Chispa TX Community Organizer

Title: Chispa TX Community Organizer
Department: Community and Civic Engagement
Status: Non-Exempt
Reports To: Chispa TX Program Director
Positions Reporting To This Position: None
Location: Corpus Christi, TX 
Travel Requirements: Up to 10%
Union Position: Yes
Job Classification Level: B
Salary Range (depending on experience): $59,131 – $69,365

General Description:

LCV believes our earth is worth fighting for because everyone has a right to clean air, water, and a safe, healthy community. To ensure those rights are protected, we help people use their power to shape policy, hold politicians and polluters accountable, and influence elections.

Chispa, a program of LCV, works to ensure that Latine communities and leaders have a strong voice in the movement for climate justice and within the environmental movement and influence the environmental policies and decisions that impact our health and environment. Based in the Community & Civic Engagement department Chispa has programs in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and Texas. 

LCV is hiring a Chispa Texas Community Organizer who will help create and implement Chispa TX’s organizing strategies by engaging communities across Nueces and San Patricio counties, particularly Latine families and leaders, in climate justice, democracy, and other issues. The Community Organizer will execute strategic, holistic campaign plans and strategies in the field to build our base of volunteers and supporters, and develop the leadership of our base that drives our organizing campaigns forward. This position will be part of a dynamic, skilled, and growing data-driven organizing team, working closely with the Chispa TX Program Director, Chispa TX Digital Organizer, Chispa national team, and community members and leaders to ensure that communities in Texas are civically engaged and are part of the decision-making process that impacts their health and environment. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, enthusiastic, and passionate about the fight for climate justice and ready to take action to hold polluters accountable and advocate for community driven solutions to address climate change and environmental racism.

Responsibilities:

• Build, develop and work with a base of dedicated grassroots leadership in the community that is part of the development of campaigns and are advocating for environmental justice, community health policies, and the protection of our democracy.
• Create opportunities for community outreach and build coalitions by organizing meetings, tabling at events, and partnering with organizations.
• Identify potential new members, recruit, engage and retain new volunteers by conducting one-on-ones, presentations, and door-knocking and utilizing other community organizing strategies and methods.
• Develop a base of youth volunteers by working with local high schools, colleges, and universities to build civic engagement and develop their leadership. 
• Support volunteer leaders in the development and sustaining of organizing committees that are involved in advancing campaign goals.
• Work closely with the organizing team and Chispa TX Program Director to implement and evaluate issue-organizing campaigns centered on democracy and climate justice that successfully recruit volunteers, build grassroots leaders and get the attention of decision-makers and media.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the Chispa TX Digital Organizer in implementing digital strategies, developing digital content, and recruiting new online volunteers while ensuring alignment with program campaign goals.
• Maintain and build relationships with schools, churches, community organizations, labor unions, public health groups, and other local organizations to work in partnership to advance shared goals.
• Track organizing work and data meticulously in VAN; submit reports to the Chispa TX Program Director.
• Support volunteers or promotores in learning technology to participate in Chispa TX online events.
• Manage a small organizer budget to support promotores work and entry point opportunities to bring in new members.
• Travel up to 10% of the time in-state and out-of-state for organizing activities and staff retreats and conferences, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Work Experience: Required – 2 years of experience in grassroots community organizing, issue, or labor organizing programs. Successful track record of grassroots community organizing, training volunteers, leadership development, implementing strategies and tactics, and partnering with other groups. Preferred – Experience organizing in Texas, especially in rural, predominantly Latine or BIPOC communities in the Coastal Bend region. Experience with VAN, EveryAction, Hustle, Microsoft Office, Adobe programs, and Google Drive. 
• Skills: Required – Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; proficient writing abilities; ability to work independently and thrive in a collaborative team-centered environment; ability to prioritize and effectively manage tasks in a fast-paced work environment; strong organizational skills; demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Bilingual – Written and spoken fluency in English and Spanish. Preferred – Ability to speak to members of the media. Understanding of climate justice and democracy issues. 
• Cultural Competence: Passionate about protecting the environment and communities impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. Committed to confronting institutional racism and inequity within our political system. An ability to apply a racial justice lens, and a variety of communities’ distinct perspectives to organizing strategies. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Understanding the ways in which principles of racial justice and equity are vital to improving our democratic systems and environmental challenges effectively.
• Working Conditions: This job operates both in a professional office environment and in outdoor and indoor public spaces, and the person will be exposed to outdoor elements such as precipitation, wind, and high/low temperatures. This position is occasionally sedentary; however, attending meetings and canvassing out in the communities is also frequently required. The person in the position will frequently be expected to move about to accomplish tasks and move between sites. This position routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and audiovisual systems. The person in this position frequently communicates with community members and must be able to exchange accurate information. Ability to occasionally work evening and weekend hours as needed. Position requires a valid driver’s license and liability insurance or access to reliable transportation. Applicants need to be located in and legally authorized to work in the United States. LCV requires all employees working from our offices or participating in in-person meetings or events to be fully up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law.

LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Chispa TX Community Organizer” in the subject line by May 10, 2023. No phone calls please.

LCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a racially just, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected status. LCV is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact hr@lcv.org.

Website: https://www.lcv.org/careers/chispa-tx-community-organizer/ 

To Apply: Send cover letter and resume to hr@lcv.org with “Chispa TX Community Organizer” in the subject line by May 10, 2023. No phone calls please.