Contract Community Organizer

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City; Kansas City (MO); Hybrid; USD 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization based in Kansas City is seeking a Contract Community Organizer to advance housing affordability and land-use policy solutions. The role involves engaging with stakeholders, building coalitions, and facilitating community education on housing issues. Candidates should have experience in community organizing and strong communication skills. Compensation is approximately $80,000 annually pro-rated for the contract duration. Applications should be sent to [e-mail].

Qualifications

• Experience in community organizing, community engagement, or coalition building.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Ability to coordinate projects, meetings, and community events.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with community members and stakeholders.
• Educate coalition partners on housing issues and zoning policies.
• Coordinate meetings and outreach efforts related to housing policy.

Skills

Community organizing

Building relationships

Communication skills

Facilitation skills

Job description

Contract Duration

April 2026 – December 2026 (with potential extension based on funding)

Location

Kansas City Metro Area (Johnson County and Wyandotte County, Kansas)

Hybrid work with regular in-person meetings, community events, and stakeholder engagement.

Position Overview

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City (Habitat KC) seeks a Contract Community Organizer to support a regional coalition focused on advancing housing affordability and land‑use policy solutions in Johnson County and Wyandotte County, Kansas.

This contractor will work collaboratively with Habitat KC and United Community Services of Johnson County (UCS) to build community awareness, mobilize stakeholders, and strengthen advocacy efforts related to housing policy reform and zoning modernization.

The organizer will help cultivate relationships with community leaders, nonprofits, residents, employers, and public officials while supporting grassroots engagement efforts that advance housing stability and affordability across the region.

This work is part of a broader initiative designed to bring together cross‑sector partners to coordinate housing policy strategies, increase development capacity, and expand attainable housing opportunities for working families.

Scope of Work / Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Coalition Building

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with community members, partner organizations, civic leaders, and local stakeholders.
• Support the development of a cross‑county housing coalition including nonprofit, business, public health, and community organizations.
• Identify and mentor emerging community leaders and advocates.
• Facilitate collaboration between partners working on housing policy and community health initiatives.

Advocacy & Community Education

• Educate community members and coalition partners on housing issues, zoning policies, and land‑use reforms.
• Support grassroots advocacy efforts by preparing community members to engage with local decision makers.
• Assist with organizing public meetings, workshops, and learning sessions related to housing policy.
• Help mobilize residents and stakeholders to participate in public hearings, forums, and policy discussions.

Project Coordination

• Coordinate meetings, events, and coalition activities.
• Maintain documentation of project plans, meetings, and outcomes.
• Assist in developing messaging, outreach materials, and advocacy resources in collaboration with coalition partners.
• Ensure alignment and communication between Habitat KC, UCS, and coalition stakeholders.

Strategic Engagement

• Support power mapping and stakeholder engagement strategies to identify key leaders and policy influencers.
• Track progress related to coalition engagement and advocacy milestones.
• Provide regular updates to Habitat KC staff and coalition leadership regarding outreach progress and community feedback.

The contractor will be expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Development of a community coalition around land use reform
• Engagement of community members and organizations across Johnson and Wyandotte Counties
• Facilitation of community meetings, forums, or educational sessions
• Coordination of outreach and advocacy efforts related to zoning and land‑use reforms
• Documentation of coalition activities and community engagement outcomes
• Documentation of lobbying time
• Coordination of advocacy campaign materials and messaging

Qualifications

Required

• Experience in community organizing, community engagement, or coalition building
• Ability to build relationships across diverse communities and sectors
• Strong communication and facilitation skills
• Ability to coordinate projects, meetings, and community events
• Understanding of community development or housing-related issues

Preferred

• Experience working with local governments or advocacy campaigns
• Familiarity with the Kansas City metro region
• Experience working with nonprofits, community coalitions, or grassroots campaigns
• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement
• Public speaking and facilitation
• Strategic thinking and coalition coordination
• Written communication and community education
• Project management and organization

Compensation

• Compensation will be based on contract scope and deliverables.
• Estimated contract value: approximately $80,000 annually (pro‑rated for contract duration April – December 2026). Inclusive of mileage, food, lodging and overhead.
• This role is funded through a grant initiative and is structured as an independent contractor engagement (1099).

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following items to [e-mail]:

• Resume or summary of relevant experience
• Brief statement describing their community organizing experience and interest in housing policy
• Two professional references
• Examples of work product which could include messaging campaigns, educational resources for community advocacy, or like product from previous community organizing (limit 5 pages)