DC/DMV RAISE High Road Restaurant Regional Organizer

One Fair Wage is an organization seeking to raise wages, enhance working conditions in the service sector and end all subminimum wages in the United States.

With the Great Resignation, millions of workers are refusing to work for subminimum wages, employers are raising wages to recruit staff, and the political landscape to advance policy to raise wages has changed dramatically. Given the historic moment, One Fair Wage has launched an ambitious campaign to advance bills and ballot measures in 25 states nationwide to raise wages and end subminimum wages in the US - and through the process, engage millions of unlikely, low-wage worker voters politically. One Fair Wage is thus advancing policy, voter engagement, employer engagement, and culture shift activities to ultimately lift millions of tipped workers out of poverty nationwide and engage them in the political process that governs their lives.

The Opportunity

One Fair Wage is hiring a DMV ‘High Road Restaurants’ Organizer who will conduct outreach and organizing with restaurant owners in DC, Maryland, and Virginia to help build support for and defend One Fair Wage policy. This organizer will help build DMV area membership and leadership of our RAISE (Restaurants Advancing Industry Standards in Employment), One Fair Wage’s High Road restaurant association. RAISE is a vibrant community of restaurant owners committed to professionalizing the restaurant industry by raising wages, working conditions, and standards for America's 13.6 million restaurant workers. 

Through RAISE: HRR, restaurant owners learn from one another and industry experts about sustainable business models that champion living wages (especially One Fair Wage - a full minimum wage with tips on top), basic benefits, and fair promotion policies, among other "high road" employer practices as recipes for success, not impediments to profitability.

The ideal candidate for this position is experienced, strategic, energetic, and innovative, and has experience in organizing, policy, and restaurant management. The candidate will bring strong organizational, relationship management, and planning skills to this role. This is a full-time position. 

Reports to: National Policy Director for RAISE: High Road Restaurants

Geographic Focus and Responsibilities 

The High Road Restaurants Organizer will work with the Director of RAISE and the on-the-ground worker organizers to help advance and defend policy in the DMV region to raise the wage of tipped restaurant employees to the full minimum wage plus tips and allow for tip sharing between the front and ‘back of house staff. The organizer will help co-lead policy efforts in the region and policy events, engaging restaurant owners in this work throughout DC, MD, and VA. 

Responsibilities

• Member Engagement and Recruitment- 80%
• Conduct outreach to 12 restaurants weekly whom our research has identified are paying a Fair Wage of $15+ tips or could be supportive of policy to do the same
• Reach out to members who are high road restaurants through in-person visits first and foremost, followed by virtual visits, and with email in this order to assess member engagement 
• Recruit 5-7 new members monthly through referrals, and one-on-ones held throughout the month
• Facilitate month-to-bi-monthly meetings with members to build community, and share policy updates on One Fair Wage and policy change in DC, MD, and VA. 
• Run High Road Kitchens program in MD - identifying restaurants to receive grants if they transition to One Fair Wage, and partnering with government actors to promote the program and recognize participating restaurants.
• Administrative- 20%
• Attend weekly team meetings and monthly staff meetings 
• Meet with National Policy Director to go over the workflow 
• Attend trainings with our training coordinator 
• Support OFW on campaigns or programs as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience — 4-6 years of professional experience in non-profit work.
• 3-5 years of worker or policy and/or community organizing experience. 
• 3-5 years of restaurant management and/or ownership experience.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Tech savvy with exceptional skills in database management and data analysis.
• Highly organized, comfortable toggling between different activities, and attentive to details.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and work both independently and in a team in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent leadership, strategy, management, and organizational skills. Well-organized with strong follow-through and time management skills. Strongly self-motivated, and able to effectively problem-solve complex issues.
• Diplomatic and professional approach to problem-solving. Ability to practice discretion and sound judgment with financial information. Ability to work well in a collaborative, team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to and competency around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• One Fair Wage can offer $61,000-$75,000 based on experience, medical and dental benefits, and a very capable and motivated team to work with.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status and will provide reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Immigrants, women, and people of color are encouraged to apply. Please submit a resume and cover letter to naila@onefairwage.org