Neighborhood Captain / Canvasser

Job Type
Part-time, Temporary
Description
Neighborhood Captain / Canvasser
Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (Mid-City CAN) is a collaborative comprising hundreds of partners and thousands of community members. Mid-City CAN's mission is to build a safe, productive, and healthy community through collaboration, advocacy, and organizing. For nearly 35 years, Mid-City CAN plays an essential role in the community and the San Diego Region by facilitating dialogue, identifying common issues, spearheading advocacy efforts, building power, and training community members to take leadership roles in affecting change. Some of our campaign wins include $5.1 million towards two skateparks and a recreation center, the Halal school lunch program, and no-cost youth transit passes.
With the support of the Team Lead and Coordinator, reporting to the Director of Civic Engagement, Neighborhood Captains (also known commonly as Canvassers) are part of a 10-12 person team who do direct home-to-home outreach through door-knocking, phone-banking, texting, and community events. They are also neighborhood leaders, working toward achieving campaign goals, building the resident base, and building power in City Heights and sister communities. The team's current campaign is Get Out the Vote for the 2024 primary and general elections. Neighborhood Captains work on-the-ground as part of a team to execute engagement plans with a high level of quality. Neighborhood Captains work Part-Time and on a Seasonal Basis during engagement program periods. Hours are typically Sunday - Thursday 3:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm but may be subject to change according to program needs. Program periods may range from a few days to several months, with 1 to 2 programs in a 12-month period. The current Get Out the Vote project is expected to start February 13, 2024, and end March 5, 2024 .
Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach campaigns with the goal of engaging community members in public opinion or participation with various programs and Mid-City CAN.
• Persuade community members to become vaccinated, utilize COVID-19 resources, or to participate in Mid-City CAN Momentum Team Campaigns per current outreach program.
• Attend all training workshops.
• Continually learn and be motivated to improve canvassing and other outreach skills.
• Go door-to-door, use telephone, host events, or use other technology, to contact potential new community members.
• 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.
• Arrive to the phone banking/canvassing/outreach location on time.
• Phone-bank/canvass and complete all assigned duties, during the entire shift.
• Follow program script to engage community members and stay current on Mid-City CAN changes in messaging.
• Identify and document contact responses to the 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 community members to sign up and engage with Mid-City CAN.
• Use creative techniques and means to engage new people.
• Validate that potential signers meet the general eligibility requirements for programs 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 Civic Engagement Coordinator to ensure all goals and objectives are met.
• Maintain compliance with project requirements.
• Track and enter daily reports on individual activities.
• Use mobile technology (provided) and wear PPE (provided) as required.
• 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 community engagement or previous work as a promotor/a/community health worker a plus.
• Bilingual (Spanish, Somali, Swahili, Arabic, Vietnamese, or Other language) preferred.
• Wear MCC field uniform (provided).
• 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 work as part of a team when assigned to do so.
• Exceptional oral and written communication, facilitation, direct interpersonal workplace communication, and public speaking skills.
• 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.
• Flexible and ability to adapt to learning new ideas and concepts, responding to changes and last-minute requests.
• Commitment to personal professional growth and development.
• Exude professionalism on the job and maintain emotional composure.
• 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.

Health and Safety

• Strictly comply with all applicable public health orders and organizational safety protocols.
• Conduct work in person as health orders allow, all work is expected to be in-person.
• Willing to obtain COVID-19 test if directed unless qualified medical exemption.
• Willing to immediately contact the supervisor if ill for guidance prior to in-person work.
• Remain flexible and adjust to changing safety protocols or health orders as needed.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is performed in an office or community setting; employee regularly sits at a computer station and operates electronic equipment 6 to 8 hours per day; occasionally lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Position involves regular use of a computer and keyboard, telephone, and face-to-face communications; employee should be able to communicate clearly and professionally in all of these manners. Position works in community settings, may be standing at an even table, and walking around the neighborhood for 3-4 hours on as needed basis. The employee may spend periods of time sitting, standing, or walking. Employee required to work in-person and adhere to health and safety protocols which may require wearing a facial mask covering nose and mouth for several hours and/or gloves or other PPE (provided). If required by health orders, employ may have to work virtually at home requiring use of virtual meeting technology for several hours requiring focus on a computer screen. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Compensation: The hourly wage range for this part-time, non-exempt position is $23-27.00 per hour, commensurate with work experience, skills and educational background.
To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter for this position. No phone calls, walk-ins or recruiters, please.
Mid-City Community Advocacy Network 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.
Salary Description
$23 - $27 / hour