Job Announcement
Applications are no longer being accepted for a field organizer in the Southeast. Thanks for your interest.
Field Organizer
Purpose: The Bill of Rights Defense Committee seeks a Field Organizer who will provide assistance, including guidance, advice, networking, and other support to BORDC’s constituencies – civil liberties activists and organizations—in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
- Organize community-based groups within their state or region, including current BORDC groups and members of groups targeted by post-9/11 laws and policies, to work together to address assaults on civil liberties.
- Develop coalitions made up of existing groups (including people who are part of targeted groups, organizations such as labor unions, teachers, librarians, and religious communities, and immigrants) and the general public.
- Build local momentum for Bill of Rights defense campaigns, and connect efforts throughout counties and states through meetings, trainings, conference calls, and written materials such as newsletters.
- Create opportunities and venues for an array of civil liberties education events and community events among adults and secondary school students, including the major events highlighted below.
- Create and adapt BORDC’s existing strategies and materials for use in his or her state/region.
- Build and create a self-sustaining organization working within a coalition so that at the completion of the granting period the community will take on the leadership and funding requirements necessary to sustain the work.
- Document the process so that both successes and challenges can be used as a learning model.
Approaches to Organizing and Skill-Building:
Field organizers will use approaches such as the following to tap civil liberties leadership among various constituents in the communities and to build their skills:
- Tap civil liberties leadership among various constituencies in the community.
- Provide speaker training and coaching to coalition members who are willing to speak and work with local volunteers to maintain speakers’ bureaus.
- Develop and sustain state/regional media contacts by facilitating contacts within communities so stories can be told.
- Foster media skills among local leaders.
- Provide tips and advice for organizing and attending meetings with legislators and their staff.
Qualifications:
- A minimum of one year of organizing experience
- Residence in one of the three states (South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida) and familiarity with the states
- Knowledge of current civil liberties and human rights issues
- Proven ability to quickly absorb and analyze information and to simplify complex issues for a broad audience
- Ability to establish, maintain and cultivate long-distance and in-person working relationships
- Excellent written and verbal skills, including telephone skills
- Experience working with the following or similar computer programs: Microsoft Word for Windows or other word processing program; Excel or other spreadsheet program; Email and web browsing programs.
- Excellent skills at conducting Internet searches to retrieve reliable information
- Community networking and alliance-building experience
- Ability to work without direct supervision
To Apply:
To apply for this full-time position: Please send a cover letter and resume to Susan Heitker, Administrator, via email (susan-at-bordc-org) or U.S. mail:
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
8 Bridge Street, Suite A
Northampton, MA 01060
Resumes will be reviewed starting Wednesday, June 13, but position will be open until filled. No telephone calls please. You may email Susan to learn of job status.
The BORDC's mission is to promote, organize, and support a diverse, effective, national grassroots movement to restore and protect civil rights and liberties guaranteed to all U.S residents by the Bill of Rights. Our purpose is to educate people about the significance of those rights in our lives; to encourage widespread participation; and to cultivate and share the organizing tools and strategies needed for people to convert their concern, outrage, and fear into debate and action to restore Bill of Rights protections.
The BORDC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
BORDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status with respect to recruitment, hiring, upgrades, training, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment. Further, BORDC takes affirmative action in support of this policy to employ and advance in employment individuals from under-represented populations, including individuals over 40 years of age, people of color, women, the handicapped, and Vietnam era veterans.