Southeast Iowa Canvass Director

Food & Water Watch; Davenport (IA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 53,300; Full time

Job summary

Food & Water Watch seeks a Southeast Iowa Canvass Director to run a canvass operation educating Iowans on water pollution and the cancer crisis. The role reports to the Political Director and collaborates with the Iowa Organizing and administrative teams; starting ASAP through November 7, 2026, it is a full-time temporary position with continuation potential based on campaign needs.

Responsibilities include hiring canvassers, training, cutting turf, analyzing performance with VAN, ensuring data

Qualifications

• Experience canvassing in election or issue organizing.
• Familiarity with VAN or a similar voter database tool.
• Authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship available.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and hire canvassers.
• Train canvassers to conduct canvassing conversations effectively.
• Cut and assign turf.
• Analyze canvasser performance, including running VAN reports, tracking petitions and pledge cards collected.
• Ensure quality control to maximize canvasser success and minimize submission of fraudulent canvass data.
• Schedule and track hours, and work with the Finance team to ensure canvassers are paid in a timely fashion.
• Complete at least one canvass shift themselves each week.
• Ensure a daily transportation plan for canvassers to get to turf and back, including acquiring rental cars when necessary.
• Identify meetup locations for canvass sendoffs.

Skills

Canvassing experience

Strong communication

Team leadership

Tools

VAN or similar voter database

Job description

About the position

The Southeast Iowa Canvass Director will report to the Political Director and will work with other staff on the Iowa Organizing and administrative teams to support Food & Water Watch’s work. The position will run a canvass operation that knocks on tens of thousands of doors to educate and engage Iowans on the issue of water pollution and the associated cancer crisis facing our state. This is a full‑time temporary position starting as soon as possible, running through November 7, 2026.

Salary

$45,000 – $53,300 dependent on experience.

Location

Scott County.

FLSA Status

Exempt.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Recruit and hire canvassers.
• Train canvassers to effectively conduct canvassing conversations.
• Cut and assign turf.
• Analyze canvasser performance, including running VAN reports, tracking petitions and pledge cards collected.
• Ensure quality control to maximize canvasser success and minimize submission of fraudulent canvass data.
• Schedule and track hours, and work with the Finance team to ensure canvassers are paid in a timely fashion.
• Complete at least one canvass shift themselves each week.
• Ensure a daily transportation plan for canvassers to get to turf and back, including acquiring rental cars when necessary.
• Identify meetup locations for canvass sendoffs.

Qualifications

• At least one election cycle canvassing experience (either electoral or issue organizing).
• Familiarity with VAN or a similar voter database tool.
• Authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship available.

Preferred Qualifications

• One election cycle canvass directing or one year organizing on an issue advocacy campaign.
• Experience training others.
• Experience with using Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets to track work.
• Knowledge of the region.
• Relationships with organizers and potential canvassers in this area.

Desired Skills/Interests

• Strong interest in Food & Water Watch issues and commitment to social change.
• Strong verbal and written communication and time management skills.

Benefits

Food & Water Watch provides an excellent benefits package for full‑time employees. This includes 100% employer‑paid health, dental and vision plans for staff; 403b retirement plans with employer contribution once eligible; accrued vacation and sick time. Personal days are prorated based on contract length; paid federal holidays and winter break (December 24 – January 1).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Food & Water Watch is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other members of underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Vaccination Requirement

Food & Water Watch requires new staff to provide proof of COVID‑19 vaccination, subject to availability, unless they receive an approved religious or medical accommodation.