deep canvassing organizer
About Us
Next Up (c3) mobilizes diverse young people to move Oregon forward through issue advocacy, youth leadership development, and civic engagement. We envision an Oregon where young people boldly lead the state forward, our democracy is inclusive and accessible, and our communities are strong and resilient. We’re Next Up, and we want you to join us! ✨
Who We’re Looking For
Next Up is seeking committed, full-time, temporary Deep Canvassing Organizers (you’ll join an awesome team of 4+ other organizers) who will lead nonpartisan direct voter outreach and contact efforts in the Portland metro region focused on protecting bodily autonomy, including abortion access, gender-affirming care, and the freedom to marry.. Since 2020, we've witnessed a surge of attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals, with a particular emphasis on trans people. The right has weaponized trans youth, putting not only LGBTQ+ rights at risk but also democracy, bodily autonomy, and progress toward racial justice. As we look to the future, we anticipate a challenging landscape, especially given a hostile federal administration and states governed by extremist legislators who continue to target transgender individuals as part of their anti-gender agenda. Nevertheless, Oregon can remain a beacon of progress in these trying times.
In addition to deep canvassing for bodily autonomy, organizers will also be a part of two pilot programs at Next Up. Deep Canvassing in East Portland (District 1) to focus on voter issue identification and connection in hope of building a more informed and engaged electorate for the 2028 Portland City Council Election. To be prepared to connect with voters about what is going on in their area, organizers will also participate in our Government Watch program which includes attending city council, county commission, and school board meetings, giving testimony for relevant issues, reporting back to Next Up co-governance staff, and building relationships with community leaders.
We’re looking for people who are dedicated to building electoral justice, the political power of young people, and creating an accessible, accountable and representative democracy. Our ideal candidates will enjoy building relationships, discussing and advocating for values aligned candidates and ballot measures, are collaborative, detail-oriented, and committed to racial, social and gender justice. This position reports directly to and works closely with our Field Director and Movement Building Director.
Key Responsibilities
Engage Voters: Initiate in-person conversations with voters, creating a welcoming and non-judgmental space for them to express their views and experiences.
Build Relationships: Use active listening techniques and curiosity to understand individuals’ personal stories and emotional connections to issues.
Have Meaningful Conversations: Ask open-ended questions to explore their views on key issues and introduce information or alternative perspectives to encourage deeper reflection.
Collaborate: Work closely with other team members to share insights and adjust strategy as needed based on the feedback gathered from canvassing efforts.
Promote Campaign Goals: Ensure that campaign goals are met by shifting voter attitudes and increasing support for the campaign or cause.
Time management: Be on-time, manage your conversations at the doors, Respond to other canvassers in a timely manner, update and communicate with your leads as needed.
Canvassing door to door (in-person) - 65%
(As a Deep Canvassing Fellow, your responsibilities will consist of executing our deep canvassing program with door to door canvassing tactics)
Your typical week responsibilities could look similar to this:
Roughly 20 hours a week spent doing direct voter contact
16 hours door knocking in the field with 4 hours for a weekly phone/text bank
Participating in a daily stand up meeting with the deep canvassing team to receive daily instructions and updates
Preparing and organizing your materials for daily canvassing
Once at your turf you will be responsible for completing the canvassing of that list and recording details of that conversation in the MiniVAN app
Debriefing daily with the deep canvassing team
Practicing and learning organizing skills through a specific training curriculum
Managing a group of 4-5 part time Election Organizers as we scale our deep canvassing program
Programmatic responsibilities would include:
Executing a high energy deep canvass rooted in Next Up Action Fund’s theory of change and programmatic goals
Ensuring canvass data integrity
Receiving and providing feedback on training materials and curriculum
Collecting stories, videos, photos, and other multimedia to use for promotion
Attending staff development trainings and fellowship training opportunities
Occasional relational outreach via SMS to family and friends to engage them around issues and the election
Government Watch and Accountability - 30%
Attend city council, county commission, and/or school board meetings
Track agendas and take notes of important details
Provide testimony on behalf of the Next Up Action fund
Report back to Next Up staff and help with strategy of when to mobilize base
Support base members in attending and providing testimony when necessary
Track and build relationships with regular attending community members
General Support - 5%
Engage in organizational decision making and planning processes
Attend monthly board meetings as needed
Contribute to “all hands on deck” efforts like events and campaigns that forward our goals
Qualifications
Commitment to Next Up and Next Up Action Fund's mission, with an appreciation for the role of electoral justice in social change and movement building.
Strong time management, problem solving, organizational skills and follow through on projects to meet goals.
Strong Communication Skills: Ability to build rapport quickly and communicate empathetically and persuasively.
Active Listening: Comfortable listening deeply to others without interrupting or making judgments.
Open-Mindedness: Willingness to engage with people who may hold very different views, and the ability to be non-judgmental and respectful of diverse perspectives.
Patience and Persistence: This work can be slow and requires staying patient as you navigate complex conversations and change attitudes over time.
Passion for Social Change: A strong desire to promote social justice, political reform, and/or other causes the campaign is working toward.
Requirements: Must know MiniVAN
MUST have access to reliable transportation, a laptop, cell phone/phone, and wifi.
Position Logistics
Job Title: Deep Canvassing Organizer
Deadline to apply: Wednesday, April 16th at 11:59 PM PST
Compensation: $28/Hour
Anticipated Start Date: May, 5th 2025
Reports To: Field Director
Duration: Full time (32/hour work week), limited duration position through November 2026 with evening and weekend work required.
Benefits: Our benefits include medical, vision, and dental coverage (with 100% of the premium covered by the employer), a 4-day (on average 32-36 hour) work week, 401k retirement matching, generous PTO, and paid holidays including a two-week office closure in December.
Location: Our office is in Portland, Oregon. Time will be split between being in the field in Clackamas County and East Portland, attending meetings at government offices in the Portland Metro area, and hybrid work. Biannual team retreats and a few major events are required in-person as well.
Covid- 19: We are requiring all team members to be vaccinated for COVID-19 unless a team member has requested and received a health/disability or religious accommodation. For in-person meetings - applicants must follow all in person covid protocols outlined by the organization.
How To Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to hiring@nextuporegon.org and in the subject line put Deep Canvassing Organizer. Those missing a resume and cover letter will not be considered.
Please send a 1-page cover letter that includes your responses to the following questions:
How do you relate to Next Up’s mission (found on our website)?
What interests you most about this position?
How would your skills and experiences (personal and professional) translate into success in this position?
Equal Opportunity Statement
Next Up is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, disability, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
We believe our work is stronger when it benefits from the experience, knowledge, and wisdom of people who have faced systemic barriers and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled people, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities to apply.
