Job Summary
Empowering Families of Nebraska seeks to build a community of belonging through education, civic participation, and bridge-building. Empowering Families prides itself on providing evidence-based programming and resources to uplift our community members and create a more inclusive Nebraska panhandle.
The Community Organizer at Empowering Families of Nebraska will work primarily within the Civic Participation pillar to do relational organizing and foster civic leadership among youth across the Panhandle of Nebraska; implement strategies to strengthen civic participation in Scotts Bluff County; and manage the organization’s civic participation volunteer base.
Responsibilities
- Program Planning and Implementation: Work in partnership with the Empowering Families staff, contractors, and volunteers to develop and implement strategies that will increase voter participation in Scotts Bluff County, with a goal to expand this work across the Panhandle of Nebraska.
- Volunteers: The Community Organizer will assist in recruiting, training, and leading community volunteers and contractors for the execution of the civic participation strategies.
- Data and Reporting: Ensure all strategies are informed by quantitative and qualitative data. Maintain accurate records of new contacts, voter engagement, and activities. Prepare reports on civic participation impact and progress.
- Community Engagement and Outreach: The Community Organizer will do outreach in the community through tabling at local events and festivals. During these events, they will also assist with the voter registration/education process, encourage community engagement, and learn about community concerns or needs through conversation.
- Relational Organizing: Empowering Families’ success centers around strong relationships with community members and stakeholders. The Community Organizer will build positive relationships with community members from a variety of backgrounds and identities. The Community Organizer will utilize these relationships to build trust and empower community members to participate in our democracy.
- Community Support & Case Management: Conduct intake assessments to identify community members needs. Develop and implement individualized plans to ensure community members’ needs are met. Effectively track outcomes and progress. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local services and eligibility requirements.
- Youth Civic Leadership: Assist the Program Director with the development and implementation of youth civic leadership programs, like Youth Arise and the Youth Civic Leadership Academy.
Skills and Qualifications
- Strong organizational skills: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects at the same time.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Google Suites, Zoom, and Canva is desired. Familiarity with CRM and data entry platforms preferred. Candidate must feel comfortable performing 80% of their tasks at a laptop computer or desktop.
- Time management skills: Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
- Excellent Communication Skills: Strong ability to engage with people of diverse backgrounds. Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders and community members.
- Intercultural Experience: Ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds and understand the historical, political, socioeconomic, and cultural experiences of these groups and how these things impact our communities today.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify and resolve issues that may arise in accordance with Empowering Families policies and guidelines.
- Leadership Skills: Ability to motivate and inspire community members and contracted staff to reach their full potential. Able to identify their strengths and mentor them into positions or opportunities within the organization or the community.
- Education: The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree (or be within 3-6 months of graduation) in sociology, education, psychology, communications, political science, or a related field. Candidates with an associate's degree + 2 years of relevant work experience or with no degree but hold 5+ years of relevant work experience will also be considered. If the candidate does not hold at least an associate's degree, they must have a willingness to complete an associate's program at least 3 years after being hired.
- Language Skills: Bilingual in Spanish and English is strongly preferred for this position. If not bilingual, a willingness to learn and increase proficiency is desired.
Working Conditions
- Empowering Families currently has a small staff, which requires all employees to be willing to perform a variety of tasks including program set-up, tear-down, long periods of standing, long periods of sitting, long periods of being outside in variable weather conditions, and occasional work days that exceed the traditional eight hours. Ideally, the candidate would be willing to work in a variety of conditions and be able to lift at least 25 lbs.
- Empowering Families does provide a flexible schedule and the ability to work from home when needed. This will need to be discussed and approved by the employee’s supervisor.
- The typical work week is Monday - Friday, although frequent evening and weekend work is required.
- Work related travel is about 30% and is mainly to attend national or statewide conferences and trainings.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b) matching
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
