Community Organizer
About this Position
HIPS is seeking a talented individual interested in creating grassroots political power as part of a dynamic team. The Community Organizer (CO) will support leadership development and civic engagement among low-income people of color who are impacted by our core issues areas of incarceration, homelessness, drug use, sex work, and HIV/ AIDS. In this first year, the organizer will focus primarily on building power among people who use drugs and are at risk for overdose to identify and demand an improved community and systems response. The ideal candidate has at least 2 years of experience in community organizing. They will also have a strong commitment to harm reduction, and the decriminalization of drugs and sex work and will be comfortable working in community with cis and trans people who use drugs. HIPS works in various street based and site based venues with individuals involved in street economies and each community is different; we do not offer a blanket approach to outreach. The CO is responsible for several projects and will create authentic engagement opportunities, by creating innovative outreach techniques to increase engagement.
Keys to Success
Community Engagement
Leadership
Set organizing goals for individual projects and metrics by which success will be achieved.
Be responsible for all pre- and post-event logistics including organization of materials, location, outreach, etc.
Represent HIPS at local community events and meetings.
Create work plans and outreach plans as requested by the Executive Director (ED) and/or Project Manager (PM)
Recruitment:
Conduct base building activities, like street-based outreach and teach-ins, to achieve targeted engagement goals.
Identify, recruit and develop community members to play leadership roles in projects. This may include forming organizing or advisory committees.
Design, create and distribute appropriate educational/information materials for projects - Plan and oversee various forms of outreach including door-to-door, social media, “Sidewalk Engagement,” workshop/meeting presentation, convening and facilitating meetings (including one-on-one and large community meetings), and conduct other forms of outreach to authentically engage the community.
Leadership development
Conduct trainings and facilitate meetings that build the knowledge and skills of people who are impacted by campaign issues to participate in planning and policy making that affects their lives.
Manage conflict resolution with community as they arise
Build the capacity of community members to share stories, create testimonies, and engage others
Issue identification and campaign coordination:
Facilitate members in identifying issues, developing demands, and implementing campaigns
Educate and work with public and elected officials around relevant community issues and give public testimony as needed.
Mobilization:
Membership meetings:
Convene regular community member meetings and smaller campaign/committee meetings.
Turn out community members & allies to rallies, meetings and other events
Support:
Although the position will focus specifically on drug user health issues, you will also be expected to provide support for other advocacy initiatives, as needed. We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide regular support for each other’s activities, which is in part a function of our limited resources and ambitious scope of work
Collaborate
Collaborate with HIPS leadership to respond to grant opportunities for community organizing and advocacy programming.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships, and build coalitions with resident groups, community based organizations, and neighborhood and district wide stakeholders.
Assist in “call to action” strategy, planning, assessment and implementation.
Complete weekly progress reports and participate in check in meetings with Advocacy Manager
Respond to requests for information in a timely manner.
Keep track of community organizer budget and spending
Document all meetings, actions items, initiatives as they occur and report back to AM
Submit bi-weekly timesheets
What we hope you’ll Bring
A mature understanding of the differences between advocacy and organizing and a desire to help HIPS navigate the differences
At least 2 years experience in community organizing
Ability to manage multiple projects in a timely fashion
Excellent interpersonal skills, community building skills, public speaking skills, and conflict mediation skills
Ability to facilitate workshops
Ability to understand and communicate the needs of HIPS diverse client base.
Ability to work independently and within a team structure.
Able to attend evening meetings and work on some weekends
Knowledge of local community of drug users, sex workers, and transgender individuals, with a preference for lived experience
Other Stuff
This position requires a significant amount of in-person work, connecting folks in homeless encampments, parks, corners, etc., while maintaining strict HIPS Covid-19 mitigation policies.
Compensation & Benefits:
Compensation: $45,000
HIPS comprehensive benefits package includes: 100% employer sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life plans for each employee, as well as accrued paid time off that begins accruing on your first day at HIPS. Access to a health flexible spending account, ancillary benefits like hospital, accident, critical illness, and prepaid legal insurance, discounted HIPS swag, and access to HIPS employee assistance program. After one year of service, full time employees may participate in HIPS 401k retirement plan. HIPS administrative offices in NE Washington DC are located up a short flight of stairs on the 2nd floor of our building that houses our drop in center, clinic and programmatic spaces.
TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter and resume to “work@hips.org” with your last name and “Community Organizer” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
HIPS is seeking a talented individual interested in creating grassroots political power as part of a dynamic team. The Community Organizer (CO) will support leadership development and civic engagement among low-income people of color who are impacted by our core issues areas of incarceration, homelessness, drug use, sex work, and HIV/ AIDS. In this first year, the organizer will focus primarily on building power among people who use drugs and are at risk for overdose to identify and demand an improved community and systems response. The ideal candidate has at least 2 years of experience in community organizing. They will also have a strong commitment to harm reduction, and the decriminalization of drugs and sex work and will be comfortable working in community with cis and trans people who use drugs. HIPS works in various street based and site based venues with individuals involved in street economies and each community is different; we do not offer a blanket approach to outreach. The CO is responsible for several projects and will create authentic engagement opportunities, by creating innovative outreach techniques to increase engagement.
Keys to Success
Community Engagement
Leadership
Set organizing goals for individual projects and metrics by which success will be achieved.
Be responsible for all pre- and post-event logistics including organization of materials, location, outreach, etc.
Represent HIPS at local community events and meetings.
Create work plans and outreach plans as requested by the Executive Director (ED) and/or Project Manager (PM)
Recruitment:
Conduct base building activities, like street-based outreach and teach-ins, to achieve targeted engagement goals.
