Community Organizer

Job Summary

People's Budget Birmingham (PBB) is working to make participatory budgeting a cornerstone of municipal governance and to empower Birmingham residents to challenge their city government to meet this end. Our work centers on four programmatic pillars: 1) Community organizing and education; 2) Policy advocacy; 3) Research and data analysis; and 4) Litigation and defense. We envision communities where neighbors are committed to their collective liberation, where power is held and exercised at the grassroots level, and where governance is accountable, accessible, and transparent to the people.

At PBB, we are seeking a Community Organizer who is dedicated to PBB's mission, ready and eager to lead outreach and community education initiatives. They are willing to deepen their knowledge of data tracking tools, become an expert on participatory budgeting and local municipal spending, and committed to building grassroots power by developing pathways for Birmingham residents to engage meaningfully in participatory budgeting work.

The Community Organizer is responsible for executing PBB's grassroots organizing strategy while building the volunteer infrastructure necessary to sustain and expand this work. This role combines hands-on community organizing—including canvassing, one-on-one conversations, workshops, and community assemblies—with coordinating and developing volunteers and community advocates who amplify these efforts.

Working closely with fellow PBB staff, the Community Organizer executes field efforts aligned with the organization's strategic direction, using on-the-ground experience to inform organizing tactics and strategy. This position requires someone who excels at both direct relationship-building with Birmingham residents and creating systems that enable others to do the same. The ideal candidate sees relationship-building, political education, and grassroots leadership development as key ingredients of base-building. They are committed to creating accessible entry points for residents to participate in democratic governance while actively organizing in their own communities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Community Organizing & Education

• Collaborate with PBB staff to execute canvassing programs, conducting door-to-door and community-based outreach
• Mobilize Birmingham residents and volunteers for budget hearings, civic engagement opportunities, demonstrations, and other relevant events
• Develop and facilitate workshops and educational programming on participatory budgeting, municipal budgets, and community organizing
• Co-lead and support community meetings, People's Movement Assemblies, and neighborhood forums that center resident voices and build collective analysis
• Conduct one-on-one conversations with residents to understand their priorities and build trust
• Coordinate and participate actively in People's Budget Hearings, public actions, and advocacy campaigns, representing PBB and mobilizing community members
• Build authentic, multi-generational, multi-racial relationships with Birmingham residents across diverse neighborhoods
• Attend relevant community meetings and local events (i.e., Neighborhood Association, Community Advisory Board, City Council, and Planning and Zoning Board, protests, fun days, etc.) and provide strategic organizing support for mission and values-aligned initiatives

Volunteer Management and Leadership Development

• Design, implement, and manage PBB's comprehensive volunteer program in alignment with organizational goals and the strategic plan
  • Determine the goals, structure, and procedures of the volunteer program, including volunteer roles, pathways for engagement, and systems for tracking participation
  • Establish clear volunteer management systems, including intake processes, scheduling tools, and communication protocols
• Build relationships with Birmingham residents and recruit diverse, multi-generational PBB supporters and volunteers through canvassing, community events, partner organizations, and digital outreachand
• Develop and maintain a volunteer orientation handbook and onboarding materials for use across the organization
• Manage volunteer communications platform and serve as the main point of contact for all volunteer inquiries and coordination
• Track volunteer participation, contributions, and development, using data to inform program improvements and celebrate volunteer impact
• Develop and deliver trainings that prepare volunteers for their roles, including:
  • Introduction to PBB's mission, vision, values, and programmatic work
  • Deep canvassing techniques and relational organizing
  • Popular and political education on participatory budgeting and municipal budgets
  • Data collection and reporting practices
  • Volunteer role-specific training (e.g., event support, canvassing, tabling)
  • Pathways for volunteers to grow into grassroots leaders and PBB advocates
• Provide ongoing support, coaching, and feedback to volunteers, ensuring they feel valued, prepared, and connected to PBB's mission
• Coordinate volunteer appreciation events and recognition efforts in collaboration with staff
• Identify and develop emerging community leaders and volunteers, creating pathways for residents to take on greater responsibility in PBB's work

