Youth Organizer, Coastal MS Region

Job Description

Job Description

About Us:

Mississippi Votes (MSVotes) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of intergenerational synergy centering and led by young people invested in the progression of Mississippi. We do this through our programming and outreach strategy that empowers young people, encourages civic engagement, and educates communities on voting rights through place-based, grassroots organizing. Our vision is to cultivate a transformative culture of civic engagement throughout the state of Mississippi.

Overview :

There will be four (4) Youth Organizers on the Field Team. Each Youth Organizer will co-facilitate the field plans of their respective region’s high schools, colleges, and universities, with a strategic understanding of Mississippi Votes’ theory of change in relation to developing a voter friendly Mississippi under the direction of and with support from their respective Regional Coordinator. The Youth Organizers will be responsible for frequently assisting the Policy & Research Team to develop the organization’s field plan and communal approach to the vision towards developing legislation that seeks to expand Mississippi’s electorate. The Youth Organizers co-facilitate all GOTV efforts including, but not limited to, MS Votes’ annual #Up2Us campaign. The Youth Organizers are responsible for managing a database of national and local supporters; forming or joining coalitions as necessary with unanimous approval from the Leadership Team. The Youth Organizer will also be responsible for developing and implementing a program to increase civic engagement among high school and college students in Mississippi. The Youth Organizer will coordinate with local schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations to identify opportunities for students to get involved in their communities and to learn about the political process. They will also develop and lead workshops and other educational programming to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be active and engaged citizens. 

The Youth Organizers are responsible for organizing in one of the 4 regional offices identified by Mississippi Votes: 1.) Jackson (Central), MS, 2.) Hattiesburg (South), MS, 3.) Cleveland (Delta), MS, and 4.) Gulfport (Coast), MS. Each of these offices are located strategically in Mississippi’s Congressional Districts. In some instances, the Youth Organizer will be responsible for assisting to organize and work in and around college campuses in the areas they are responsible for.

The Youth Organizers will lead for the day to day operations and programming for the Democracy in Action Fellowship Program, as well as the Youth Advisory Council, and are also responsible for any programming or events involving high school and college-aged students in their respective region. (note: college age doesn't mean that those persons participating have to be in a traditional educational setting; they just happen to fall in the 18-39 age range thus making them eligible to participate in programming).

Responsibilities:

• Establish a strong professional culture within the voter services team focused on accountability, specific goals, innovation, and sense of purpose. 
• Understand and be aware of Elections Laws and Regulations in the state of Mississippi.
• Willing to work with a fundraising team on occasion to assist with narrative building. 
• Manage the field program budget and logistics in coordination. 
• Ability to design, communicate, and implement a comprehensive, data-driven field plan.
• Build and manage a large, multi-layered statewide intergenerational field team consisting of paid staff, student fellows and interns, and volunteers. 
• Set and meet benchmarks for voter registration, volunteer recruitment, voter contact, grassroots engagement, and get out the vote (GOTV). 
• Co-create and implement a quality control system for voter registration maintenance within every level of the organization’s programs. 
• Work with Regional Coordinators and Voter Services Team to design and standardize best practices for data management using the organization’s data software to track and report on program progress and outcomes across all campuses. (i.e. voter registration services, canvassing details, etc…)
• Co-Manage MS Votes’ VAN (Voter Access Network) and Every Action software; work towards building an independent data platform. 
• Monitor initiatives and efforts to measure impact (i.e. voter registration/turnout, #Up2Us Campaign residuals).
• Execute YAC programming curriculum to increase civic engagement among students in Mississippi.
• Develop and lead workshops and other educational programming to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to be active and engaged citizens.
• Build relationships with local schools and community organizations to create partnerships and opportunities for students to get involved in their communities and to learn about the political process.
• Support efforts to strengthen relationships with key local, state, and national partners/alliances to work with and enrich the learning experience for students. Develop a coalition of organizations doing youth civic engagement work in Mississippi and across the country.
• Manage the day to day operations of MS Votes’ college and university programming that include the Democracy in Action Fellowship and potentially student groups that form with our ideology and practice. This also includes creating/developing advocacy toolkits, issue briefs, reports, and policy statements affecting college aged youth; lead the revision of existing MS Votes advocacy toolkits to share strategies and tips for youth and collegiate organizing. 
• Set frequent meetings that discuss the status and flow of programming that will intersect as well as set quarterly goals and objectives based on the overarching goals and vision of the organization as laid out by the Executive Director.
• Where appropriate, represent MS Votes at conferences, in the media, and other approved events. 
• Lead Summer Youth Programming.
• Help coordinate Voter Empowerment Project.
• Other duties as assigned by leadership to include but not be limited to supporting the Field Organizer, Policy and Research, Communications, or any other team or division at MS Votes.

Qualifications:

• Ability to lead large groups of people, create electoral plans, and inspire young people to participate in civic engagement.
• Experience in leading statewide or regional field programs and mobilizing volunteers.
• Management and training experience. 
• Well organized individuals with effective time management skills that can take initiative to work independently and in a team with minimal supervision. 
• Experience in program coordination, event planning, and youth organizing required.
• Strong computer skills including G Suite and database management.
• Experience with VAN.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to gracefully manage multiple projects to meet multiple deadlines. 
• Enthusiasm for the work and willingness to learn.
• Must be knowledgeable of the political landscape of Mississippi. 
• Bachelor’s Degree or 3 years of equivalent experience in community organizing, field organizing, and/or youth engagement preferred.

Position Details:

• Must be able to canvass for hours at a time.
• Long hours at the computer are necessary at times.
• Car and valid driver’s license required for in-state travel.
• Flexibility in work hours as evenings and weekend hours are necessary at time.

• Position based in
  • Hattiesburg, MS
• Evenings and weekend hours may be necessary.
• 75% Travel Required .

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $50,000 annually
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Healthcare, dental, and vision coverage at 50% paid by MS Votes
• 100% employer-covered mental health support benefit
• Paid holidays, PTO, and organizational closure periods
• Professional development opportunities

Reports To:

Respective Regional Coordinator

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Able to work on a computer including sitting at a desk for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation; manual dexterity to operate a keyboard; able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in-person and be understood by others; able to hear and understand speech, including on the phone; able to understand and follow oral and written instructions; able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds, etc. Must be able to stretch, bend, kneel, twist, squat, reach above or below the shoulder, push, grasp, and lift up to 20 pounds. able to walk, drive, write, stand, and sit. Ability to walk for up to 4 hours daily to canvass door-to-door. 

Mississippi Votes is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, height, weight, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or religious affiliation.