Community Organizer - Lane County

Oregon Food Bank•Portland, OR

About The Position

The Community Organizer for Lane County builds and supports a growing base of community leaders and helps them advance through increasing levels of commitment. The role supports community leaders in creating and carrying out grassroots organizing strategies for priority policy campaigns. Through recruitment, political education, nonpartisan electoral organizing, and leadership development, the organizer helps build political power to advance systems and policy changes that address hunger and its root causes. The role participates in Oregon Food Bank’s statewide field organizing program, organizing trainings, community events, campaign and coalition support, and cross-departmental work. It also contributes to organizational planning, data and technology systems, lobbying and finance tracking, and the organization’s equity work. This exempt position involves office and offsite work, travel, and work outside standard business hours as needed.

Requirements

Deep passion for eliminating hunger and its root causes.
2–3 years of experience in community engagement.
Experience living and/or organizing in rural or small-town communities, or in Lane County.
Ability to learn and develop community organizing skills and apply them in a range of contexts.
Ability to learn and use organizing technology and tactics, including phone banking, mass texting, social media, and virtual community meetings.
Effective verbal and written communication with a range of audiences.
Outstanding relationship-building skills and ability to develop and maintain relationships in service of the organization and its mission.
Demonstrated ability to navigate conflict through effective leadership and problem-solving.
Ability to handle sensitive information effectively and confidentially.
Ability to travel within or outside Oregon for up to four days at a time, up to eight times per year.
Ability to drive and a valid driver’s license.
Willingness to use multiple perspectives to innovate, solve problems, and find creative solutions.
Experience modeling intercultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice.
Ability to think strategically, collaborate, take initiative, and maintain confidentiality.
Project coordination and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects with attention to detail, handle interruptions, and produce timely, accurate work.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and comfort working in an office and offsite.
Ability to thrive in a diverse, creative, responsive, mission-driven, and fast-paced work culture.
Successful multicultural immersion working and/or living within one or more of Oregon Food Bank’s Equity Constituencies: BIPoC, immigrants and refugees, single mothers, and trans and gender-nonconforming people. The posting defines multicultural immersion as actively integrating into one or more communities, engaging with people and groups, and seeking to understand diversity within and between communities through participation in daily life.

Nice To Haves

Professional-level or greater proficiency in English and at least one additional language, sufficient to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical and professional topics.
Multicultural adaptation and integration skills, including adapting communication and interaction across cultures and helping others understand different cultures, backgrounds, and styles.
Commitment to continued professional development to strengthen equity-focused and racial-justice work.
Strong capacity to consider multiple perspectives, respond to emerging needs, and lead through organizational change.
At least 10 years beyond the minimum required of successful multicultural immersion working with and/or living within one or more of Oregon Food Bank’s Equity Constituencies at the time of hire.

Responsibilities

Build and support a community leadership team that co-creates and implements grassroots organizing strategies and tactics for priority policy change campaigns.
Engage community members in statewide field organizing activities, including Ending Hunger Power Nights, one-on-ones, Leader Camps, phone banks, relational organizing, analysis, skills building, and action tactics.
Lead or participate in program elements such as Ending Hunger Power Nights, community forums, educational workshops, and other community-building activities focused on building political power.
Mobilize people to actions and events through phone banking, texting, canvassing, digital organizing, and other tactics.
Participate in co-leading organizing trainings within Oregon Food Bank, with organizational partners, or with community members.
Identify leaders interested in sharing their stories and expertise through media, legislative testimony, and other communications or advocacy strategies.
As assigned and as capacity allows, provide on-the-ground support to local organizing campaigns and coalitions aligned with organizational priorities.
Participate in assigned cross-department teams and contribute to Oregon Food Bank’s Organizing & Advocacy Team through peer collaboration and team development.
Participate in organizational planning, data and technology systems, lobbying and finance tracking, and the organization’s equity journey.
Serve as an ambassador and leader for Oregon Food Bank’s vision and mission, collaborate across departments, and contribute to efforts addressing the root causes of hunger.
In consultation with the supervisor, contribute to cross-departmental efforts, work-culture activities, advisory and consultative groups, and professional development.
Collaboratively review and update the duties description as the role evolves over time.
Respond to disasters, emergencies, inclement weather, or extended service disruptions as needed and as safely possible, in coordination with supervisors.