Community and Advocacy Organizer

Community and Advocacy Organizer

The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) is building a movement to transform and expand public education in our state to ensure all students have access to quality public education that provides them with an opportunity to meet their full potential. We are on the cusp of restoring North Carolina as a national leader in public education policy and are making moves from the Sandhills to the Mountains to win the schools North Carolina students deserve.

The North Carolina Association of Educators seeks a metrics-based, energetic, and experienced staff to fill the position of Community and Advocacy Organizer within its Government Relations team to support the implementation of NCAE's legislative, community, and advocacy work. The Community and Advocacy Organizer will work to provide opportunities for NCAE's and its local affiliates to build issue advocacy and legislative campaigns while fostering relationships with parents, community, and partners.

The qualified candidates should have experience in data-driven programming, facilitating community and membership training, member-driven fundraising tactics, and implementing regional field programs. This position will work closely with members, local leadership, and the Government Relations team while reporting directly to the Deputy Director of Community and Political Organizing.

Responsibilities Within the Region

• Implement community, political, and electoral programs as well as the day-to-day community and political organizing.
• Be part of an organizing culture that is innovative, nimble, hungry to learn, and inspired to increase membership participation in community and political organizing and transform our public schools.
• Participate in the development of legislative resources, trainings, and systems to improve the functioning of the organizing team.
• Participate in the implementation and management of community campaigns and programs designed to grow members leadership and build power with community and parents.
• Support and implement comprehensive local campaigns aimed at winning a voice for educators in their workplace.
• Assist with grant applications that support community, legislative, and electoral programs.
• Participate in coordinating and then implementation of NCAE's involvement in federal, state, and local races, including independent expenditure, member communication programs, and other efforts to support endorsed candidates.
• Contribute to the design and subsequent execution of initiatives aimed at enhancing member engagement in both advocacy and electoral programs
• Collaborate with the GR department to increase member engagement in NCAE PAC.
• Discuss NCAE's overall political and campaign strategies with local leaders, members, and community partners.
• Track electoral and leadership opportunities for members to serve in elected and appointed School Board, County Commission, and other positions.

Skills and Qualifications Required

• At least 2+ years of organizing experience in labor, electoral, political, and community organizing or comparable environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of trust-building, and the ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong commitment to the goals of public education, including social, racial, and economic justice.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local campaign finance rules and regulations and lobbying rules.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work well with all religious, cultural, ethnic, and social groups.
• Ability to identify, recruit and develop member leaders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to be adaptable and flexible in a fast-paced environment.
• An understanding of and commitment to the kinds of training, resources, and organizing management systems that set members up for success.
• An understanding of the role community and parents play in advancing the cause of great public schools for all students.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting frequent and tight deadlines.
• An excellent collaborator and team player.
• A willingness to work nights and weekends and travel to locals across the region.
• Digital platform competency – Zoom, VAN, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Suite required

Preferred:

• Experience organizing in North Carolina and understanding of the North Carolina political landscape.
• Experience working on electoral or advocacy programs.
• Experience working within and building strong relationships in coalition with community partners.
• Experience using Microsoft SharePoint and Airtable.

In particular, we would be thrilled about candidates who:

• Shares our core commitment and has experience building power through supporting, investing in, training, and coaching member leaders.
• Believes that members are the core of our union and are best positioned to lead our work and are deeply committed to member leadership.
• Believes in deep investment in training and professional development for organizing staff.
• Recognizes that securing broad support from elected officials spanning the political spectrum is crucial for fostering meaningful legislative change in public schools

Location: Position is based at NCAE headquarters in Raleigh.

Compensation: This is a temporary Professional Staff Step 0 position of the NCAE/NCSO staff union contract per section 1.07 with a daily rate of pay of $241.98 and Health Care Benefits.