API PA Paid Canvasser Allegheny County

Temporary position based in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, with an immediate need beginning September and concluding in November 2026.

About the Organization

The Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance's (API PA) mission is to build long-term power for Asians and Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania by:

• coordinating political, electoral, and legislative work to hold elected officials accountable,
• engaging in culturally competent and linguistically accessible direct voter contact with our communities, and
• building solidarity with other aligned communities of color across the state.

We operate primarily in South Asian, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese communities and are the first and only political organization directly advocating for the needs of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania.

About the Role

API PA will be launching a variety of programs throughout the Fall of 2026 with the goals of:

• learning about issues that matter to Asian Pacific Islanders living in Pennsylvania,
• encouraging Asian Pacific Islanders to register and vote,
• educating individuals on elections and candidates for office, and
• ensuring API voters have in-language support for any voting-related needs.

We are seeking passionate, engaged individuals with strong listening and communication skills to speak to voters, with an emphasis on Asian Pacific Islander voters. API PA will provide training and materials, including PPE as appropriate. We aim to invest in our canvassers through meaningful work, constructive feedback, and exposure to opportunities in the policy and advocacy space.

Responsibilities

• Door-to-door canvassing: Engage in face-to-face conversations with voters in target geographies using the MiniVAN Canvassing app.
• Track conversations in the provided canvassing platform.
• Participate in canvassing training and debriefing sessions.
• Attend organization-wide meetings and events as directed by supervisor.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Requirements

• Vaccinated against COVID-19 and boosted (exemptions available for valid religious and medical reasons).
• Physically able to walk up to 2.5 miles per shift.
• Access to a cell phone and vehicle.
• Tech literacy, including use of cell phones, tablets, Google Maps, and data entry via an app.
• Conversational fluency in English.
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills; outgoing and willing to discuss political issues with strangers.
• Able to work independently.
• Personal knowledge of and/or experience working with Asian American communities.
• Ability to work with diverse staff.
• Understanding of and commitment to API PA’s values, or strong willingness to learn.

Desired Qualifications

• Conversational fluency in an Asian language (e.g., Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu).
• Prior canvassing or equivalent experience (e.g., sales, door-to-door marketing, phone banking, call centers).

Schedule

• 30 hours per week, with shifts of 6-8 hours at a time.
• Flexibility to work weekends required.
• Temporary position from early September 2026 through early November 2026.

Pay

Hourly rate: $21/hour starting.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time (30+ hours) employees.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Travel reimbursement.
• Weekly pay.