Jobs & Social Justice Organizer for the Transportation for Washington Campaign.

Washington State faces a transportation crisis. Too many neighborhoods and communities across the state lack a sufficient job and housing balance so people can save money by commuting less. Compounding this problem is a lack of affordable and efficient transit service, and too few sidewalks and street infrastructure to help make neighborhoods safe for children and prosperous for local businesses.

Washingtonians deserve better. We can rise to these challenges and grow our economy by prioritizing scarce transportation funding, saving and expanding transit choices, and building great, healthy communities.

That’s why the state’s two premier smart growth land-use and transit advocacy organizations have launched the Transportation for Washington campaign to transform state transportation policy and funding. Between the two organizations, the Transportation for Washington campaign has four state policy and political staff based in Seattle and Olympia, and five field staff in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Whatcom, and Spokane Counties.

The Transportation for Washington campaign now seeks to hire a Jobs and Social Justice Organizer to deepen its outreach and relationships in identified neighborhoods and communities within the Central Puget Sound region to further our social justice mission and build support for state policy reform.  The Jobs and Social Justice Organizer will be hired, managed, and paid by Futurewise.

Position Summary

The Jobs and Social Justice Organizer will be a key member of the Transportation for Washington and Futurewise advocacy and organizing teams. The Organizer will contribute to the goals of the campaign by implementing strategies and tactics designed to deepen our relationship in important and valued neighborhoods and communities in the Central Puget Sound region.

This is a part-time, non-exempt position, reporting to the Transportation for Washington Field Director, who is employed by Futurewise.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Meet with leaders of social justice groups, housing groups, churches, community groups, social groups, and labor locals to discuss the Transportation for Washington principles, and seek their endorsement and involvement.
• Organize community leaders to testify, attend press conferences, and make timely calls to legislators.
• Present at meetings of social justice groups, labor locals, churches, community groups, and local political groups.
• Help form and staff an “Equity Caucus” of organizational leaders.
• Organize and facilitate in-district meetings with legislators and their constituents.
• Educate the public on our principles and grow our grassroots activist list.
• Organize a social justice volunteer team to take political action when necessary.
• Gain endorsements from local businesses in key neighborhoods.
• Develop and distribute fact sheets in multiple languages.
• Record and edit video profiles of people who use transit, bikes, and sidewalks.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Experience with political campaigns, issue advocacy campaigns, or labor organizing.
• Experience and demonstrated commitment to working on social justice issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to transit and environmental issues.
• Ability to multi-task, strategically prioritize, and manage time and projects efficiently.
• Accountable, independent and self-motivated.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends.
• Willingness to travel within the Central Puget Sound region when needed.

Desired:

• Multi-lingual; preference for English with Chinese or Spanish.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Digital video editing experience.

Position Details: Contract employee. Temporary (3 months), full-time. Compensation & benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Application Procedures: Futurewise is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity in all areas of its operations. Email your resume and cover letter by Monday, December 12, 2011 to: jobs@futurewise.org.