulder work, tracking results, analyzing results, and providing effective feedback. 
  • Demonstrated ability to exceed outreach goals (phone banking, 1-1s, canvassing, etc.)
  • Demonstrated success and skills in recruiting, running and supporting new staff/volunteers doing phone banks, canvassing, planning events, lobbying, facilitating workshops and meetings.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills- a strong communicator, in person or virtual
  • Enjoys outreach, not resistant to outreach and meeting new people
  • Develops creative approaches to problem-solving, including strong analytic, strategic and planning skills geared to meeting organizations goals.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends.
  • Strong basic planning skills, both personally and professionally
  • Excels in relationship building
  • Ability to work independently
  • Open mindedness / willingness to take direction
  • Motivation and commitment to the work and progressive change
  • Has ability to teach and facilitate meetings/lead group/committee/volunteer
  • Self-motivated
  • Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to build trust and maintain relationships with community partners and fellow staff members
  • Basic computer skills, including word, excel, and a willingness to train and learn on new programs and learn consistently. 
  • Ability and willingness to fully adopt use of Google Drive, EveryAction, Asana, VAN, Slack, Action Network, ThruTalk, Spoke/Relay, and any other tools used by the organizations.
  • Ability to travel, including having a reliable car and valid driver’s license.
  • One year supervisory and fundraising experience, or completion of a formal training on these topics

Extra Credit:

  • Knowledge of local, federal, and/or New York State politics.
  • Ability to work independently with members and elected leaders in complex political situations.
  • A deep commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice.
  • Bilingual

Our Benefits:

  • Working collaboratively in an organization at the forefront of building power across NYS 
  • Competitive salary
  • 100% paid employee monthly medical and vision premiums
  • Access to mental health and dental plans
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Monthly cell phone stipend
  • 12 organization-paid holidays, generous vacation 
  • Biannual statewide staff meetings

Salary: The salary for this position is $62,740.00.

Relocation stipend available.

This position is based in the Capital District, NY (Albany and surrounding areas), therefore the candidate will have to live in Albany County or the surrounding area. 

Please note, all benefits are subject to change.

Citizen Action of New York is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. We are looking for the most passionate people who want to join our team. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Applicants may be entitled to reasonable accommodations under the terms of the ADA and state/local laws. Please let us know if you need assistance participating in the interview process.