Canvassing Fellowship Lead - Saginaw

Michigan United; Saginaw (MI); On-site; USD 44,200 - 59,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Health Savings Account stipend

Paid time off

Paid sick time

1.5x overtime pay

Mileage reimbursement

Internet stipend

Phone stipend

Job summary

Michigan United is seeking Canvassing Fellow Lead to conduct door-to-door outreach, register and educate voters, and mobilize participation for the 2026 cycle. Under staff mentorship, leads will set metrics, train fellows, and troubleshoot on turf.

You will report to a Canvassing Fellowship Manager and work in person across Michigan communities, with strong emphasis on justice and equity. This temporary role runs through Nov 6, 2026.

Qualifications

• Commitment to MI United Action’s theory of change and a strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.

Responsibilities

• Execute door-to-door canvassing and support fellows in the field.
• Shadow fellows, provide feedback, and help launches and onboarding.
• Lead on team culture, morale, and data integrity.

Skills

Door knocking

Talking to strangers

Leadership

Multilingual beneficial

Tools

MiniVAN

Smartphone

Job description

CANVASSING FELLOW Lead

Location: Saginaw (Michigan) - In-person

Annual Compensation: $25/hr (40 hours per week)

Retention Bonus: $1,250 (must remain on staff through Nov 6th, 2026)

Position Duration: This position is considered temporary and will conclude on November 6, 2026.

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Position Summary

We are looking for high-energy individuals to become our Movement Politics Lead Fellows. Under mentorship and supervision of Michigan United staff, lead fellows will conduct extensive door-to-door canvassing, register, educate, and mobilize voters for the 2026 election cycle.

Lead fellows will provide daily support to the management team: setting metrics and conversation quality standards, shadowing fellows, giving feedback, supporting launches and onboardings, and troubleshooting on turf as needed.

Essential Functions

As a Canvassing Fellowship Lead, your responsibilities include executing our electoral canvassing program using door-to-door tactics and supporting fellows in the field. You will report directly to a Canvassing Fellowship Manager.

Typical Weekly Responsibilities

• Splitting time between shadowing fellows, training and retraining fellows, supporting launches/onboarding, and personally door knocking.
• Spending time in turf shadowing, providing feedback to canvassers, giving material support to fellows, and communicating with the canvass manager to execute each day’s canvass.
• Participating in a daily briefing with the canvassing team for instructions and updates.
• Preparing and organizing materials for daily canvassing.
• Completing canvassing of assigned lists and recording conversation details in the MiniVAN app.
• Debriefing daily with the canvassing team.
• Practicing and learning organizing skills through a specific training curriculum.

Programmatic Responsibilities

• Setting standards for door knocks and conversation quality.
• Shadowing fellows on doors and giving feedback after conversations.
• Supporting launches and onboardings.
• Leadership on the team, building culture and morale.
• Troubleshooting on turf as necessary.
• Executing a high energy electoral canvass rooted in MI United / MI United Action’s theory of change.
• Ensuring canvass data integrity.
• Receiving and providing feedback on training materials and curriculum.
• Collecting stories, videos, photos, and other multimedia for promotion.
• Attending staff development trainings and fellowship training opportunities.
• Occasional relational outreach via SMS to family and friends to engage them around issues and the election.
• At the end of the election, transitioning new and newly activated leaders to a permanent organizer.

Requirements

• A commitment to MI United Action’s theory of change and a strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization.
• Impeccable integrity and commitment to setting the highest standard for the team.
• A desire to learn and grow as a leader or organizer.
• Previous experience working with a culturally, religiously, and economically diverse staff.
• A bold desire to talk to people, share stories, and ask people to take action.
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Effective communication skills and comfort working with the public, talking to strangers, and asking people to take action.
• Reliable transportation/ability to drive to and from canvassing locations.
• A data‑capable smartphone.
• Additional qualifications (high energy, highly organized, self‑starter, ability to execute plans, creative solutions, teamwork, multi‑lingual—especially Spanish and Arabic; familiarity with MiniVAN; previous canvassing experience).

Work Environment

Employees must work in person to execute a door‑to‑door canvassing program. There will be in‑person events, meetings, and activities. Work schedule is standard business hours with flexibility; evenings and weekends are occasionally required.

Benefits

• Health Insurance and a $1,200/year Health Savings Account or monthly Health insurance stipend available after 90 days of employment.
• Paid time off policy.
• Paid sick time policy beginning at 16 hours and accruing up to 80 hours.
• 1.5x overtime pay after 40 hours.
• Mileage reimbursement policy.
• Internet stipend of $34.62 and phone stipend of $23.08 per pay period if you use your own device.

Our Commitments

MI United / MI United Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Training

MI United / MI United Action has a robust training program that will be made available to all Lead Canvassing Fellows, including developing organizer skills such as proper 1:1s, issue strategy, storytelling, and self‑interest.

Development

MI United / MI United Action believes in transformational, not transactional, organizing. We are committed to developing our members, volunteers, leaders, and staff into the next generation of movement leaders.

Application Details

• Submit a resume and three references (at least two work‑related, one may be personal).
• Apply via the JazzHr link or, if you have difficulties uploading, send materials to [e-mail]; do not submit to both.
• Include the position name in the email subject line.
• Resumes that do not adhere to these instructions will be discarded.

Organizational Background

Michigan United is a statewide organization fighting for dignity and equity across all sectors and a partner of MI United Action.