Mission Edge San Diego | Mid-City Community Advocacy Network

Neighborhood Captain (Part-time)

Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (Mid-City CAN), fiscally sponsored by Mission Edge San Diego, is a community collaborative comprised of hundreds of partners and thousands of residents in City Heights. Mid-City CAN’s mission is to create a safe, productive, and healthy community through collaboration, advocacy, and organizing. In its 30th year, Mid-City CAN plays an essential role in the community of City Heights by facilitating dialogue, identifying common issues, spearheading advocacy efforts, building power, and training residents to take leadership roles in affecting change. Recent campaign wins include $5.1 million towards two skate parks and the Halal school lunch program.

Reporting to the Civic Engagement Team Lead, and the Director of Civic Engagement who oversee Mid-City CAN’s Civic Engagement work, Neighborhood Captains are part of a team of 10-16 canvassers/phone-bankers, who are also neighborhood leaders, working toward achieving voter engagement campaign goals, building the resident base, and building power in City Heights. Neighborhood Captains work on-the-ground as part of a team to execute voter engagement plans with a high level of quality. Neighborhood Captains work part-time and on a seasonal basis during voter engagement program periods. Hours are typically Sunday – Thursday 3:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturday 9:00am to 2:00pm, but may be subject to change. Program periods may range from a few days to several months, with 1 to 4 programs in a 12 month period.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Canvassing/Phone-banking

• Campaign with the goal of engaging community members in public opinion or participation in Mid-City CAN and Mid-City CAN’s Momentum Team Campaigns
• Persuade community members to become involved in the voting process and to participate in Mid-City CAN Momentum Team Campaigns
• Attend all training workshops
• Continually learn and be motivated to improve canvassing and other outreach skills
• Go door-to-door, use telephone, or use other technology, to contact potential new or occasional voters and members of Mid-City CAN
• Conduct door-knocking, walking, phone-banking, tabling at community events, house meetings, and other hands-on activities as assigned
• Initiate contact with people in public areas and/or at their homes to solicit them to vote, engage, take surveys, and/or sign petitions
• Maintain a positive, personable, outgoing and enthusiastic attitude
• Strictly follow safety protocols and participate in ensuring the safety of the other team members
• Arrive to the phone banking/canvassing location on time
• Phone-bank/canvass and complete all assigned duties, during entire shift
• Follow civic engagement program script to engage voters and stay current on Mid-City CAN changes in messaging
• Identify and document contact responses to the civic engagement program survey or script
• Meet the required number of contacts (phoning and/or canvassing)
• Execute campaign plans as directed
• Demonstrate and utilize great customer service and listening skills to motivate voters to sign materials and engage with Mid-City CAN
• Use creative techniques and means to engage new members
• Validate that potential signers meet the general eligibility requirements to sign the petition forms through the established means and methods when required
• Submit all completed forms within the required timeframe
• Help prepare materials for canvassing
• Dispatch to assigned turf or location on a daily basis and participate in daily reflections at the end of each shift
• Work closely with the Team Lead and Director of Civic Engagement to ensure all goals and objectives are met
• Maintain compliance and with project requirements
• Track and enter daily reports on individual activities
• Attend staff meetings
• Other tasks as assigned

The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• High school diploma, GED or commensurate education ideal but not required
• Experience canvassing or phone-banking and familiarity with voter engagement a plus
• Bilingual (Spanish, Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Other language)
• Possess a passion for social justice that translates to daily interactions
• Ability to build consensus and effectively manage conflict
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced flexible environment and meet deadlines
• Ability to self-direct, take initiative, and work independently, while also being able to motivate a team under pressure
• Flexible and ability to adapt to learning new ideas and concepts, responding to changes, and last minute requests
• Ability to work with and maintain positive relationships with diverse constituencies and sensitivity in dealing with diversity issues including race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to maintain etiquette in a professional environment, and exude a positive attitude
• Ability to work flexible hours, weekends and evening work required 90% of time
• Access to reliable transportation and willing to use it for job-related tasks
• Access to cell phone and email account for work purposes

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in a community setting with occasional office work at a desk on computer and phone; employee regularly walks while operating electronic equipment 4 to 5 hours per day; occasionally lifts, carries and positions objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Must be prepared to work in all kinds of outdoor weather. Position also involves use of a computer and keyboard, tablet, scanner, telephone, and face-to-face communications; employee should be able to communicate clearly and professionally in all of these manners. Position includes standing at event tables and walking neighborhood for several hours on as needed basis. The employee may spend periods of time sitting, standing, or walking. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COVID-19 Provisions: Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with public health orders, staff may work under modified operations for an extended period of time. Modified operations currently include working from home approximately 95% of the time with extensive use of virtual meeting and other communications technology requiring one to maintain focus on a screen for long periods. In person activities are currently limited, require approval from a supervisor, physical distancing, and use of personal protective equipment (provided) is required. When feasible and in accordance with public health authorities, Mid-City CAN will return to in-person operations. This includes but is not limited to: outdoor work such as in parks, neighborhoods, and public spaces, and indoor work in an office environment. In person work will be mandatory when feasible. The preferred candidate has obtained the COVID-19 vaccine or is willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine upon becoming eligible according to County of San Diego criteria. A personal decision not to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible will not preclude in-person work assignments when Mid-City CAN operations return to in-person work.

Compensation: The hourly wage range for this part-time, non-exempt position is $16-18.00 per hour, commensurate with work experience, skills and educational background. Plus $500.00 2022 retention bonus.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter for this position through the Mission Edge San Diego job board at http://missionedge.org/careers. No phone calls, walk-ins or recruiters, please.

Mission Edge San Diego provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, age, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, caregiver status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.