Voices Program Director

Company: Michigan United
Location: Kalamazoo
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Location: All Michigan locations will also be considered Full-Time Salary Range: $50,000 annually Benefits: Health care, Health savings account, Internet and Phone Stipends retirement plan, generous paid time off, two-month paid sabbatical after 4 years of service, phone and travel stipends. POSITION SUMMARY:-- The Michigan Hometown Voices Program Director will be responsible for inspiring, directing, and managing an organizing program composed of both grassroots community organizing policy campaigns and an ongoing deep canvass initiative (paid & volunteer). This person will serve on the organization's senior leadership team as the voice for the campaign. The Program Director will work closely with organizers, canvass leads, and Organizing Directors to implement strategy, membership, and fundraising work plans. Michigan United is working to expand our membership in rural and small-town areas that are predominantly working-class and poor because these communities: have real social and economic problems that cause hardship, pain, and suffering (e.g. unaffordable and inaccessible health care, mental health and addiction crisis, difficulties with reentry after incarceration, impacts of trade wars and climate change, underfunded schools, lack of well-paying jobs, deportation of immigrant communities, racism, xenophobia, and sexism). have been left out of progressive organizing for decades, only exacerbating these problems and seeding resentment towards the left and people in urban areas, and-- are currently being recruited by fascist, far right, and white supremacist organizing that poses a real threat to our democracy and safety as a country.-- In 2019 and 2020, we used a member-led listening campaign and deep canvass program in targeted rural, small town, and suburban communities to build bridges with thousands of community members, grow MI United's rural and small-town membership base, and identify issues we can build progressive campaigns around. Utilizing listening sessions at community-based institutions like churches, listening tables at county fairs, peer-to-peer phone calls and texting, a door-to-door deep canvassing research project (volunteer & paid), and 2020 election phone banking, we built a supporters base of thousands of people, with over 500 active volunteers and 75 committee members. Our geographic reach for member-led organizing included seven counties mostly in the Southeast and central lower peninsula, and was state-wide for the deep canvass and phone bank program. We voted to work on a set of rural policy priorities moving forward together: Health Care, Overdose Crisis, Environment/Pollution, Jobs & Wages, and College Affordability & Education; and we launched the multiracial Overdose Crisis campaign. Our membership and canvass teams specialize in addressing racialized divisive issues with moderate and conservative community members in a way that invites them to share our values and join our multiracial base working for progressive change.-- We are looking to organize this large base of supporters and volunteers into policy campaigns in 2021, specifically focusing on advocating for including a rural voice in the congressional reconciliation bill process led by the Biden administration.
-- ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Campaign Stability Design, write and redirect the campaign strategy regularly to meet the moment of the political climate. Stay current on issues vital to the affected communities, the political landscape, and other matters that affect the ability of Michigan United to fulfill its mission, goals, and objectives. Work closely with Michigan United organizing staff and national and local partners and funders to develop, refine and further the goals of the campaign. Management Guide staff on a weekly basis to help achieve their goals Specifically related to base building, campaigns, fundraising, governing power, leadership development Provide training and assist in finding training opportunities for staff growth-- Train new staff on work plans, organizational vision Hold staff accountable to reach goals Work closely with staff to develop annual goals, weekly and monthly work plans, and lead regular evaluations Respond to staff needs and emergencies and guide staff through difficult situations Lead hiring process for new positions in regional departments Member, Leader, and Staff Training and Recruitment-- Engage leaders in the campaign with one-to-ones. Educate leaders on the campaign strategy and prepare them to effectively convey their message in the media and with elected officials.-- Run successful press events and power meetings. Organize successful direct actions with a clear target, message, and roles for leaders. Organize effective core team and committee meetings. Write deep canvass scripts, create VAN universes, scripts, and campaigns, and organize canvass and volunteer shifts.-- Identify outreach strategies and potential leaders, proposition a self-driven / leader-led core team, and recruit active volunteers and committee members for the program. Proposition individuals and institutions to become dues-paying members.-- Manage the division of base-building between different staff and equip them to engage in these base-building activities with training and coaching.-- Hiring and Onboarding Lead applicant recruitment, hiring, and onboarding for new organizing and canvassing staff.-- Utilize an empowering and grounding team-building process and training. Organizational & Regional Strategy Actively help shape organizational culture and vision Work closely with all Organizing Directors and Campaign Managers to achieve Organizational goals-- Exceptional candidates will also be able to:-- Write and submit grant proposals for the growth of the program in collaboration with the development director and executive director. Create follow up reports and develop relationships with grantors.-- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Experience (paid or volunteer) in deep canvassing and/or community-based settings and/or demonstrated relationship-building skills;-- Personal connection to rural, small town, or working-class suburb areas preferred; Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Comfortable setting clear expectations and holding staff accountable to them; Literate in common computer applications, Google Suite, VAN; Strong commitment to social, racial, and economic justice, and passion for our issues; Ability to motivate diverse groups of people and work well as a team member;-- Ability to build and maintain constructive, positive relationships; Commitment to leadership development of leaders and members; Self-motivation and creative in problem-solving;-- Ability to perform with a high degree of skill in a fast-paced work environment with multiple priorities and responsibilities; Ability to travel and to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings Access to reliable transportation daily APPLICATION DETAILS: Current Michigan United members and leaders will be prioritized. This position will remain open until filled.-- Submit resume and contact information of three references (at least two references must be work-related, one may be personal) Please put the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line-- If you were referred by a member of the Michigan United staff, please let us know in your application.-- ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND: Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for economic and racial justice. We use the tools of community organizing, leadership training, advocacy, media work, and civic engagement to run strategic campaigns that win real change. We're committed to winning a better world for all of our communities, not just the privileged. We are the largest community organizing group in the state, with offices in Detroit, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint. We represent 100 member community organizations. Michigan United organizes along the following issue areas: immigrants' rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, universal family care (including health, child care, elder care, and paid sick time), and civic engagement. We work to build the capacity of community members who are directly impacted by these issues to lead and win concrete reforms that will change their own lives and shift the balance of power in our state. Michigan United, along with Michigan People's Campaign, our affiliated 501(c)(4), is serious about building long-term, political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first. Our main office is in Southwest Detroit, with additional offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Flint. As a racial and economic justice organization, we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race, ethnicity, income, and sexual orientation, as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve, to apply. Michigan Hometown Voices Program Director More Michigan United We are a coalition of labor, business, social service--and civil rights members all across Michigan, fighting for the rights of homeowners, renters, immigrant families and students. Michigan United
is a 501c(3). Donations are
tax-deductible.

Keywords: Michigan United, Kalamazoo , Voices Program Director, Executive , Kalamazoo, Michigan