Job Title

ENC Organizer

Status

Full Time, Exempt

Reports to

Organizing Director

Location

Western North Carolina

Direct Reports

No

The Opportunity - About Equality North Carolina

Headquartered in The Triangle in North Carolina, Equality North Carolina is the oldest statewide organization dedicated to securing rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Equality NC Foundation was founded as the North Carolina Human Rights Fund in 1979. In frequent collaboration with other progressive organizations, Equality NC builds LGBTQ+ power through advocacy, education, and uplifting the stories of queer and trans North Carolinians in pursuit of racial and social justice.

Equality NC works toward these goals by advocating on behalf of LGBTQ+ North Carolinians before the North Carolina General Assembly, the state’s executive branch, and local governments; by broadcasting LGBTQ+ news, stories, and content; and by mobilizing LGBTQ+ and allied communities on issues that matter most to them. These priorities include securing LGBTQ+ inclusive public accommodations and non-discrimination laws, parental and family rights, inclusive anti-bullying and comprehensive sex education policies, equitable access to reproductive health care (including abortion and gender-affirming care), and increasing the number of informed and engaged “New Majority” voters – LGBTQ+, Black, Latinx people and communities, young and new voters, and immigrants. Equality NC also provides North Carolinians with educational programming, vets candidates for public office, makes endorsements and campaign contributions, and produces a Voter Guide.

Today’s Equality North Carolina is comprised of three connected nonprofit entities:

• Equality NC, is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that conducts lobbying and advocacy efforts and works to elect pro-equity/pro-equality candidates
• Equality NC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational programming on LGBTQ+ issues and conducts campaigns to build public support for equal rights
• Equality NC Action Fund, a PAC that makes independent expenditures on campaigns and issues of concern

Since 2016, when HB2, the infamous “Bathroom Bill,” was passed, Equality NC and North Carolina's community of advocates have defeated every anti-LGBTQ+ bill introduced in the General Assembly. After sunsetting key parts of HB142 (the "compromise bill" that replaced HB2), Equality NC and its partners passed 22 fully inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, protecting a quarter of the state's LGBTQ+ population from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing. Equality NC and pro-equality elected officials have also introduced five pro-equality bills in each lawmaking session of the General Assembly since 2016, aiming to guarantee comprehensive statewide nondiscrimination protections, ban conversion therapy, end the gay/trans panic defense, repeal the remnants of HB142, and guarantee domestic violence protection orders for LGBTQ+ people. In 2023, Equality NC brought more than 100 people to the capital to advocate for pro-equality measures and against the slate of 13 bills targeting the rights of trans and gender non-conforming youth.

In a state with a conservative, gerrymandered, anti-urban majority in the General Assembly – which remains actively opposed to social and civil rights legislation that would affirm full legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people – Equality NC continues to hold a vision of a thriving, liberated North Carolina with a powerful LGBTQ+ community united in service of racial and social justice.

Position Overview

The ENC Organizer recruits, trains, and mobilizes volunteers as needed to carry out grassroots organizing plans. This includes phone banks, canvassing, rallies, teach-ins, petition drives, and other forms of grassroots action, including the formation of local core activist groups and volunteer leadership programs.

Responsibilities

• Implement digital field organizing program designed to increase the number of volunteers in targeted regions
• Engage and grow our base of supporters, and build power for the LGBTQ+ movement
• Engage local progressive organizations and community leaders
• Build sustainable, community-organizing volunteer teams
• Help to recruit and mobilize key legislative or "grasstops" supporters in the region
• Complete timely data entry and management. Maintain and utilize the VAN (Voter Action Network) to track events, volunteers, and other technology tools like Hustle.
• Contribute content for newsletters, web, stories, and media
• Provide preparatory assistance for meetings and special events as they pertain to public affairs
• Coordinate outreach activities including speaking engagements, and representation at meetings and events of civic, fraternal, religious, and social organizations
• Work with community partners to ensure meaningful collaborations.
• Keep informed of all aspects of political and legislative issues as they pertain to LGBTQ+ rights
• Build relationships with elected officials, political parties officials, candidates for office and their staff
• Help develop and lead trainings for ENC’s volunteers to better understand civic engagement and the importance of getting involved
• Implement ENC voter engagement strategy, including recruiting volunteers, canvassing, phone banking, and other election related activities
• Occasional weekend work and travel will be required

Qualifications/Experience

Ideal candidates will have experience with the following:

• Curiosity around new ways of organizing, using data, and building infrastructure for a long- term
  movement
• Strong commitment to meeting deadlines and showing progress towards goals
• Ability to use personal stories to explain why you organize and move others into action
• Holding others responsible to quantitative and qualitative goals
• Working knowledge of VAN, Excel, a computer language, or another tool for data management
• Comfortable with using technology including SMS, social media platforms, and voter databases
• Exceptionally well-organized and strong time management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds
• Flexible, adaptable, and solutions-oriented
• Ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure
• Self-starter who could work independently and be a great team player

The preferred candidate will also have experience in at least one of the following:

• Local organizing in the region where you are applying to work
• Organized at least one campaign on campus or in your local community - as a volunteer or staff
• At least 1-2 years as a volunteer or staff doing field, legislative, or campaign organizing
• Leading canvasses or phone banks

Work Environment

Thrive in an intense, do-it-yourself, start-up environment. Ability to work well remotely, within a
cross-functional team environment and with diverse communities.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary will be commensurate with candidate experience. The salary range is $40K-$45K.

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance
• Vacation, PTO, and holidays
• Matching 403(b)

How to Apply

Equality NC is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive work environment and to building a team that reflects the rich diversity of our community. BIPOC LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities are encouraged to apply. To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter to hr@equalitync.org. Your cover letter should express your specific interest in and qualifications for this role.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. If the position is visible on our website, it remains open.

About Equality NC
At Equality NC we envision a thriving, liberated North Carolina with a powerful LGBTQ+ community united in service of racial and social justice. Our mission is to build LGBTQ+ power through advocacy, education, and uplifting the stories of queer and trans North Carolinians in pursuit of racial and social justice. Join a team that is passionately committed to advancing the collective lived equality for our most vulnerable populations and communities. Our organization places a high priority on communication, collaboration, diversity, equity, and inclusion where each person is supported to thrive and grow together. Equality NC recognizes that historical and systemic inequity, especially institutional racism, is the root cause of problems we aim to solve. We acknowledge that it is impossible for us to fulfill our mission without creating an equitable and inclusive environment for our staff, partners, and people we serve. For more information about Equality NC, please visit our website.