Job Posting

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Job Description:
SENIOR ORGANIZER

VAMOS Unidos – Vendedoras Ambulantes Movilizando y Organizando en Solidaridad (Street Vendors Mobilizing and Organizing in Solidarity) is a Bronx community-based social justice organization founded by low-income Latina/o immigrant street vendors. VAMOS Unidos organizes Latina/o immigrants, currently predominantly street vendors, for economic and racial justice, immigrant rights, and police accountability. VAMOS Unidos’s vision is to develop a strong, empowered base and leadership of low-income Latina/o immigrant workers who are politically conscious, economically self sufficient, and able to win change on local and national policies. Our vision is grounded on the importance of social justice at the local, national, and global level by understanding the root causes and connection of our struggles with those in other communities.

Responsibilities:

• Outreach to street vendors in a regular basis in all boroughs in New York City, including door-knocking, house visits, neighborhood meetings to meet turnout and recruitment goals;
• Help build leadership and skills of members; including legal clinics, ongoing legal representation, English classes, and computer classes;
• Organize & prepare leaders to run membership meetings- mailings, phone banking, facilitation;
• Develop political leadership of members to run campaigns through weekly one-on-ones and tracking of recruitment and leadership activity;
• Support members to win campaigns – research, media, negotiations, and direct action work;
• Maintain, update, and develop membership database;
• Campaign work for increasing the current vending caps – legislative visits, educational visits, help organize marches and press conferences;
• Facilitate leaders to represent VAMOS Unidos in worker/labor alliances;
• Make creative outreach & campaign materials, secure translation;
• Meet regular goals to deepen own organizing skills & political education;
• Help fundraise & build resources;
• Be accountable to staff team and report directly to Director;
• Provide services to members such as tax preparation, aiding with licensing process, and accompanying members to apply for any required process for their vending;
• Work week is Monday to Friday with many evenings and additional days required.

Skills:
• Committed to building working-class leadership;
• Must have a minimum of three full years of immigrant worker organizing, including membership building and campaign development;
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required;
• Supervision experience required;
• Must be able to handle high pressure situations, such as facilitate vendor leadership at meetings with police precincts and elected officials;
• Commitment to movement building, anti-racist, feminist, anti-heterosexist, pro-working class, and global justice political vision;
• Computer proficiency (Macs and PC) including Microsoft Word, Excel, Pages, Numbers, Power Point, Keynote;
• Excellent planning, writing, and communication skills;
• Well-organized and able to manage details efficiently;
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, with multiple priorities, highly motivated;
• Must be able to handle high pressure situations, such as facilitate vendor leadership at meetings with police precinct and elected officials;
• Ability to work with flexibility, independently, and with supervision;
• Discretion and mature judgment in handling sensitive and confidential information.

Compensation:
Full Time, Salary commensurate upon experience. Position starts as soon as possible.

Interested applicants should forward a cover letter (Spanish), resume (Spanish), and 2 writing samples, one in Spanish and one in English (at least 1 page), and the contact information of three references to Rafael Samanez via email to vamosunidos@gmail.com or fax to Attn: VAMOS Unidos at (718) 205-3037.

Deadline for all applicants is on 4/10/09

Low-income people, people of color, and women strongly encouraged to apply.
VAMOS Unidos is an equal opportunity employer.