JOB: Organizer - Public Good, Missouri Jobs with Justice

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Organizer, Missouri Jobs with Justice
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Benefits: Full health coverage, 2 weeks vacation, collective bargaining agreement
The Organization
Missouri Jobs with Justice (JwJ) is a coalition of labor, religious, student and community activists and organizations committed to protecting the basic human rights of men and women. Jobs with Justice addresses the root causes of poverty while working for an economic base that benefits the entire community. We believe that the fate of labor unions and the communities in which their members live are tightly bound together. We work in partnership with central labor councils, local unions, civil rights organizations, students, community, and faith-based organizations in mobilizing direct actions for civil
and human rights for all people, including the right to organize a union, rebuilding the social safety net, living wages, health care, and equal treatment for all.
Missouri Jobs with Justice is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We seek a diverse pool of volunteers and applicants for all opportunities and responsibilities within the organization – in particular with respect to women, people of color, the LGBT community, immigrants, and people of all ages.

The Position: Rebuilding the Public Good in Missouri
The Organizer, with the leadership of the Director, will be organizing a long-term project to rebuild Missouri’s commitment to invest in its future through services, infrastructure and a quality workforce. The project is co-convened by Missouri Jobs with Justice and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and will include collaboration with a broad range stakeholders including grassroots constituency organizations, advocacy groups and other public sector unions. The Organizer
will work closely with a statewide steering committee, with rank-and-file public workers and citizens, and with the member organizations, funders, and national JwJ staff to provide organizing and administrative support to the implementation of the JwJ program. The Organizer will identify new leaders, engage them in training and provide administrative support for their leadership on campaigns that deepen Missouri’s
investment in the public good. S/he will also coordinate solidarity organizing among the many JwJ member organizations with a stake in public investment. The Organizer will need to develop a detailed understanding of the state budget, policy issues, labor law as well as the legislative and collective bargaining processes. This position may be based anywhere in Missouri, but will include significant time in Jefferson City.
Responsibilities:
Organizing: The Organizer will develop relationships with organizations and individuals with a stake in public investment – ensuring they become part of not only this project, but also JwJ’s broader work.

Campaigns: Central to the project will be developing campaigns that rebuild investment in Missouri’s public services, infrastructure and workforce. The organizer will lead campaign development, mobilization and evaluation. This will include both legislative campaigns and support for collective bargaining fights for public employees.
Training and Leadership Development: The Organizer will be part of developing and executing trainings that build leaders and key constituencies of the project. These programs will enhance their understanding of public investment, collective bargaining rights and the social safety net; equipping them to mobilize their base, and speak to the general public as part of campaigns that re-build public investment.
Fundraising: This project has start-up funding committed. A central responsibility of the organizer will be to ensure the sustainability of the project by signing up new organizational and individual JwJ dues paying members from within the base of the project. The Organizer will also help implement the broader annual fundraising plan, including organizational contributions, individual contributions, merchandise
sales, grants, and grassroots activities.
Administration. The organizer will have primary responsibility for the project’s administrative functions, including database management, correspondence, grant administration and record-keeping. S/he will also assist with this work for the rest of the organization.

Qualifications
-Solid, commitment to the principles of social and economic justice;
-Minimum of two years grassroots organizing experience, union experience and/or experience working on
public policy issues is a plus;
-Experience developing and organizing trainings a plus;
-Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
-Ability to be a self-starter, and to work independently toward agreed upon goals;
-A strong ability to motivate people, coordinate volunteer activity and delegate responsibility;
-Ability to develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of organizations and people;
-An understanding of the labor movement, religious organizations and other social movements;
-Demonstrated ability to raise funds;
-Willingness to work long hours, including nights and weekends;
-Proficient in computer skills, including database management, word processing and desktop publishing;
-Own vehicle available for work (mileage is reimbursed);
-Organizer must be willing to make a two-year commitment to the project;

Also Desired: Ability to speak languages other than English. Knowledge of and/or participation in Jobs with Justice in Missouri or in other parts of the country.

Please send a resume, writing sample and at least two references by 5 pm on Fri, Nov 14, 2008
To: Personnel Committee, Missouri Jobs with Justice
Via Fax: 314.647.9910
Via Email: lara [at] stl-jwj [dot] org
Via USPS: 2725 Clifton, St. Louis, MO 63139
For more information on Missouri Jobs with Justice please visit the websites for St Louis JwJ at www.stljwj.
org and Kansas City JwJ at www.kcjwj.org, or call the office at 314-644-0466.

http://stl-jwj.org/MO%20JwJ%20-%20Organizer%20-%20Public%20Good%20-%20Job%20Announcement.pdf