Organizer - Salinas, California

TITLE:
Organizer

FLSA STATUS:
Exempt

LOCATION:
California

HIRING RANGE:
$66,560.00 - $68,000.00

About UFW Foundation: For 17 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay and other worker protections. We engage constituents in systemic change to break the cycle of poverty while also providing critical services. In fact, the UFW Foundation is the largest federally accredited immigration legal service provider in the state of California. The organization has staff in California, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Maryland.

SUMMARY: The Organizer is the face of the UFW Foundation on the ground. They help develop member and leader engagement programs to support UFW Foundation projects and campaigns to increase the well-being of local communities. The Organizer will also promote UFW Foundation programs and services. The Organizer position will include identifying local leaders that will establish committees of community advocates, volunteer recruitment, mobilization efforts, and other related activities; key issue areas include but are not limited to legalization, workers’ rights, pesticides, heat, immigration legal services and emergency response. Voter engagement efforts may also be a key component of organizing strategies these are strictly non-partisan efforts. The Organizer coordinates with the digital and communications operations. The Organizer reports to the Organizing Coordinator position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (This is not an exhaustive list)

• Educates and applies pressure to policymakers through community mobilizing using various methods (i.e., calls, letters, petitions, communications strategy, emails, field actions, canvassing, etc.).

• Builds partnerships and key relationships with religious, student, political, labor, business, community organizations, food banks, and local leaders.

• Collaborates with Communications staff to generate story collection and earned media coverage (e.g., press conferences).
• Complies with organizational policies and procedures.

• Conducts outreach and education targeting farm worker communities (in-person and virtual).

• Delivers a concrete and accurate message about all of our projects, campaigns, programs, and services available to the community.
• Develops and implements community committees for member engagement.
• Coordinates a variety of activities such as information sessions, application workshops and house meetings to assist farm workers in various programs as needed.
• Ensures high service and delivery standards in a positive and respectful atmosphere to recipients.
• Identifies, recruits and trains community residents to become community advocates.
• Leads regional voter registration drives for civic engagement.
• Maintains collaborative working relationships with legal service, immigration, health, and related agencies, including county workers and other partner organizations.
• Manages and implements various education and mobilization activities to achieve goals, including outreach, door-knocking, house visits, building, leading coalitions, voter registration, and direct community contact in targeted communities.
• Participates in trainings and conferences.
• Participates in online strategy campaigns and building a digital community, e.g., text program, social media, email lists and other platforms such as our Digital Initiative.
• Recruits volunteers for specific actions and builds sustainable volunteer-based teams.
• Supports advocacy efforts in collaboration with the Organizing Coordinators and other team members to inform policymakers about what farm workers are experiencing.
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on events-related data via Quickbase or other assigned platforms and uses the Management by Objectives and Results (MOR) process.
• Travels to various areas throughout the state to organize different communities.
• Updates calendar of events, flyers, and other informational materials for distribution.
• Upon availability from key priorities, the organizer will coordinate and provide support to other teams, such as systemic change teams, immigration legal services, and Removal Defense during workshops, or needs to immigration rapid response.
• Works on evening and weekend projects as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May involve the coordination and supervision of volunteers/interns.
  
  

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Will lead efforts as assigned by the Organizing Coordinator.

The ideal candidate for this position must have a high level of professionalism and organization. The candidate must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to speak clearly in front of large groups of people.
• Collaboration. Ability to work with teammates in a professional and solutions-oriented manner. Proven ability to effectively work as part of a team and to lead collaborative efforts.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Spanish and English.
• Experience in canvassing is a plus.
• Familiarity with voter registration efforts
• Outgoing, enthusiastic and persuasive personality
• Self-motivated
• Si Se Puede (It Can Be Done) Attitude. The embodiment of a personal spirit that promotes confidence, courage and risk-taking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, government officials and their staff members, and the general public. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required. Bilingual ability in English and Spanish. Ability to speak Mixteco, Zapotec, Triqui and other languages indigenous to Mexico a plus.

• MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra. Must have basic accounting knowledge and ability to keep accurate financial records. Must have good organizational skills and ability to work independently. Must be familiar with the history and mission of the UFW Foundation and be willing to make long-term commitment.

• REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university is a plus.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of 1 year significant and progressively responsible experience in developing grassroots leadership and power in local, state and national campaigns. Commitment to the mission of the farm worker movement is required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Must be familiar with computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, etc. Requires a valid Class “C” Driver’s license.

COMPENSATION:

The annual salary pay range for this position is $66,560.00 to $68,000.00, and benefits include:

• Accruals of 2, 3, and 4 vacation weeks per year depending on tenure
• 16 paid holidays (includes a personal day)
• 1 mental health day per calendar year
• Paid sick days
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program for support with personal and work-related challenges
• 403(b) retirement plan with 2% employer match (providing employee meets criteria)
• 401(k) retirement plan with no employer match (providing employee meets criteria)
• Employer-sponsored pension plan
• Supplemental insurance (within 30 days of hire date)
• Professional development opportunities and access to thousands of courses
• 20% discount for immigration services through the UFW Foundation
• Many discounts, such as entertainment discounts for movie theaters, theme parks, etc. via ADP Lifemart, TicketsatWork, and UnionPlus

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement – The UFW Foundation is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community, employees, and program participants. While vaccinations and boosters are not currently mandatory, we strongly recommend their use as a crucial measure in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. It is imperative to emphasize that if a pandemic situation arises that necessitates vaccines and/or boosters, we will reinstate this requirement to protect everyone effectively. Vaccinations have proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus and reducing severe illness. By choosing to get vaccinated, individuals contribute to the collective effort in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and creating a safer environment for all. We will continually monitor the evolving situation and follow the guidance of health authorities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position will be working outside on a regular basis.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity is more than a legal and moral obligation – it is also a sound business practice to realize the potential of every individual. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all! To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the UFW Foundation will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, or any characteristic protected by law.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farmworker and immigrant communities! The UFW Foundation believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. The UFW Foundation will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Persons of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, formerly incarcerated, persons 40 years old or older, and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions with the UFW Foundation.

This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, counseling, discipline, termination, access to benefits, and training. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.

Anticipated ending date: 06/30/2024