Texas Field Organizer (Houston)

Texas Field Organizer (Houston):

THE ROLE: 

NextGen America is seeking passionate and hardworking candidates to join our youth organizing program in Texas, working to engage young people in electoral politics by registering thousands of young people to vote across the state. NextGen is committed to engaging young people in Texas in the political process and increasing participation among 18-35 year olds. This role will be focused on organizing in one of several regions in Texas as part of this ambitious effort. 

This role is available in the following locations:

• Prairie View A&M University 
• Lone Star College
• Houston Community College (multiple campuses) 

The primary work location for this role will be assigned at time of hire. This is an in-person position and you will be required to work on your primary campus according to the schedule laid out below. 

In Texas, this effort will focus on organizing young people on campuses and the surrounding communities to bring progressive change to government through voting. Our work will engage young people in voter registration efforts, volunteer recruitment, and pledging young people to vote. The primary responsibilities of our field organizers will be to travel within the region to register and pledge voters. Applicants must be eligible to register voters in their assigned counties. Organizers need to be comfortable and confident in: mobilizing young people to vote through canvassing & tabling on campus and in the community and implement fun and engaging tactics to encourage young people to become civically engaged. Organizers may also work with volunteers on campus and in the community to hit their weekly and phase metric goals.

This role reports to the Regional Organizing Director. 

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Remote Position: No

Union Position: Yes

Travel Requirements: 25% outside of assigned turf

Start Date: 07/08/24 (subject to change) 

End Date: 11/15/24

WHAT YOU’LL ACHIEVE:

• Hit defined field goals, including voter registration, traditional grassroots voter contact, and event planning and turnout
• Meet all data and field reporting deadlines
• In-person organizing, including voter and community engagement at businesses, campuses and NextGen-sponsored events
• Work with college administrations to increase civic participation and voter registration within the campus community

• Recruit volunteers through phone banking and text banking to support field organizing work

• Develop and maintain NextGen student clubs on campuses where possible and work with student leaders to run these clubs and host events on campus and online
• Develop relationships and partnerships with local community and student groups
• Plan and host events within the community, on campus, and virtually
• Recruit and train local volunteers that will organize their networks around voter registration drives and get out the vote efforts
• Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SCHEDULE & AVAILABILITY:

This role has a structured schedule as defined in the collective bargaining agreement between represented field staff and NextGen. As with most jobs in field organizing, the schedule for this role will fluctuate based on the time of year. This position is a full time exempt position and the hours here are general expectations for what the time requirement will be to effectively complete your responsibilities. Applicants must have the willingness and ability to work the following schedule:

• A work schedule consisting of approximately 8-10 hours per day, 5 days per week
• General availability to work weekends and irregular hours
• A high capacity work schedule during designated events (For example: campus welcome weeks, the weeks leading up to voter registration deadlines) consisting of approximately 10-12 hours per day, 6 days per week
• A work schedule consisting of up to 12 hours per day, 7 days per week for the 14 days leading up to the General Election (on even years only)

REQUIRED VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR ELIGIBILITY: 

In compliance with Texas state law, an individual being hired into this role will be required to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR). Requirements to become a VDR include:

• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be a United States citizen
• Not have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be
  1. totally mentally incapacitated; or
  2. partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote;
• Never have been convicted of failing to deliver a voter registration application to a voter registrar;
• Not have been finally convicted of a felony, or, if convicted, must have:
  1. fully discharged the sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or
  2. been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote;
• Not have been finally convicted of identity theft under Section 32.51 of the Penal Code; and
• Be a resident of the State of Texas.

Please refer to the Texas Secretary of State website for more information.

ABOUT YOU:

• Ability to work independently and remotely
• Effective communicator in 1:1, group, or public environments
• Driven by a strong work ethic
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities and manage several tasks simultaneously
• Previous electoral organizing experience is a plus
• Bilingual candidates are a plus 

SALARY INFORMATION:

The salary for this position is $4,632.50/month. This salary is non-negotiable per Campaign Workers Guild (Union) and NextGen America’s collective bargaining agreement. 

BENEFITS:

Our comprehensive benefits package plays an essential part in how we recognize you for your critical contribution toward our organization’s mission. 

Taking Care of Your Future: 

• Medical, dental and vision insurance: 100% coverage for you and for your dependents
• Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance
• $150/month toward paying off your student loans

Setting You Up for Success:

• Up to $150 per month to use toward your cell phone and internet costs 
• $100 per month to use toward your personal health and wellness goals
• Flexible spending account for dependent care

Prioritizing Your Work/Life Balance:

• Generous PTO and leave policies 
• 18 paid organization-wide holidays

ABOUT NEXTGEN AMERICA:

NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-35 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world. Since 2013, NextGen America has registered more than 1.4 million young voters and educated many millions more.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage people of diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.  We value and are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as an organization--in theory and in practice, and our culture reflects that value and commitment.  We are committed to furthering issues like climate change, health care, and immigration from a progressive perspective, and we seek to engage the public in these areas as well as others. We also recognize the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity within our political system and strive to make positive changes within our system as a result.