Lead Organizer

About the organization

The Texas Organizing Project (TOP), founded in 2009, is the leading statewide organizing group in Texas, advancing racial and economic justice through community and electoral organizing. Our programs are anchored in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. TOP has a base of more than 300,000 members and supporters who reflect Texas’ growing population of Black and Latino families. Through on-the-ground organizing, grassroots leadership training, direct action, policy advocacy, and electoral engagement, TOP has secured policy solutions and public investments in neighborhood infrastructure, family-sustaining jobs, affordable housing, community schools, health access, and immigrant rights. TOP also runs the largest independent grassroots electoral field operation in the state, engaging hundreds of thousands of voters of color each election cycle.

About the role

The Lead Organizer will supervise a team of community organizers and ensure our healthcare campaign is interconnected with our other counties. This management-level position reports directly to the Campaign / Organizing Director and is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating organizing approaches to center directly affected communities in decision-making and build people power.

Responsibilities

• With members of the staff team, build a membership base with a focus on directly-impacted folks from Black and Latino communities.
• Support organizers in developing strong leaders in accordance with TOP’s established leadership ladder.
• Manage, train, and develop organizing staff to ensure consistent practices and implementation of organizing tools (door knocking, phone banking, one-on-ones, etc.) to reach campaign goals and complete administrative tasks like conducting performance reviews and approving timesheets.
• Support organizers experimenting with new methods to build a base and develop strong leaders in order to continually improve TOP’s approach to building people power.
• Facilitate and lead effective organizing weekly check-ins and team meetings.
• Take part in co-creating campaign plans with grassroots leaders and other staff.
• Support organizers to engage their members and leaders in campaigns that achieve short-term victories and make measurable progress toward TOP being a pro-Black organization that is dismantling racial capitalism.
• Work with other lead organizers and campaign directors to build a strong organizing culture within TOP.
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the political and racial justice sphere in Black and Latino communities.
• Represent TOP at community activities to enhance the organization’s community profile.
• Establish good working relationships with community partners to help achieve the organization’s goals.
• Develop and manage membership recruitment, development, and retention systems.
• Consistently track, input, and support organizers to input data into the EveryAction database (training provided).
• Participate in electoral organizing during election season on an as-needed basis, including door-knocking and phone-banking.
• Embody TOP values, putting into practice organizational and individual staff development practices.
• Assist with fundraising as needed.
• Assist with other duties assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience as a community organizer, including base building and leadership development.
• At least 1 year of experience managing a team, project, or campaign, and supporting the development and growth of team members.
• Personal interest, passion, and commitment to leadership development of grassroots leaders and engaging new communities in social and racial justice work.
• Relentless drive, tenacity, and a willingness to do what it takes to advance TOP’s mission and animate its values: Solidarity, Visionary, and Regeneration.
• Personal and professional commitment to building a pro-Black organization that is on a path to dismantle racial capitalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated focus on outreach and giving and receiving input/feedback.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and work in a fluid and fast-paced environment.
• Excellent time management, project management, and delegation skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with strong personalities, peers, public officials, and allies.
• Willingness to work long and often irregular hours, including evenings and weekends (flex scheduling available).
• Full-time access to an insured car with a valid driver’s license.
• Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Computer competency – Word, Google Suite, Internet required; experience with database systems a plus.

This position supervises roles within a bargaining unit represented by a union.

Pay

$60,000 to $65,000, or commensurate with experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Staff development opportunities.
• Paid holidays, including a week-long summer break and a year-end week of rejuvenation.
• Personal time, parental leave, and sick leave.
• Travel reimbursement.