Lead Organizer, Dallas Education Justice Campaign

Texas Organizing Project is seeking a talented and dedicated Lead Campaign Organizer to build our organization through driving a citywide campaign to fight for excellent public schools for every child.

This campaign was started in late 2009 by TOP neighborhood leaders – parents and grandparents – to put a stop to the school to prison pipeline in Dallas ISD schools, where students of color make up more than 96% of total district enrollment. Since then TOP leaders, along with coalition partners, have made great strides by organizing for and winning a district wide task force on the issue and an alternative campus-wide approach to discipline that has been implemented in 54 Dallas ISD schools. In 2014 TOP parent leaders and allies were successful in stopping an effort to turn the entire school district into a home rule charter district, which could have potentially stripped away parent and student rights and done away with the elected school board that governs the district.

The current focus of the campaign is on winning 20 community schools by 2020 in Dallas ISD. TOP members understand that community schools have the potential to transform our public schools while creating a clear alternative to charter schools and other privatization efforts.

The ideal candidate is an experienced community organizer and campaigner who is also a coalition-builder and strategist and who believes deeply in the importance of building community leadership, capacity and power. The Lead Campaign Organizer will drive a team of staff and will be responsible for mapping out and executing a comprehensive strategic campaign plan. S/he will be responsible for doing all of this in collaboration with staff, member leaders, and allies. S/he must be able to organize and effectively communicate at all levels – with grassroots community people as well as established community leaders and policy experts. The Lead Campaign Organizer will report directly to the statewide Education Campaign Director and will also work closely with existing community leaders, community organizers and core partners in building TOP as an organization beyond the education campaign.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

  • Plan and execute a sophisticated and winning campaign strategy by working with a campaign committee, staff, and allies

  • Build a large base of TOP members who will participate in demanding changes from the school district and creating the plitical climate that allows for those changes to be adopted.

  • Recruit, turn out and develop community leaders as part of a campaign committee across a variety of low and moderate income Dallas neighborhoods.

  • Identify hot organizing issues that parents want to address in Dallas ISD schools.

  • Organize direct actions, events, and other tactics to move the campaign forward.

  • Coordinate campaign messaging, traditional media work, mass communications, and digital organizing with TOP’s communications department.

  • Regularly communicate the campaign’s progress to our members, staff, and partners.

  • Work with the existing database (VAN) to track members, participation and progress towards achieving success.

  • Develop and manage relationships with partner organizations.

  • Work with partners to move the campaign forward. This may include joint strategy meetings, joint actions or other events, relationship building, etc.

  • Manage and develop relationships with DISD Trustees, school administrators, reporters, and other key stakeholders and decision makers.

  • Enhance our reputation and brand, and promote our values.

  • Other duties, as required.

Competencies and Qualifications:

  • Excellent community organizing skills, strategizing, and execution of organizing campaigns

  • Passion and commitment to social, economic, and racial justice

  • Belief in and ability to animate TOP’s values: Passion, Perseverance, Vision, Justice and Integrity

  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills with demonstrated focus on research, policy analysis, outreach, and targeted communications

  • Critical thinking and problem solving skills

  • Relentless drive, tenacity and a willingness to do what it takes to advance our mission and values

  • Excellent time management, project management, and delegation skills

  • Ability to work effectively with strong personalities, peers, public officials, and allies

  • Familiarity with nonprofit role in advocacy

  • Similar experience in grassroots organizing, labor, or political organization

  • Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish

  • Willingness to work long and often irregular hours including evenings and weekends

  • Fulltime access to a car

  • Computer competency – Word, Internet required; Experience in working with database systems a plus

People of color highly encouraged to apply.

Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and travel reimbursement.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please email a resume, cover letter and three professional references to abrim@organizetexas.org.