Canvass Team Lead and Volunteer Coordinator

Seed the Vote

Canvass Team Lead and Volunteer Coordinator

(Multiple Openings: Pennsylvania, California, Michigan,

Ohio, Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, Maine)

About the Organization

Seed the Vote (STV) is a grassroots, social justice organization mobilizing volunteers to defeat right wing politics by supporting the electoral work of grassroots organizations in swing states and building the long term power of working class communities and communities of color.

Seed the Vote organizes thousands of volunteers to support community organizations and labor unions with door-to-door voter outreach in critical federal elections. In 2020, Seed the Vote mobilized nearly 9,000 volunteers, including over 1,250 in-person canvassers, to support our partners in key swing states to defeat Trump and flip the Senate. In 2022, Seed the Vote mobilized volunteers to door knocking and phone banking in six key states to help defy the odds in the midterms and win major victories in the senate and house. In 2024, Seed the Vote mobilized over 5,000 volunteers to doorknock in 6 states.

Position Overview

The Canvass Team Lead and Volunteer Coordinator is STV’s on the ground lead for our field work in states. Canvass Team Leads lead our volunteers and leaders in our grassroots voter engagement programs, manage our volunteer deployments in states, as well as support their own canvass teams.

We are looking for positions in the following areas with the accompanying dates:

Spring Primaries (Bakersfield,CA, Allentown, PA) - April/May

Summer Primaries (Lansing or Detroit, MI) - June-early Aug

General Election (specific sites TBD, likely AZ, OH, MI, TX, ME, NC) - Sept/Oct/Nov

We're looking for some canvas leads to start in the Spring and stay with us through the General

Responsibilities/Essential Functions

The following responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel classified in this manner. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change.

Volunteer Coordination:

• Coordinate, and implement STV’s plan for volunteers to integrate into and support partner organizations’ daily canvassing activities.
• Train volunteers via webinars and in person trainings
• Provide support, guidance, motivation, and feedback to volunteer canvassers and volunteer leaders
• Participate in the planning and managing logistics related to out-of-state volunteers. Lead all local troubleshooting.
• Track volunteer shift scheduling and participation in our databases.
• Invest in the development of volunteer leaders including one-on-ones, political development, skill building and confidence building.
• Delegate appropriate tasks to volunteer leaders and/or captains.
• Communicate effectively with volunteers, “branch” and “pod” coordinators and other stakeholders about plans and processes. (Seed the Vote is using a distributed organizing method encouraging people to form pods with friends and family committed to taking action together to defeat right wing politics. Branches are larger networks of people organizing into the Seed the Vote program.)
• Adhere to operating procedures to uphold the organization's values and volunteer safety
• Ensure the organization's purpose is conveyed to the public.

Partner Coordination:

• Serve as on-the-ground liaison between Seed the Vote and partner organizations to troubleshoot and make timely adjustments and decisions to ensure effective and smooth operations.
• Coordinate with partners to collaborate on volunteer management (including training and other support) for greatest efficiency, impact, and experience of volunteers
• Plan, implement, and lead real time volunteer troubleshooting
• Support partner organizations, as needed.
• Activate volunteers to become involved in partner organizations’ activities , as appropriate

Canvass Team Leadership and Support:

• Train and support volunteer leaders to be effective team leads for groups of volunteer canvassers.
• Lead groups of 10 - 200 volunteers in daily door knocking and other outreach activities
• Manage expected volunteers in CRM systems: confirm attendance, plan turf, track canvasser data
• Shadow and observe volunteers on doors, modeling and encouraging effective organizing conversations
• Support canvassers and respond to their ongoing needs
• Organize and prepare materials for each canvass, including literature, technologies, and other essentials, as provided by the partner organization
• Use quantitative and qualitative assessment of volunteers and support volunteers to improve

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading electoral campaign field work is ideal.
• Experience in organizing or volunteer recruitment.
• Past experience as a canvasser or volunteer in civic engagement programs.
• Experience in team management and/or supervision is ideal
• Organized and prepared; proactive in coordinating materials and learning relevant technology
• Facilitation skills for leading trainings, workshops, etc
• Commitment to and experience in identifying and developing others’ leadership
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to learn and navigate online and digital tools and platforms (including Mobilize America, VAN, ThruText, Airtable) to recruit and manage volunteers

Physical Demands:

• Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard and other equipment
• Able to see or read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
• Able to speak clearly and in audible tones on the phone and in person and be understood by others.
• Able to hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Able to walk and stand for extended periods of time, in potentially intense weather conditions (heat, humidity, cold).
• Willing and able to drive, and in possession of a valid drivers license.

Work Environment

• Positions will be located in AllentownPittsburgh, PA, Bakersfield, CA, Lansing or Detroit, MI, or other locations TBD in AZ, MI, TX, OH, NC, and ME. Applicants do not have to currently live in the region, but must be willing to relocate to the specified region for the length of the position.

Compensation

This position will work full time exempt with long hours and weekend work expected. Estimated compensation of $1,440 per week, with housing for the duration of the field work and flight to be provided if needed. [We offer a competitive health benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision.]

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. This document provides no contract of employment.

How to Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter on why you’re interested in the role, and three references through this job portal: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=c858a322-00a0-4526-9713-59699ec1e4bf&ccId=9200115939844_2&jobId=578348&source=CC2&lang=en_US Applications will be reviewed as received.

Seed the Vote contracts with Resilient Strategies LLC for backend and operational support including hiring and employment. Resilient Strategies is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are encouraged to apply. Pursuant of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.