New York State Progressive Electeds Network (NYSPEN) Organizer
New York State Progressive Electeds Network (NYSPEN) Organizer, Local Progress
Job Title: New York State Progressive Electeds Network (NYSPEN) Organizer
Position Location: Candidates should be located anywhere New York State, with a preference for candidates who live outside of New York City. Candidates must be willing to travel regularly to all parts of the state.
About the Project:
Local Progress is the policy network of hundreds of progressive elected officials from cities and counties around the country committed to shared prosperity, equal justice under law, sustainable cities, and good government that serves the public interest. Hand-in-hand with community-based organizations and unions committed to advancing a social justice agenda, the elected officials and staff of Local Progress are building the network to facilitate a genuine “inside/outside” strategy to transform municipal policy and politics.
The New York State Progressive Electeds Network (NYS PEN) is Local Progress’s New York chapter, made up of over 100 progressive local elected officials from across the state. NYS PEN was launched in 2016 by Local Progress, New York Working Families and Citizen Action of New York.
Local Progress and NYS PEN are staffed out of the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) and the Center for Popular Democracy Action (CPDA). CPD/A promote equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with innovative base-building organizations, organizing networks and alliances, and progressive unions across the country. We currently work with 43 partner organizations in 30 states, including Make the Road New York, New York Communities for Change and VOCAL-NY, to build the strength and capacity of democratic organizations to envision and advance a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. CPD/A is a rapidly-expanding, dynamic organization that offers an exciting opportunity to drive ambitious policy campaigns and partner with community-based organizations across the country to build political power and win tangible victories that improve the lives of low-wage workers, immigrants, and communities of color.
About the Job:
Local elected officials have an important role to play in the policy and politics of New York State. NYS PEN works to support and promote local efforts to pass progressive policy in cities, towns, counties and villages across the state and also works to unite local elected officials to advocate at the state level for progressive priorities. Over the past year NYS PEN has brought together over 80 local elected officials for our first conference, held dozens of regional meetings across the state, drafted a platform for network members and has mobilized over 100 local elected officials in support of important progressive issues like the Fight for $15.
We are seeking a dynamic organizer to take the work of NYS PEN to the next level, working with a cohort of leading local elected officials from across New York State to grow the network, provide deep policy support to local members on pressing issues in their community, connect local elected officials in New York to the national progressive movement, and unite elected officials from across the state in coordinated advocacy campaigns.
The NYS PEN Organizer will report to Local Progress Co-Director, working in close collaboration with New York Working Families, Citizen Action of New York and other organizational partners.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop deep relationships with NYS PEN members and progressive community and labor advocates.
- Provide individualized policy support for NYS PEN members, relying on the Local Progress national network as a resource, and recruit NYS PEN members to participate in Local Progress’s national programming.
- Develop an advisory board of leading local elected officials and progressive community and labor advocates.
- Research best practices in local policies in New York and draft New York specific policy resources and materials for members.
- Plan and execute an annual conference of NYS PEN members as well as quarterly regional meetings and trainings across the state.
- Recruit new NYS PEN members, identify and develop the leadership of a cohort of regional leads to bring the network to scale.
- Manage all internal communications including drafting regular email updates and managing social media for NYS PEN members.
- Identify issue priorities in collaboration with members and organizational partners and coordinate the network’s engagement, including policy, communications and campaign coordination, in local and statewide efforts to pass legislation
- Additional responsibility to support national work on policy development, communications or curriculum development to be determined dependent on skill set and interest.
Job Requirements:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and an understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and moderate-income families;
- A love for policy and politics and the desire to build a progressive social movement;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to build strong relationships across multiple sectors: elected officials, labor, community organizing;
- Experience building coalitions;
- Attention to detail and good organizational skills;
- Ability to juggle multiple projects at a time and work in a fast-paced work environment;
- Ability to work well with diverse groups and populations;
- Candidates must be willing to travel and able to drive.
How to Apply:
Please submit resume and cover letter through our hiring portal: cpd.hiringthing.com/job/32282/new-york-state-progressive-electeds-network-nyspen-organizer
CPD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.
