Community Organizer (Green-Collar Jobs)

SOCM, a statewide, multi-issue, multi-racial community organization working for social, economic, and environmental justice in Tennessee, is seeking applications for several community organizer positions. Originally based in the coalfields of east Tennessee and named Save Our Cumberland Mountains, SOCM has changed its name to Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment to reflect a more diverse constituency, issues, and geographic areas. SOCM is democratically run by its members and invests in member leadership development as well as winning issues that affect their lives.

SOCM Organizers work with members in chapters on local issues and in issue committees on statewide campaigns to help set strategy, build leadership, carry out work plans, and move campaigns forward. SOCM is committed to anti-racism work and to organizing that builds greater racial diversity. Positions require some internal fundraising and extensive writing duties.

SOCM works on a broad platform of issue goals including social, economic, and environmental justice issues. Parallel to our issue work run complimentary tracks of grassroots leadership development, organizational development, and building strategic alliances with like-minded organizations.

SOCM is led by a Board of Directors, composed of one elected representative from each of our 6 chapters plus 4 officers who are elected by the full membership. This volunteer board is responsible for setting and evaluating organizational policies, as well as developing goals and strategic direction. SOCM's staff team works with grassroots members and leaders to implement organizational goals and priorities, as well as local chapter campaigns. Currently we have a staff of 9 people, including 3 organizers.

SOCM invests significant time and resources in professional development of individual employees and the staff team as a whole. Each Organizer is responsible for pursuing an annual Professional Development and Growth Plan with guidance from the organizing team director. Organizers are also provided annual growth leave to pursue professional development opportunities.

Position Overview:

Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment (SOCM) seeks a Green-Collar Jobs Organizer to lead our efforts to promote green-collar jobs in energy efficiency and other emerging sectors, and promote the affordability of energy efficiency programs in TN. SOCM's Board recommended research into a statewide campaign on "good jobs" in 2008, spawning the Good Jobs Working Group, which later became the Green-Collar Jobs Committee and section in SOCM's 5-Year Strategic Plan under Statewide Social & Economic Justice Initiatives, this being the first.

Though much has been learned and many partnerships begun, to make statewide impact, we need to inform and organize those most affected by the lack of information and affordability of existing energy efficiency programs (e.g., weatherization), as well as lack of training or access to manufacturing jobs in this emerging sector. Only when energy consumers and other key constituency groups are informed and organized will we be able to influence decision-making of policy makers, business leaders, utility companies, and customers.

Current challenges of organizer positions include:

Developing a growing base of young, racially diverse members with the skills and knowledge to provide vision and leadership within SOCM, our issue campaigns and the broader community. Creating ongoing opportunities for SOCM members living in rural areas to learn about and contribute to the larger public debate about social, economic and environmental justice issues. Implementing a very challenging workplan with minimal supervision and often working in isolation from other staff members.

Direct Supervisor: Reports to the Lead Organizer/Assistant Director

Responsibilities:

I. Develop a broad, diverse base of skilled, active and politically conscious leaders:

1. Make good use of leadership development methods, including one-to-one conversations, individual mentoring, workshops and on-the-job training; opportunities for individual and collective action, reflection and evaluation; and exposure to events and information that deepen members' understanding of community organizing as a tool for building power.
2. Build members' understanding of and commitment to SOCM, including our vision, mission, goals, strategies, structure and democratic process.
3. Foster members' involvement in fundraising, membership recruitment, governance and other activities that strengthen the statewide organization.
4. Assist and train members in essential organizing skills, including speaking in public, working with the media, planning direct actions, lobbying, involving others, running good meetings, doing targeted research, developing campaign strategy, and building diverse, powerful organizations.
5. Model "best practices" such as thoughtful design and use of agendas, workplans, and strategies; consistent evaluation; and the encouragement of new leaders.
6. Encourage the development of strategic relationships among SOCM leaders and between those leaders and key external players and organizations.

II. Solidify and coordinate SOCM's campaign strategy to achieve a renewable energy economy in Tennessee through the promotion of green-collar jobs in energy efficiency and manufacturing:

1. Provide leadership and campaign coordination for a SOCM strategy team.
2. Solidify a plan for SOCM's role in the fair and effective implementation of existing residential weatherization programs in TN, including identifying strategic counties/legislative districts, and launching a campaign to push for continued and expanded programs that target vulnerable populations, as well as the promotion of fair hiring practices for manufacturing jobs in this sector.
3. Assist members in planning and carrying out public meetings, doing direct actions, preparing testimony, acting as spokespeople, lobbying and other organizing tactics.
4. Coordinate and assist in the creation of local organizing teams in targeted counties/legislative districts, including new member recruitment.
5. Serve as SOCM's point person for collaboration with ally organizations working on the campaign.

III. Develop and coordinate an organizing strategy aimed at identifying, informing, and activating hundreds of residents in targeted areas of the state:

1. Coordinate direct contact with hundreds of residents in targeted areas and oversee a plan to provide these individuals with ongoing campaign information and opportunities to take action.
2. Create user-friendly materials that describe this campaign, explain relevant research, and empower people to take action.
3. Coordinate a strategic communications plan aimed at informing and empowering members/leaders, pressuring targets, and changing the dialogue about jobs and our energy future in Tennessee.
4. Incorporate an internal communications effort to inform local chapters and at-large members and offer opportunities for cross-fertilization and group thinking to feed back into the Committee and any actions.
5. Engage in an ongoing dialogue with allies about the development and implementation of messages and communications strategy.

