The Community Voters Project is an intensive, multi-state campaign to register hundreds of thousands of minority voters in communities across the nation. As a Community Voters Project Canvass Director, you will run one of our local registration offices which will be responsible for registering between 10-50,000 voters.
Your Responsibilities:
STAFF MANAGEMENT:
- Recruit and manage a staff of 14-40 voter registration canvassers.
- Teach effective registration techniques to staff.
- Identify strong staff and teach them skills so they can train others.
- Run staff meetings and leadership trainings.
- Arrange briefings to educate and motivate staff.
- Evaluate staff performance and give ongoing feedback.
Goals:
- To reach your office’s voter registration goals. Most offices have goals of registering 10,000-50,000 people before the state’s voter registration deadline.
- Canvass in public places two to three times each week to train staff, register voters yourself, and educate the public on voting procedure.
- Oversee all administrative functions related to registration work and general office management.
What we’re looking for:
We are looking for smart, motivated, action-oriented college graduates who are interested in politics with a, commitment to social justice and civic engagement. To do this work, you need stamina. You need to be able to convey the sense of urgency and passion you feel. You need to be able and willing to work hard. You need to be resourceful on a shoestring budget. (In-depth training is provided.)
Where you work:
The Fund is running Community Voters Project and campaign offices in: CO, FL, MI, NV, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA and WI.
What you’ll earn:
You will earn an annual salary of $23,750. Benefits include eligibility to enroll in our group health plan and to apply for college loan assistance.
Typical day:
8:00: You and the office’s other director sit down for your daily meeting. Evaluate staff voter registration performance. Review priorities and goals for the day.
8:45 Meet with your field managing staff. Get their ideas on how to improve staff training program.
9:00 Canvassing staff arrive at the office.
9:05 Give brief updates to the staff about relevant political happenings, goals, and upcoming social events. Congratulate exemplary staff and welcome newcomers.
9:10 Run a role-play session on how to approach people on the street and register them.
9:50 Drive to targeted local community with a group of canvassers, including a new staffperson. Over a meal break get to know your staff and talk to them about the local congressional representative.
11:00 Having arrived at your assigned site for the day, train the new staffperson. Talk to a few people yourself demonstrating how to best to register voters. Let the trainee canvass a few people. Give specific, manageable feedback to improve confidence and skills.
4:00 Pick up the rest of your crew and return to office.
5:00 Oversee quick round of paperwork.
Debrief with field managers and new staff.
6:00 Go out for dinner with field managers.
6:30 Come back to the office and interview prospective new canvassers
7:30 Finish up final paperwork and call your staff director to hear highlights on nationwide performances on our way to record breaking voter turn-out in ’08.
The training you’ll receive:
Staff will participate in on-the-job training and central trainings throughout the course of time on staff. Expect to learn how to manage a team, train staff, handle administration, and talk to citizens in the field for voter registration.
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