Community Organizer

Preble Street; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life & disability

Job summary

Preble Street in Maine seeks a Community Organizer to engage people with lived experience to lead campaigns for policy change. The role involves supporting Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), guiding meetings, recruiting new members, and collaborating with Preble Street programs to foster outreach opportunities.

The ideal candidate has experience in community organizing, outreach, advocacy, or grassroots engagement and strong organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field.
• Experience in community organizing and advocacy on poverty-related issues.
• Ability to connect with and outreach individuals in a variety of environments.
• Strong data analysis, documentation, reporting, and communication of data.

Responsibilities

• Engage people with lived experience to develop, lead, and implement campaigns for policy change.
• Support Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), including guiding HVJ meetings and recruiting new members.
• Collaborate with Preble Street programs to foster relationships and outreach opportunities.
• Support local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns and event coordination.

Skills

Community organizing

Advocacy

Outreach

Data analysis

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field

Job description

Community Organizer

The Community Organizer engages people with lived experience of homelessness, hunger, and poverty to develop, lead, and implement campaigns for positive policy change. The Organizer will be responsible for providing direction and support to Homeless Voices for Justice (HVJ), including guiding HVJ meetings, recruiting new members, and supporting members' development into grassroots leaders. To foster relationships and create outreach opportunities with clients and others, the Community Organizer will spend significant time each week collaborating with Preble Street programs. The position requires commitment to social and economic justice and community-led change, as well as the ability to build strong relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

As a member of the Advocacy Team, the Organizer will also support the team with local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns, assist with event coordination, and build and maintain relationships with community partners.

The ideal candidate has experience in community organizing, outreach, advocacy, or grassroots engagement, works well in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrates strong organizational skills.

Population Served: Individuals and families experiencing problems with homelessness, hunger, and poverty.

This is a full-time, Monday–Friday position, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with some work during evenings and weekends occasionally required.

Qualifications

The desired combination of education and relevant experience for this position includes a bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, social sciences, or related field of study, and experience working in community organizing and advocacy on poverty-related issues. Additional qualifications include:

• Alignment with Preble Street’s mission and positive regard for individuals accessing services for homelessness and poverty.
• Ability to connect with and outreach individuals in a variety of environments.
• Strong skills in solutions generation and critical thinking.
• Data analysis skills, with proficiency in collecting, documenting, reporting, and communicating data and information.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• A valid drivers’ license and acceptable driving record is required.

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly rate of pay for this full-time (40 hours/week) position is $24.64. per hour. Generous paid time off, insurance, and retirement plan benefits include:

• 4 weeks (160 hours, accrued) vacation time, 12 days (96 hours, accrued) sick time, 32 hours personal time, 12 Paid Holidays
• Health insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Dental insurance w/ 100% employer-paid option; Vision insurance; Employer-paid Life, STD, and LTD insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan w/ employer match

Preble Street, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, has been working since 1975 to provide best practice social services that meet urgent needs and end hunger and homelessness for individuals and families in Maine living in poverty.

Preble Street is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. We encourageapplications from all qualified individuals and consider applications for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws

Preble Street recognizes that Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2IA+ people and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every qualification described in a job posting.

Our hiring process recognizes the value of various lived experiences and backgrounds when assessing candidates.

Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply.