Position: Health Care Field Organizer

Location: Washington, DC preferred
Post Date: September 30, 2008
Closing Date: Open until filled.

About the Campaign for Community Change

The Campaign for Community Change (The Campaign) aims to increase the profile of policy issues that matter to low-income people and people of color; educate and empower communities to act on those issues; and influence the
federal legislation to benefit low-income families and communities. Specifically, the Campaign works to equip low-income, immigrant and communities of color with the skills and resources to participate year-round in the electoral process. The Campaign’s goal is to ensure that these communities—historically underrepresented in voter turnout—are recognized as constituencies to which every candidate is accountable. We aim to promote a culture of civic participation and assist our constituencies to become fully engaged in American democracy.

One of the most distinctive elements of the Campaign is that it is driven by local grassroots groups and leaders. The Campaign provides guidance and support, but the ownership is in the hands of the people from these communities and the organizations to which they belong. The Campaign will provide partner organizations with an array of support and resources to help them reach their electoral goals through voter education, registration, mobilization and protection, as well as efforts designed to strengthen the membership and leadership within their organizations. For further information please visit our website at www.campaignforcommunities.org

Position Description:

The role of the Health Care Field Organizer is to assist the Campaign for Community Change and state partner groups in building strong campaigns to educate the public about the problems and solutions in the health care system and mobilize grassroots support for national health care reform. This will involve frequent travel in order to work on site with state and local partner organizations. The regional organizer will work with organizations in no less then five states.

Principal Responsibilities:

The duties of the Health Care Field Organizer focus primarily on campaign development and field organizing support with multiple state partner groups.

These duties include:

• Work with state staff to develop state campaign plans integrated with the broader goals of state partners and HCAN, and support state organizers to execute strategic events, actions and activities in coordination with state partners / HCAN; this includes regular travel for on-site organizing support.
• Work with state staff to analyze national health care policies and develop public education materials on issues that impact low-income and immigrant families.
• Support state partner organizations by assisting in event planning, recruitment, turnout, media work, and special projects as needed; assist in oversight of turnout and recruitment plans and troubleshoot work plans to ensure success on events and projects.
• Work to develop state organizers’ skills in the areas of organizing, outreach, media, campaign planning, and political analysis; as needed, develop organizing skills by setting the pace and modeling home visits, turnout calls, executing press events, etc.
• Provide training for state partners’ grassroots members, including power analysis, organizing skills, health care policy, and media and message training. & work to plan and implement group meetings of multiple organizations for the purpose of joint training, programmatic planning and evaluation
• Draft media materials and other resources for distribution at the state level.

Qualifications:

• Deep commitment to a vision of racial, social, and economic justice and to building progressive power.
• At least 3 years experience in community/grassroots organizing, political campaigns and/or legislative work.
• Strong written and verbal skills and ability to listen.
• Experience with national campaigns or large municipal/state coalitions strongly preferred.
• Strong written and verbal skills, and ability to listen.
• Ability to produce consistent, quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for field support and evaluation and to work flexible hours required.
• Ability to work independently and strong time management skills.
• Strong facilitation skills.
• Computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet & database, electronic communication).
• Ability to speak Spanish or other languages a plus.
• Experience with national campaigns or large municipal/state coalitions a plus.
  
• A sense of humor.

This position reports to:  Health Care Team Leader

Salary & Benefits:  The Campaign for Community Change offers a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

Closing Date of Position:  Open Until Filled

How to apply: Please submit resume, cover letter that includes salary expectations and at least two writing samples to:

employment@communitychange.org
(Fax) 202-387-4891
Center for Community Change
Human Resources
Re: Health Care Field Organizer
1536 U Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009