Food & Water Watch is looking for an Iowa Organizer to join our organizing team and help build a strong base in support of our campaigns, with a particular emphasis on fighting the proposed carbon pipelines and winning a factory farm moratorium. The Organizer will work closely with members, volunteers, allies, donors and other staff at Food & Water Watch. This position is remote but must be based in Des Moines, Iowa.

About Food & Water Watch:

Food & Water Watch is working to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust, clean drinking water and a livable climate. Making this happen requires involving people in the pressing issues of our time at the local, state, and federal level, building on one win after another, as we develop a larger movement that has the political power to make our democratic process work. 

About the position:

The Iowa Organizer will report to the Factory Farm Organizing Director and will work with other staff on the organizing, policy, digital and communications teams to support Food & Water Watch’s work. The Organizer will engage in campaign work around factory farming and false solutions issues to build widespread support for and advance meaningful reforms, help the organizing effort to stop the negative impacts of factory farming on the environment, family farms, and communities and organize opposition to the proposed carbon pipelines in Iowa. 

This is a full-time temporary grant-funded position for one year with the potential to be extended. This position is a bargaining unit position covered under a contract between Food & Water Watch and the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU).

Salary: $46,000 – $52,000 

Location: Des Moines, IA

Responsibilities:

1. Recruit volunteers and allies. Build a strong base of volunteers and organizations in support of our local, state, and national campaigns.
2. Develop campaign plans. Work with other staff to establish long and short term goals, strategies, and tactics to win our campaigns. 
3. Organize campaign tactics. Plan and execute strategic tactics to meet the needs of our campaigns, including educational events, base-building drives, and actions directed at elected officials. 
4. Build capacity. Develop the leadership of volunteers and grassroots organizations by offering training and organizing support.
5. Represent Food & Water Watch. Speak at public events and in press interviews on behalf of the organization. Participate in coalitions and joint campaigns or tactics.
6. Write to inspire action. Develop educational materials such as factsheets, action alerts, web site content and newsletter articles on campaign issues.
7. Use digital tools. Become proficient in tools such as ThruText, Hubdialer, and Mobilize.
8. Know our issues. Maintain familiarity with Food & Water Watch’s priority issue campaigns and policy positions, and respond to information and support requests from activists, coalition members, and the media.
9. Build Food & Water Watch for the long haul. Participate in member recruitment and fundraising activities for Food & Water Watch.
10. Carry out other projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications: 

• At least 1 year of full-time organizing experience, or an equivalent combination of full-time and volunteer experience. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective organizing strategies. 
• Familiarity with Iowa politics.
• Commitment to Food & Water Watch’s core values of justice, human dignity, fair treatment, and equity.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse racial, ethnic, class, age, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. 
• Excellent time management & organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects.
• Ability to work remotely using basic online programs, including email, Slack, and Google docs.

Compensation: $46,000 – $52,000 annually dependent upon experience and location.

Food & Water Watch provides an excellent benefits package for full-time employees. This includes 100% employer-paid health, dental and vision plans for staff; 403b retirement plans with employer contribution after 1 year; 12 weeks paid parental leave; 3 weeks vacation for new employees; 12 sick days and 5 personal days; paid federal holidays and winter break (December 24 – January 1).