The Rights & Democracy Project (RAD) is a member-led, people’s organization in Vermont and New Hampshire. Our mission is to shift the political landscape through electoral and community organizing to ensure that the values and needs of our communities guide the policies of our government. We are doing this by building a popular movement to advance human rights, dismantle economic inequality, racism, and sexism, and to build a real democracy.
RAD is a rapidly expanding and dynamic organization, focused on building a people’s movement to win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.
The Opportunity
Rights & Democracy seeks a Vermont Organizing Director to develop and implement RAD’s organizing work in Vermont. This is an incredible opportunity to step into a dynamic organization that has just transitioned to a new staff leadership team composed primarily of women and people of color.
We aspire to an organizing culture that is relational rather than transactional, and which is based on efficient use of digital tools to facilitate information sharing among our team.
The ideal candidates will be collaborative and thoughtful leaders with a deep understanding of the pervasive impacts of racial capitalism, a demonstrated commitment to racial equity and the fight for freedom, justice, and dignity for all people, a movement-building sensibility that aims to build, harness, and deploy the collective power and potential of the people of Vermont, and bring a talent for developing and following through on organizing campaigns that build our movement through relational organizing, leadership development, and base building.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work with VT State Director and Vermont’s organizing team to develop a comprehensive organizing program to carry out campaigns for policy fights and for developing a base of leaders.
- Train and lead Vermont’s organizing staff.
- Work with RAD organizing staff and campaign teams to develop escalating grassroots campaigns to win issue fights.
- Work with the Leadership Development Coordinator to develop and execute statewide member recruitment and leadership development plans.
- Support the Grants Team when needed on grant applications and reports for projects they are leading.
- Working with our Communications Team, develop strong membership communications to engage in issue fights, advance our mission and build a democratic base.
- Meet daily reporting and data entry deadlines, as well as hold Vermont’s organizing team accountable to their own reporting deadlines.
- Represent RAD in Coalitions and Campaigns as appropriate.
- Work with Movement Politics Director on tracking legislation of interest as it moves through the state legislature.
- Prepare reports documenting the impact of RAD’s organizing work for funders and the RAD board.
- Coordinate, with the VT Movement Politics Director, electoral campaign organizing.
- Coordinate with NH Organizing Director to align organizing strategy and culture across both states.
- Work with Field Manager and Data & Tech Manager as needed to develop data-driven organizing and field lists.
Experience and capacities needed:
- Political campaign experience in support of an issue, initiative, or candidate campaign.
- Experience using NGP VAN/VoteBuilder.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google sheets.
- Goal-orientation and willingness to hold self and our organizing team accountable to workplan goals.
- Excellent personal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Ability to work quickly and cooperatively under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work well with coalitions and the staff and leadership of allied organizations.
- Energetic outlook and commitment to the mission and grassroots approach to change.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Willingness and ability to work irregular hours, including nights and weekends, on a regular basis, as well as long days during critical moments in issue and electoral campaigns.
- A team orientation that combines collegiality and creativity to drive and motivate others.
- Candidates for this position should have three or more years of relevant professional experience.
Regular access to a car is required for this position. Mileage is reimbursed.
The VT Organizing Director is an FLSA-exempt and full-time salaried position that reports to the VT State Director.
Compensation & Benefits
Baseline starting salary is $61,000. RAD has a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental benefits, retirement benefits, and generous time-off policies.
Application Instructions
Please submit your resume and cover letter to alison@radvt.org. Open until filled; application review will begin March 16, 2022.
RAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. RAD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As a part of our commitment to equity, RAD will ensure that persons with disabilities disclosed or undisclosed are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed or desired to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Kirthana Vallesi at kirthana@radvt.org.
Rights & Democracy does not discriminate against or tolerate harassment of any employee because of race, color, gender identity, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, any other basis prohibited by law, or protected activity under the anti-discrimination statutes.
Rights & Democracy is committed to equity and inclusion within and externally. Core to our work is an understanding of the multiple and intersecting ways in which society is constructed to disadvantage and marginalize people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, indigenous peoples, women, low-income people, people with disabilities, previously incarcerated people, and others. We believe that underrepresented and marginalized communities must be centered in the work that we do. Our staff, board, and members are in a constant learning environment to better identify and transform white supremacy culture in our workplace into an anti-oppressive space in which all can thrive. We have engaged in significant efforts to diversify our staff and board and are committed to continued anti-racism work.
Percentage or proportion of BIPOC on staff and in leadership roles::
Staff: 33%
Boards: 56%