Notice: Applications for this role are closed.
YIMBY Action is seeking an exceptionally organized and highly relational Chapter Organizer to help us grow the pro-housing movement. The right candidate will be extremely conscientious and attentive to detail, while also bringing strong facilitation, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
YIMBY Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit network of pro-housing activists fighting for more inclusive housing policies and a future of abundant housing. We drive policy change to increase the supply of housing at all levels and bring down the cost of living in opportunity-rich cities and towns. We envision an integrated society where every person has access to a safe, affordable home near jobs, services, and opportunity.
What We're Looking For
YIMBY Action Chapters are the heart of the YIMBY Action model. Chapters are groups of volunteers who believe in abundant housing and take action to advance the pro-housing fight through grassroots lobbying, electoral volunteerism, coalition-building, narrative change, and grassroots legal enforcement. Chapters are typically organized geographically (e.g. Peninsula for Everyone, Grow the Richmond), although we also have issue-based chapters (e.g. Urban Environmentalists, Streets for People). Chapters are managed and coordinated by volunteer Chapter Leads, or in some cases, regional staff. YIMBY Action currently has 15 formal chapters and several other informal proto-chapters. Chapters vary considerably in current group size, type and range of primary activities, and structure of their Leads cohort.
The Chapter Organizer will collaborate with chapter leadership and YIMBY Action’s national staff to maximize the impact of every chapter. The Chapter Organizer will meet regularly (through Zoom and phone calls) with chapters to provide ongoing coaching and support. The Chapter Organizer will also manage the logistics of coordinating meetings and project manage staff and chapters to follow through on key implementation tasks.
The Chapter Organizer will be joining a fast-paced startup environment. The right candidate will reliably carry out tasks while also taking initiative to identify problem areas and take action to solve them. They should also be flexible and dynamic, and excited to take on occasional projects outside of their comfort zone.
Responsibilities
LOGISTICAL COORDINATION AND REPORTING (50%)
- Manage the logistics of setting up meetings between chapters and Executive Director or other YIMBY Action staff or volunteers.
- Maintain a dashboard of chapter progress to goals and provide regular reports to staff and chapters.
- Project manage chapters and staff to ensure chapters are implementing established processes, including educational, political, and tech.
- Track new chapters as they form, and project manage staff and Chapter Leads to move chapters through the pipeline to becoming full YIMBY Action chapters.
- Document processes to ensure other staff and chapters can replicate continually.
TRAINING AND COACHING (30%)
- Collaborate with the National Executive Director and Regional Directors to develop and continually improve proficiency in political organizing best practices.
- Collaborate with Chief Operating Officer to develop proficiency in chapter tech systems and processes.
- Meet regularly with chapters to provide ongoing coaching and support in implementing tactics and tools that will help them grow and effectively organize their chapters.
- Identify chapter problem areas and provide troubleshooting support; proactively leverage other YIMBY Action staff and volunteers to help solve them.
- Over time, directly facilitate group training with cohorts of chapter leadership.
CHAPTER GROWTH (20%)
Add direct capacity to each chapter to build the relationships necessary to grow membership, including:
- Conduct one-on-ones to help move activists up the ladder of engagement.
- Manage communication with volunteer and trial members.
Qualifications
We believe a variety of different work, school, volunteer, or community experiences could make you a good fit for this job. We welcome candidates from nontraditional backgrounds.
REQUIRED
- A deep commitment to YIMBY Action’s mission and vision. A passion for more housing and shelter of every type including subsidized nonprofit affordable housing, market-rate housing, transitional housing, navigation centers, etc. etc. etc.
- Exceptional ability to carefully manage many tasks at once; a knack for keeping a project going and not dropping balls. Passionate about task management tools.
- Experience managing volunteers. Demonstrated ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with volunteers.
- Comfortable working with disorganized people and creating order in chaos.
- Ability to collaborate across diverse communities and engage people with diverse identities, perspectives, and backgrounds.
PREFERRED
- 3+ years of directly relevant work or volunteer experience.
- Knowledge of/previous experience in housing activism.
- Community organizing and/or political activism experience.
BENEFITS
- Up to 100% employer funded comprehensive medical coverage
- 401k enrollment opportunities
- 3 weeks of paid vacation plus another 20 paid holidays
- Paid sick time
- Paid family & disability leave
- Significant professional development opportunities, including paid professional development stipend
- Flexible work hours within a 40 hour work week
- Membership in YIMBY Action nationwide activist network and vibrant 3,700+ member Slack community
- Access to YIMBY Action network of elected officials, journalists, and business leaders
YIMBY Action provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Schedule: Full time
Evening and weekend hours frequently required to accommodate volunteer schedules.
Some flexibility of schedule, but internal staff meetings are held 10 am–5 pm PT.