Lead Community Organizer

Organizational Background

VOCAL-KY is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to building the power of low-income people affected by the drug war, mass incarceration, HIV/AIDS, and homelessness to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, advocacy, direct services, and strategic communications. You can learn more about our work through our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Position Description

The Lead Organizer will play a central role in building and strengthening VOCAL-KY’s organizing program by supervising, training, and supporting our team of community organizers and canvassers. This position is responsible for hiring and onboarding new team members, facilitating ongoing skills development, and providing day-to-day leadership to ensure effective outreach, phonebanking, data tracking, campaign advancement, and grassroots fundraising. The Lead Organizer will be accountable for meeting goals related to base building, leadership development, and mobilization for meetings, actions, and events. They will focus on developing the leadership of individuals directly impacted by VOCAL-KY’s core issue areas: HIV/AIDS, drug use, mass incarceration, and homelessness. This position will report to and work closely with the Executive Director to implement campaign strategies and drive forward organizing plans. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and results-driven leader who can support a growing team and ensure organizers are accountable to ambitious but achievable organizing goals.

Job Responsibilities

• Supervise and support staff: Hire, train, and manage organizers and canvassers. Provide daily coaching and hold the team accountable to outreach, mobilization and leadership development goals.
• Lead base building efforts: Coordinate and participate in outreach at shelters, encampments, and community sites. Oversee phone banking, follow-ups, and support member recruitment and engagement.
• Develop grassroots leaders: Ensure organizers are building leadership through 1:1s, prep meetings, and trainings that center people directly impacted by our core issues.
• Advance and execute campaigns and events: Help develop and implement campaign strategies and work plans. Represent VOCAL-KY in coalition spaces, and support campaign-related mobilizations, membership meetings, actions, and lobby days. Assist with campaign communications and media work, and ensure strong turnout and logistics.
• Manage data and admin tasks: Oversee timely data entry and reporting.
• Handle timesheets, scheduling, and canvass planning.
• Support grassroots fundraising: Guide the team in building a base of dues-paying members and sustaining donors through outreach and phone banking.
• Foster a strong team culture: Promote collaboration, clear communication, and shared responsibility across the team.

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate is an experienced organizer and team leader who is passionate about building the power of directly impacted communities, including people who use drugs, people living with HIV/AIDS, people experiencing homelessness, and formerly incarcerated people. They are organized, self-motivated, and committed to supporting staff to meet bold outreach, leadership development, and mobilization goals. A deep commitment to social justice and to grassroots organizing is essential.

Candidates must have:

• At least 4 years of full-time work experience in community organizing or a related field.
• At least 1 year of experience supervising organizers or canvassers to meet outreach and mobilization goals.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Comfort using basic digital tools (Excel, Google Suite, email, etc.).

The ideal candidate will also have:

• Experience with grassroots leadership development and political education.
• Experience creating agendas and facilitating community meetings.
• Experience with data management for outreach and/or voter engagement.
• Experience developing work plans and supporting staff to meet goals.
• Personal or professional experience with VOCAL-KY’s core issue areas.

This is a full-time, in-person position based in Louisville, KY. Some travel is required to Frankfort and within the state for meetings, events, and outreach. Evening and weekend availability is occasionally necessary for community events and mobilizations. Candidates must have access to a reliable vehicle and a valid driver’s license. Work-related expenses will be reimbursed according to organizational policy. This role involves frequent walking, standing during outreach and events, and the ability to carry outreach materials and supplies.