Southeastern PA Canvass Director
Southeastern, PA
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Company Description: ACORN is the largest low-to-moderate income membership organization in the country. We work at the local, state, and national levels on issues including housing, racial justice education, jobs and wages, health care, and access to credit. Most importantly, we are at the cutting edge of the Living Wage Movement. In Pennsylvania, our statewide legislative efforts resulted in an increase from $5.15/ hr to $7.50/hr. Pennsylvania ACORN is also part of an exciting council of progressive organizations that includes several housing development corporations; unions and worker organizing projects, a multifaceted anti-Wal-Mart campaign, and a burgeoning international organizing/training center. Current campaigns include a variety of neighborhood efforts (from neighborhood blight to local schools), taking on predatory lenders, pressuring Wal-Mart to improve its practices, moving a campaign for a statewide Earned Income Tax Credit, and building strategic partnerships with other organizations to create long-term progressive political power in the State.
Job Description: Pennsylvania ACORN seeks a creative, motivated individual concerned about social and economic justice to create, manage, and coordinate a membership canvass that will expand ACORN’s membership in targeted regions throughout the Southeastern PA area.

The Canvass Director will:

*Oversee a canvass program that will expand ACORN’s reach from the core inner city neighborhoods we traditionally organize into the suburbs, greatly expanding our membership and statewide political power.

*Work with the Head Organizer and the Legislative and Political Directors to coordinate statewide issue-based legislative campaigns as well as Get-Out-The-Vote and various electoral campaigns.

Responsibilities:

*Recruiting and managing a staff of canvassers who conduct membership drives by going door to door. The Canvass Director will train the staff in effective canvassing techniques, in addition to identifying those with potential to help lead the canvass.

*Light office/administrative tasks including payroll, database upkeep, and campaign research.

In addition to the part-time canvassers, the Canvass Director will also work with Community Organizers who will follow up with new members and engage them in our organizing program.

 
Qualifications:   Skills:

The ideal candidate will have:

• Demonstrated commitment to economic and social justice.

• Accountability to goals and a willingness to learn new skills and ideas.

• Strong analytical skills.

• Ability to recruit and motivate diverse groups of people.

• Willingness to make a two-year commitment and to travel for training.

Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

• At least 2 years of experience working on community, labor, political or other organizing efforts.

• Grassroots experience including door-to-door work, phonebanking, and training field staff or volunteers in these.

• At least 1 year of staff management experience.

Education:

Previous organizing experience is much more relevant than education level.

Salary and Benefits:  

Salary based on a scale that will start in the high-20s and be based on experience. Full healthcare, paid vacations and holidays, and pension.

 
How to Apply:

 

 Email the following to Ali Kronley, Pennsylvania Head Organizer, at paacorn@acorn.org. People of color, women, and bilingual candidates strongly encouraged to apply:

• Resume and cover letter.

• At least 3 references that can speak to your direct organizing qualifications.