Community Organizer
Church World Service, Inc.

Job Info

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Position Title: Community Organizer

Reports To: Associate Director of Grassroots Organizing

Division: Programs

Department: Grassroots Organizing

Job Location: U.S. Remote within Texas

Grade Level: 5

Salary: $23.08 - $28.21/hourly

FLA & UnionStatus x Non-Exempt Exempt

• Bargaining Unit x Non-Bargaining

Introduction:Church World Service (CWS) is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. CWS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.

Primary Purpose:

The community organizer works to build the collective power of immigrants and refugees to impact the public narrative and policy change to create more welcoming communities that result in concrete benefits for immigrant and refugee communities. The Community Organizer will work collaboratively with refugee resettlement offices, faith communities, immigrants’ rights groups, voter engagement organizations and other partners to increase refugee and immigrant civic engagement and leadership development. The Community Organizer will work to engage impacted leaders and allies in educating decision makers about the importance of supporting welcoming policies for refugees and immigrants. The Community Organizer will help train immigrant and refugee leaders in effectively telling their story to influence the public narrative and increase positive media messaging.

Essential Duties:

• Work to expand a network of active refugee leaders with a core leadership team committed to social change efforts that will benefit immigrant and refugee communities throughout the state of Texas.
  
• Build relationships with refugee and immigrant leaders through relational one-on-one meetings.
  
• Facilitate events and meetings that promote the welcome of refugees and immigrants in Texas.
  
• Identify and coordinate meetings and events with policy makers involved in discussions about refugee resettlement and/or immigration issues at the national, state, and local levels of government, in partnership with the CWS Policy and Advocacy team.
  
• Work with refugee and community leaders, resettlement office staff, volunteers, supporters, and allies to develop informed policy goals, objectives, and priorities to share with national, state, and local policy makers, in partnership with the CWS Policy and Advocacy team
  
• Connect with faith-based organizations and immigrants’ rights organizations and collaborate around shared goals.
  
• Conduct trainings on community organizing, leadership development, voter registration, civic engagement, media outreach, messaging, “Know Your Rights'' and how to influence the public narrative.
  
• Lead voter registration efforts at naturalization ceremonies, cultural events, and in refugee neighborhoods.
  
• Assist in connecting refugee leaders with education efforts among ally communities in the surrounding rural and suburbanregions.
  
• Participate in coalition and issue campaign meetings on behalf of CWS and Texas local affiliates Refugee Services of Texas, as appropriate.
  
• Participate with state civic engagement tables when possible.
  
• Work with CWS communication staff to increase visibility and awareness of support for refugee resettlement through traditional and social media.
  
• Help direct issue identification and strategic campaign management for welcoming policies at the local and state level.
  
• Travel throughout Texas to meet and strategize with community members about welcoming refugees.
  
• Track all events and contacts to maintain relationships, evaluate effectiveness and inform future work.
  

Experience and Qualifications:

• Familiarity working on advocacy or organizing campaigns on immigration and refugee issues and/or other related fields.
  
• Experience working with immigrants or refugees at the grassroots level.
  
• Understanding of and commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of refugees and community leaders.
  
• Experience conducting training and developing resources, planning events, and working with partners from diverse backgrounds, faith traditions, immigrant and human rights organizations, and service providers.
  
• Experience with consensus-building, coalition-building, and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with community leaders, other staff and other organizations.
  
• A broad understanding of national, state, and local policies that pertain to refugees and immigrants.
  
• Commitment to racial justice and understanding of intersection of racial justice and immigrant justice.
  
• Ability to measure and report regularly on progress and success indicators.
  
• Well organized, with excellent communication, writing and speaking skills.
  
• Communications experience working with local print, radio, TV and social media (preferred).
  
• Familiarity with social media tools, microsoft suite and online document drives.
  

Skills:

• Ability to work and thrive in a multicultural environment required.
  
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to supportCWS’ Platform on Racial Justiceas a CWS employee required.
  
• Fluency in a language in addition to English is preferred, (e.g.: Spanish, Somali, Nepali, Dari/Pashto, Arabic, Swahili, French).
  
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, communicate effectively, and build lasting relationships with refugee leaders, IRP+ program staff, and IRP+ advocacy staff.
  
• Ability to collaboratively support diverse colleagues from a variety of professional, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
  
• Self-starter capable of working independently, and team-oriented, with a high level of self-motivation and ability to meet goals and manage time in a fast-paced environment.
  
• Highly organized, with proven skills in project management or business operations.
  
• Ability to educate, mobilize and organize immigrant and refugee communities to move forward strategic campaigns.
  
• Strong problem-solving skills.
  
• Integrity, professional discretion, and ability to handle sensitive or confidential matters.
  
• Must possess dedication to the human rights of refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, displaced people and/or other vulnerable populations.
  

Education & Certifications:

Undergraduate degree in a social science field, certification in related fields or equivalent experience organizing with refugee or immigrant populations required.

Special Requirements:

• COVID Vaccination Requirements: Effective September 1, 2021, CWS’s global vaccination policy is to require vaccination for all staff and volunteers, to the extent that it is legally permitted to do so within each country in which CWS operates. This requirement is based on our commitment as a faith-based humanitarian agency to “do no harm,” and as an employer to provide a safe working environment for our employees. It is also rooted in current scientific evidence, which demonstrates that available COVID-19 vaccinations are both safe and effective. To assist any employee who is pregnant, who is nursing, who has a disability, or who has a medical condition that prevents them from safe vaccination, or who rejects vaccination because of sincerely held religious beliefs, a reasonable accommodation may be made.
  
• Location requirements: Candidates must reside in the state of Texas, and preferably in Houston, or Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
  
• Work Hours: Must have willingness for occasional flexibility to adjust work hours to include evening and weekend meetings or events, as necessary.
  
• Travel requirements: Periodic travel will be required as needed in accordance with CDC and safety considerations, and CWS COVID safety protocols.
  
• Background check required.
  

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

•403 (b) Retirement Plan

•Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

•Paid Time Off

•Life Insurance and AD&D

•Long Term and Short-Term Disability

•Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

•Health Savings Account

•Flexible Spending Accounts

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