Public Schools Organizer - Metro

TakeAction Minnesota Public Schools Organizer - Metro (O2) THE ORGANIZATION: TakeAction Minnesota is a power organization, building multiracial, cross-class teams of young people, parents and caregivers, artists and musicians, and tenants in key geographies around the state to win strategic campaigns for care, repair, and stability in our communities and statewide. Founded in 2006, TakeAction Minnesota exists because the challenges we face are bigger than one campaign or election cycle. TakeAction Minnesota’s work is powered by both our Organizing and Operations teams.The Organizing team includes staff in base-building, data, politics, and communications who build campaigns across legislative, administrative, electoral, and community arenas to grow grassroots power and advance long-term transformational change. The Operations team provides the financial, administrative, and organizational infrastructure that supports this work and enables our organizing teams to succeed. POSITION SUMMARY This organizer will work to strengthen and grow an active base of parents already organizing within Minneapolis Public Schools and then to expand this organizing in 2-3 key school districts across the Metro Area. Building on existing campaigns and leadership, the organizer will deepen relationships with parent leaders, support ongoing parent-led efforts, and bring in new members to expand the base. They will help develop parent leaders through training in relational organizing, leadership development, and campaign strategy, supporting the team to build power, escalate strategically, and win on the education justice issues facing families in Minneapolis. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following, in the context of power-building, base-building, and campaigning: Outreach, relationship building, and team building: Use organizing tools (e.g., canvassing, text/phone banking, one-to-ones) to effectively reach and engage parents and families, identify potential leaders, and invite them into our team and campaigns. Build relationships that develop leadership and equip members to take on self-interested roles in base-building, outreach, and action. Training, coaching, and leadership development: Invite members into teams, hold key roles in meetings, and coach leaders in skills and tasks. Focus on leadership development through political education, skills training, and growing responsibility. Plan trainings and open member meetings that build community and move organizing work forward. Issue-cutting and campaigning: Work with members and the campaign team to identify shared issues and lead strategic, family-led campaigns. Support decision-making, strategy, materials, and infrastructure development. Coordinate with other staff and partners to align goals and build power. Data & Impact Tracking: Maintain accurate records of members, events, and leadership development. Use data to track progress and improve organizing strategies. Manage member meeting digital and manual sign in sheets. Grassroots Fundraising: Engage members in fundraising to support parent and family organizing in public schools. Help develop local plans to build money power and sustainability within the base. Other duties or tasks may be assigned on an as-needed basis. SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Second language preferred, e.g. Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Oromo, and/or Swahili. Strong commitment and relationships to public schools. A natural curiosity about people and the ability to build rapport across lines of difference; able to both listen deeply and engage boldly with strangers and volunteers. A demonstrated commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice, and to advancing progressive political change through building power. Willingness to offer ideas, receive feedback, adapt plans, and actively contribute to solutions. Reliable follow-through and strong communication skills in working with both leaders and co-workers. Openness to being challenged and to challenging others in service of collective growth and leadership development. Basic computer skills (e.g., Google Workspace, signal, email, spreadsheets); interest in learning new tools and technology that support organizing. Airtable learning will be required. Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needs require. Some experience—paid, volunteer, or school-based—in community organizing, political campaigns, labor organizing, or other collective action efforts. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes, camera equipment, or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage. This role may occasionally require working outside typical business hours, including evenings or weekends, especially during peak campaign moments or events. SALARY AND BENEFITS Salary is commensurate with experience and starts at $59,829. Category: Organizer 2 Full-time employment is defined as working 64 or more hours per pay period and may include working nights and weekends. Full health and dental benefits through HealthPartners. TakeAction Minnesota pays 95% of monthly insurance premiums for the employee and their family. Vision insurance is optional at no cost to employees. Long Term Disability, AD&D, and life insurance provided at no cost to employees. 401(k) and Roth 401(K) Retirement plans with up to 4% employer match. 3 weeks of vacation accrued in the first year, 2 weeks of sick and safe leave upon hire with another 2 weeks accrued in the first year, 8 paid holidays, and a 1-week summer and 1-week winter office closure. Paid leaves including 3rd Year Break (3 weeks + $1,000 stipend), 5-year and 10-year Sabbaticals (8 weeks + $1,000 stipend), Paid Family & Medical Leave, and other leave options. Annual 5% guaranteed pay increase; monthly reimbursements including cell phone and home internet use; annual wellness and professional development stipends. This position is a member of the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild. REPORTS TO & LOCATION This position reports directly to the Senior Organizer. This position is in our Saint Paul, MN office but will be required to occasionally travel. All employees are resourced to work from home or under a hybrid model as needed, with work arrangements determined in collaboration with their supervisor. HOW TO APPLY