Identify, recruit and develop community members to play leadership roles in projects. This may include forming organizing or advisory committees.
Design, create and distribute appropriate educational/information materials for projects - Plan and oversee various forms of outreach including door-to-door, social media, “Sidewalk Engagement,” workshop/meeting presentation, convening and facilitating meetings (including one-on-one and large community meetings), and conduct other forms of outreach to authentically engage the community.
Leadership development
Conduct trainings and facilitate meetings that build the knowledge and skills of people who are impacted by campaign issues to participate in planning and policy making that affects their lives.
Manage conflict resolution with community as they arise
Build the capacity of community members to share stories, create testimonies, and engage others
Issue identification and campaign coordination:
Facilitate members in identifying issues, developing demands, and implementing campaigns
Educate and work with public and elected officials around relevant community issues and give public testimony as needed.
Mobilization:
Membership meetings:
Convene regular community member meetings and smaller campaign/committee meetings.
Turn out community members & allies to rallies, meetings and other events
Support:
Although the position will focus specifically on drug user health issues, you will also be expected to provide support for other advocacy initiatives, as needed. We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide regular support for each other’s activities, which is in part a function of our limited resources and ambitious scope of work
Collaborate
Collaborate with HIPS leadership to respond to grant opportunities for community organizing and advocacy programming.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships, and build coalitions with resident groups, community based organizations, and neighborhood and district wide stakeholders.
Assist in “call to action” strategy, planning, assessment and implementation.
Complete weekly progress reports and participate in check in meetings with Advocacy Manager
Respond to requests for information in a timely manner.
Keep track of community organizer budget and spending
Document all meetings, actions items, initiatives as they occur and report back to AM
Submit bi-weekly timesheets
What we hope you’ll Bring
A mature understanding of the differences between advocacy and organizing and a desire to help HIPS navigate the differences
At least 2 years experience in community organizing
Ability to manage multiple projects in a timely fashion
Excellent interpersonal skills, community building skills, public speaking skills, and conflict mediation skills
Ability to facilitate workshops
Ability to understand and communicate the needs of HIPS diverse client base.
Ability to work independently and within a team structure.
Able to attend evening meetings and work on some weekends
Knowledge of local community of drug users, sex workers, and transgender individuals, with a preference for lived experience
Other Stuff
This position requires a significant amount of in-person work, connecting folks in homeless encampments, parks, corners, etc., while maintaining strict HIPS Covid-19 mitigation policies.
Compensation & Benefits:
Compensation: $45,000
HIPS comprehensive benefits package includes: 100% employer sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life plans for each employee, as well as accrued paid time off that begins accruing on your first day at HIPS. Access to a health flexible spending account, ancillary benefits like hospital, accident, critical illness, and prepaid legal insurance, discounted HIPS swag, and access to HIPS employee assistance program. After one year of service, full time employees may participate in HIPS 401k retirement plan. HIPS administrative offices in NE Washington DC are located up a short flight of stairs on the 2nd floor of our building that houses our drop in center, clinic and programmatic spaces.
TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter and resume to “work@hips.org” with your last name and “Community Organizer” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
HIPS Benefits
Full Time Employees
HIPS comprehensive benefits package includes: 100% employer sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life plans as well as accrued paid time off that begins accruing on your first day at HIPS. Paid bereavement time issued annually. Access to a health flexible spending account, ancillary benefits like hospital, accident, critical illness, and prepaid legal insurance, discounted HIPS swag, and access to HIPS employee assistance program. After one year of service, full time employees may participate in HIPS 401k retirement plan.
HIPS comprehensive benefits package includes: 100% employer sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life plans as well as accrued paid time off that begins accruing on your first day at HIPS. Paid bereavement time issued annually. Access to a health flexible spending account, ancillary benefits like hospital, accident, critical illness, and prepaid legal insurance, discounted HIPS swag, and access to HIPS employee assistance program. After one year of service, full time employees may participate in HIPS 401k retirement plan.
Ready to Apply?
Application Checklist:
- Updated Resume in PDF Format
- Cover Letter in PDF Format
- Email Subject: [Position] Application - [Last Name, First Name]
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
It is the policy of HIPS to provide equal opportunity of employment for all qualified persons. HIPS complies with all applicable laws governing fair employment practices. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, creed, color, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other factor made unlawful by applicable federal, state or local laws. Employment opportunities shall be open to all qualified applicants, and employment decisions shall be made on the basis of a person’s performance, education, experience, skill, potential and other job related factors. HIPS will take affirmative action to ensure that the EEO Policy is implemented, with particular regard to: advertising, application procedures, compensation, demotion, employment, fringe benefits, job assignment, job classification, layoff, leave, promotion, recruitment, rehire, social activities, training, termination, transfer, upgrade, and working conditions. HIPS will continue to make it understood by the employment entities with which it deals, and in employment opportunity announcements that the foregoing is company policy and all employment decisions are based on individual merit only. All current employees of HIPS are requested to encourage qualified disabled persons, sex workers, drug users and transgender individuals, minorities, special disabled veterans, and Vietnam Era veterans to apply for employment, on the job training or for union accommodations for qualified disabled individuals. It is the policy of HIPS that all company activities, facilities, and job sites are nonsegregated. Separate or single-user toilet and changing facilities are provided to assure privacy. It is the policy of HIPS to ensure and maintain a working environment free of coercion, harassment, and intimidation at all job sites, and in all facilities at which employees are assigned to work.