Skills and Qualifications

Values & Commitments

• Deep and demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice and pre-existing commitment to improving the material conditions of our communities
• Alignment with PBB's values: community commitment, anti-racism, anti-capitalism, anti-carceral stance, gender equity, disability justice, environmental justice, anti-colonial perspective, global solidarity, intergenerational inclusion, and accountability and reflection
• Belief in participatory democracy, community control of resources, and grassroots power-building
• Commitment to centering the leadership and priorities of Black, Brown, queer, and working-class communities
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, one-on-one, and in a group
• Belief in leadership development of self and others and that growth relies on an individual's ability to own important projects and achieve success for themselves
• Commitment to work in a collaborative, accountable organizational culture
• Understanding of and commitment to base-building organizing approaches that prioritize long-term relationship-building and community power
• Commitment to long-term organizational development and building sustainable field infrastructure
• Commitment to executing field work in alignment with PBB's Strategic Plan while informing strategy based on community insights

Required Experience & Skills

• Must have at least 2-3 years of experience engaging in community organizing, public service, social justice, etc.
• Familiarity with Birmingham's neighborhoods, civic landscape, and community organizations
• Experience in canvassing, political campaigns, issue-based organizing, or community-based field campaigns
• Proven ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with diverse community members through one-on-one conversations and community engagement
• Track record of recruiting, training, and managing volunteers for advocacy, organizing, or community-based programs
• Experience facilitating workshops, trainings, or educational programming for community audiences
• Experience planning, hosting, and facilitating community events, assemblies, or public forums
• Highly organized with strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate clearly with community members, volunteers, staff, and partners
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to have meaningful, difficult conversations with grace and clarity
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively with other staff
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic community setting
• Reliable transportation (i.e., able to get to volunteer events, canvas launch sites, and community meetings reliably)

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to execute organizing strategy while also informing tactics based on on-the-ground insights and community feedback
• Experience with volunteer management systems, databases, or CRM platforms (e.g., VAN, EveryAction, or similar tools)
• Political campaign, canvassing, and/or community organizing experience
• Experience with participatory budgeting, municipal organizing, or civic engagement work
• Background in popular education methodologies or political education
• Experience using data and evaluation to improve organizing programs and tactics
• Knowledge of municipal budgets, local government processes, or policy advocacy
• Lived experience as a Birmingham resident or deep familiarity with Birmingham's neighborhoods and civic landscape
• Strong preference given to those who live within the Birmingham City limits
• Multilingual skills, particularly Spanish

Work Environment & Expectations

• PBB has a generous benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision benefits, paid vacation and wellness leave, paid family leave, and more!
• PBB adheres to a 40-hour work week with flexible work hours. However, staff are expected to be available/reachable during normal operating hours (Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm)
• Regular in-person presence required for canvassing, community assemblies, workshops, volunteer coordination, and organizational activities
• Frequent fieldwork including door-to-door canvassing, community tabling, and neighborhood-based organizing
• Some evening and weekend work required for community events, canvassing, assemblies, volunteer coordination, and major campaigns and budget season
• Physical requirements may include walking for extended periods during canvassing, setting up for events, tabling at community events, and extended periods of standing during assemblies and public meetings
• Must be able to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities based on organizing opportunities

How To Apply

AI Use: We want to get to know you as a person. Therefore, AI use should not obscure or replace your judgment, creativity, or personality. If you use AI in preparation of your application materials, you should disclose that you used AI and describe how.

Interested candidates should submit:

• Applicants may submit written responses (no more than 300 words per question) OR a short video (max length: 7 minutes) that answers the following questions:
  • Introduce yourself
  • What values motivate your work? Have those values changed over time or been shaped by anything significant? If yes, what shaped them?
  • What makes you uniquely qualified for the position?
• Resume/CV
• Three professional references

Application materials should be submitted to: https://forms.gle/E2GFeHGMDFvAc94D7 If you have issues submitting your materials using the link, please contact resha@peoplesbudgetbhm.org. We will begin application review in August 2026.

Application deadline: Aug. 9, 2026

Anticipated start date: Mid to Late September 2026

For questions related to the job description, application, or job requirements, contact us at actnow@peoplesbudgetbhm.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ~ COMMITTED TO A DIVERSE WORKPLACE

Employees and job applicants are protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit-based factors.

People's Budget Birmingham is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We strongly encourage applications from people of color; women; LGBTQ people; immigrants or refugees; people with disabilities; and people from low- or moderate-income backgrounds. Our work is led by and centers Black, Brown, queer, and working-class communities.