IV. Coordinate SOCM's development of research and analysis needed to support this campaign:

1. Research best practices in state and local economic development innovations to see how they can be applied and utilized in this campaign, such as: Community Benefits Agreements; Disclosure and Transparency; Job Quality Standards; Clawbacks and Rescissions; and Green Building Standards.
2. Become knowledgeable about and familiar with the state and local government agencies and partners relevant to the generation of green-collar jobs, energy efficiency and renewable energy, particularly those in the targeted areas.
3. Map the landscape in targeted areas and across Tennessee as a whole, including key individuals, organizations, and media outlets.
4. Become knowledgeable about training programs in community colleges, community-based training programs, YouthBuild, Conservation Corps, and/or pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship programs in the targeted areas.

V. Conduct and inspire effective, consistent grassroots fundraising:

1. Consistently recruit new SOCM members and motivate members to do the same.
2. Take initiative in identifying and soliciting donations.
3. Motivate and challenge members and leaders to understand the importance of grassroots fundraising and increase their fundraising skills and involvement.
4. Model fundraising "best practices" by consistently and visibly asking people to join and/or contribute to SOCM and by fostering a spirit of celebration and accountability.

VI. Develop and strengthen SOCM's relationships with a broad range of ally organizations capable of bringing energy, capacity, political muscle, expertise, and important perspectives to this campaign:

1. Foster strategic relationships between SOCM and our allies, media, decision-makers and other external players.
2. Actively engage and collaborate with ally organizations that are providing leadership in this effort.
3. Enlist endorsements/involvement from a broad range of sectors, including student groups, workforce training agencies, community development organizations, social, economic and environmental justice professors, faith communities/leaders, business leaders and unions, and other potential allies.
4. Build and strengthen relationships with key allies in the labor movement, particularly trades unions that have model pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship programs.

VII. Contribute to staff teams:

1. Work with team director to develop, use and evaluate annual, quarterly and weekly workplans, including self-development plans, which reflect the priority goals of the organization.
2. Participate fully and constructively in Organizing Team meetings and other staff meetings, and periodically help to plan and facilitate those discussions.
3. Contribute to a culture of mutual respect, support, accountability, appreciation and learning, based on good working relationships and communication with other staff.

VIII. Other:

1. Provide limited organizing support to at-large members when requested, appropriate and feasible.
2. Efficiently fulfill administrative responsibilities, including email, phone and mail correspondence; expense forms; timesheets; board reports; maintaining accurate and legible files, both hard copy and electronic, in an effort to leave an accessible trail for future staff and members.
3. Participate in and help organize the Annual Meeting and other major organization-wide activities.
4. Ensure care and maintenance of SOCM equipment and property, including cars, computers, and other technology.
5. Maintain an orderly and professional office and ensure care and maintenance of SOCM equipment and property, including cars, computers, and other technology.

Qualifications:

1. Commitment to member-led community organizing: Commitment to social, economic, and environmental justice through community organizing; a passion for community organizing work and desire to pursue organizing goals for the long-haul; experience as a volunteer member or leader in a member-led grassroots organizing group.
2. Self-motivated multi-tasker: takes initiative; self-starting; organized; creative; attention to detail; own a car or have daily access to reliable transportation; ability to work independently and cooperatively in teams; demonstrated ability to work with multiple goals and responsibilities, prioritize work effectively, and to build and carry out workplans; continual learning and disciplined self-development.
3. Personable and charismatic leader: empathetic and compassionate; ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds (including race, income-level, age, and ability); integrity; patient; hopeful; positive and encouraging; ability to build trusting, challenging relationships; good communication skills including listening, asking challenging questions, and writing; confident and capable.
4. Flexibility: must be able to travel to different parts of state and region and accommodate work schedule that includes evening and weekend commitments; ability to adjust work style to diverse needs of members; ability to cope with changing and uncertain circumstances.
5. Previous organizing experience: at least 1 year of previous, paid organizing experience required; ability to create conditions that empower others to take ownership and become leaders; demonstrated problem solving abilities and abilities to think and work strategically; evidence of a commitment to diversity and an understanding of how to work effectively in and with diverse communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color; experience as a facilitator, trainer and designer of participatory workshops with adults; experience organizing fundraising events: coordinating events and donor campaigns; experience in developing and implementing successful media campaigns; experience in direct communication with voters, including canvassing, tabling and phone banks.
6. Knowledge of campaign issues: knowledge of the green job movement, economic transition, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and community and economic development strategies.
7. Ability to use technology to strengthen work product: knowledge of Microsoft Word; familiarity with Apple computers and ability to work in an all-Mac office; Knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and other software is helpful; experience using listservs to communicate with members; experience using digital cameras to capture event photos or willingness to learn;
8. Experience with large-scale organizational change and ability to proactively seek problem-solving resolutions in an ever-evolving environment;
9. Knowledge of and commitment to SOCM and our work: knowledge of TN politics, regions, issues, people and organizations is desirable; Commitment to attend a mandatory anti-racism workshop and support efforts of organization to implement within all work SOCM's commitment to become an anti-racist organization; knowledge of SOCM's active issue campaigns.

Compensation: Salary is negotiable based upon relevant experience. The SOCM base salary is $27,000 plus an additional $1,000 per year of relevant experience. SOCM offers full family health insurance for all employees that includes vision and dental coverage. Staff is also provided with a work-issued laptop, digital camera, and cell phone/internet stipend when appropriate. Time off includes 15 vacation days per year, 10 holidays (New Year's, MLK, Memorial, 4th of July, Labor Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, + 1 personal day) plus business days between Christmas and New Year's when office is closed, 12 sick days, and 5 personal days for growth leave. We have a compensation time policy and a one-month maternity/paternity/family leave policy. SOCM provides sabbaticals after 5 years, and we offer a pension plan and begin making contributions after 2 years.

Deadline: Open until filled.

To Apply:

Please send resume, letter of interest with "GCJ Organizer" in the subject and 3 references to: Organizing Hiring Team, c/o Cassie Watters.

SOCM is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.