Local Redistricting Organizer (Central Valley, CA)

OBJECTIVE & KEY DUTIES: The Central Valley Local Redistricting Organizer will work with Central Valley community organizations and community leaders to educate, engage, and empower community members, so they can make their voices heard in city council, county board of supervisor, and school board redistricting processes. The Central Valley Local Redistricting Organizer will also provide support to senior California Common Cause staff that work on redistricting and be a conduit for the legal, technical, and policy expertise that California Common Cause can provide to local partners around the state.

The redistricting cycle beginning now will use data from Census 2020 to determine where political district lines are drawn. District lines have enormous power. Redistricting can keep people with common interests, identity, language, and history bundled together so they can effectively advocate for themselves and make their voices heard in local affairs. Or it can gerrymander them and silence their voices. Where lines are drawn helps determine who wins elections and, in turn, which communities have representation and what laws or policies are passed. The district lines drawn in the Central Valley in 2021 and 2022 will have an impact on local politics and policies for at least the next ten years.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Educate and Engage – Be familiar with redistricting law/policy and local redistricting best practices. (These will be learned on the job; applicants do not need to be redistricting experts.) Be familiar with the specific redistricting processes in Central Valley cities, counties, and school districts, and track those processes closely. Provide support, guidance, and advice to Central Valley partner organizations and community leaders who wish to engage in local redistricting processes. Provide trainings, consultation, advice, resources and materials created by other California Common Cause staff, etc.
• Build Relationships – Build strong relationships with Central Valley partners and be responsive, helpful, and positive in response to requests for support, guidance, advice. Act in coalition with partners when and where invited and always contribute productively in coalition settings. Lead coalitions if needed/requested by local partners.
• Lead Shared Advocacy – When and where requested by local partners, lead shared advocacy to local government jurisdictions undertaking redistricting, through sign-on letters, coordinated talking points and public comment, strategic communications, etc.
• Grassroots Engagement – Work face to face with regular community members and Common Cause members in the Central Valley to help them lift up their voices in local redistricting processes and impact their local democracies.

WORK/OFFICE/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

This is a full-time 40-hour per week role. The Central Valley Local Redistricting Organizer person in the role must have flexibility to often work nights and weekends, to watch/attend city council, county board of supervisor, and school district redistricting hearings. (Night and weekend work will be combined with an equal amount of time off during the work day.) When in-person meetings resume, the Central Valley Local Redistricting Organizer will need to travel around the Central Valley to attend meetings. Car and driver’s license required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience in community organizing, nonprofit work, or political campaigns.
• Ability to build and cultivate relationships with people and organizations of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Work experience in, lived experience in, or deep familiarity with the Central Valley and its communities.
• Positive, helpful, and productive attitude when engaging with partner organizations, with community members, and in coalitions.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and the ability to motivate people to act.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Capable of juggling and remaining on track with multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and manage projects in a remote environment.
• Positive attitude and passion for changing the world for the better.
• Flexibility to work occasional nights and weekends and to travel to community or government meetings around the Central Valley (travel costs compensated).
• Multi-lingual language skills very strongly desired.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit resume, cover letter and three references to Director of Human Resources at hr@commoncause.org and include “Central Valley Organizer” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Applicants are encouraged to apply ASAP.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, activities or responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

EQUITY & INCLUSION:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Common Cause is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the organization and believes strongly in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce.

Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of any race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, income class, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status or marital status, as well as applicants who have been previously incarcerated.