We need your help to find great people for TWO key positions helping build a social justice movement in Arkansas.
If you know someone committed to building community power for racial equity, fair elections, economic opportunity, quality education, and a clean environment, then they should apply to join our growing team.
Read the details on these exciting opportunities below and learn how to apply!
ABOUT THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC POLICY PANEL:
• Our Values: Social and economic justice is our highest value. This value is advanced through respect for human dignity; embracing diversity and inclusiveness; empowerment; and a political process that is inclusive, fair and transparent.
• Our Mission: Arkansas Public Policy Panel is a statewide organization organizing citizen groups around the state, educating and supporting them to be more effective and powerful, and linking them with one another in coalitions and networks. The Panel seeks to bring balance to the public policy process in Arkansas.
• Our Operating Principles: High performance, collaboration and teamwork, recognition and reward, mutual respect, confronting oppression through alternative models, supportive of professional and personal development, personal responsibility and mutual accountability, creating a learning organization, fostering personal and organizational health, and creativity.
THE OPPORTUNITIES:
ELECTION COORDINATOR/ORGANIZER
This will be our first position specifically dedicated to building the electoral power of our members. Increased voter education and participation are essential to push back on attacks on civil rights, economic justice, the environment and public education. We are also focused on expanding social justice by helping leaders bypass the entrenched special interests at the Arkansas Legislature and bring issues directly to Arkansas voters through ballot measures.
Overview of the Position:
The Election Coordinator/Organizer will build long-term infrastructure for sustained electoral work by the Panel, CFC and partners to register voters, educate voters, support voter turnout and engage in ballot initiative campaigns that our members prioritize. The position reports to the Panel’s Policy Director and is responsible for the following:
What you will do:
Develop Sustainable Infrastructure:
Coordinate planning and implementation of electoral strategies for the Panel and CFC.Work with our leaders, members and allies to build collective electoral strategies.Ensure that our strategies build the capacity and influence of our members and leadersAdvise member groups with developing their own electoral strategies.Assist in building the capacity of the Panel and CFC to ensure legal compliance of our campaigns.Ensure that our electoral work supports the Panel and CFCs other organizing, advocacy and social justice goals.
Outreach:
Identify potential leaders and volunteers to engage in electoral campaigns, and develop outreach strategies for recruiting and developing them.Conduct outreach in targeted geographic areas and develop volunteer coresDevelop infrastructure for keeping leaders, members and volunteers engaged in electoral work and the broader work of the Panel and CFC.Assist with other CFC outreach for membership, caucuses and conventions as requested.
Leader Development:
Develop capacity of leaders, staff and volunteers to engage in successful voter registration, GOTV and ballot measure campaigns.Help create a candidate training program to develop and support leaders to run for office.Work with the Organizing Director to ensure that grassroots members have the support they need to be successful in the process.
Advocacy:
Manage electoral campaigns in coordination with our leaders, including voter registration, GOTV, and ballot strategies. This will include working with leaders at every phase of the cycle including development, building, running and evaluating campaigns.Assist organizing and policy teams with outreach for policy campaign events.Channel electoral leaders and capacity into legislative advocacy during legislative sessions, which are generally just after elections.Support CFC advocacy campaigns at the Arkansas Legislature as requested.
Communication:
Work with Panel Communication Coordinator to develop and support communication strategies for electoral campaignsSupport implementation of Panel’s communications plan.
Management and Supervision:
Supervise electoral organizers who will be hired to support voter registration and GOTV activities, as well as signature collection and persuasion campaigns on ballot measures.Develop and implement a personal plan for learning about the organization by attending events, reading documents, and getting to know staff, leaders, and partners.
Fundraising:
Assist with Panel grant and grassroots fundraising strategiesAssist in developing fundraising plan for electoral campaignsOther duties as assigned or requested
Required Experience and Skills:
Experience with community organizing, conflict negotiation, facilitation, and group dynamicsExperience with event planningExperience with performance measurement, project coordination, strategic planning, and team buildingStrong verbal communicationsProficient with computers and technologyExperience with databasesAbility to relate well to people from different backgroundsAbility to work well with local groups and constituencies in various governmental, civic, and community organizationsCultural competency across boundaries of race, class, and issueAbility to manage multiple prioritiesAbility to work independentlyTeam orientedExperience with public speaking a plusLayout and design a plusSpanish proficiency a plus
Personal Qualifications:
Strong commitment to social change through community empowermentStrong commitment to building the electoral campaign capacity of the Panel/CFC and its staffCommitment to developing leaders and community group strengthCommitment to increasing participation of diverse grassroots groupsPassion for learning and new ideasWillingness to travel statewideAbility to work 50+ hours per week and a flexible schedule that includes nights and weekendsAccess to an automobile
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Salary is $50,000 and excellent benefits including health insurance, vacation and retirement.
To apply, email a one-page cover letter explaining why you are the best candidate for the job, along with a resume to: kymara@arpanel.org with subject line: Resume for Elections Coordinator Position.
GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT/FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
You will support and expand an amazing base of donors to build a social justice movement in Arkansas. You will learn a lot of new skills and work with a great team of staff and volunteer leaders.
The Grassroots Development Coordinator will retain and expand the donor base. The position will report to the Executive Director and is responsible for:
Strengthening Panel Grassroots Donor Recruitment and Retention:
• Work with the Panel Management Team and Panel/CFC Fundraising Committee to set annual goals for supporting, retaining and developing donors
• Develop, plan and implement events and strategies for meeting the annual goals
• Provide support to the Panel/CFC Fundraising Committee and other volunteers
• Develop and strengthen relationships with key donors
• Develop and implement a major donor fundraising strategy
• Strengthen our database tracking of donors, including managing donor data and pulling reports
• Work with Organizing and Policy Directors to expand donor recruitment in Panel and CFC work
Improving Donor Communication:
• Develop marketing materials for events and for donor appeals /strategies
• Develop targeted and segmented mailing lists for appeals
• Improve donor acknowledgements and communications
Managing Grassroots Fundraising Strategies:
• Develop and manage budget for donor building activities and events
• Develop and implement a personal plan for learning about the organization by attending events, reading documents, and getting to know staff, leaders, and partners
• Other duties as assigned or requested
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
• Experience with individual donor fundraising
• Experience with event planning, group dynamics, meeting facilitation, media relations, project coordination, and volunteer management
• Excellent verbal and written communications
• Proficient with computers and technology
• Ability to relate well to people from different backgrounds
• Ability to work well with local groups and constituencies in various governmental, civic, and community organizations
• Cultural competency across boundaries of race, class, and issue
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work independently
• Team-oriented
PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
• Strong commitment to social change through community empowerment
• Commitment to developing leaders and community group strength
• Commitment to increasing participation of diverse grassroots groups in policy campaigns
• Passion for learning and new ideas
• Able to work some 50+ hour weeks and that includes some nights and weekends.
• Access to an automobile and willingness to travel statewide
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Salary $45,000 DOE and excellent benefits including health insurance, vacation and retirement.
SEND RESUMES AND A COVER LETTER TO:
Bill Kopsky, Arkansas Public Policy Panel, 1308 West 2nd Street; Little Rock, AR 72201; or email to bill@arpanel.org.