Youth Organizer Search

 

DSA and YDS have started a search for the next national youth organizer. The official job notice is enclosed. Please forward this notice to young people with organizing experience that might be interested in this position.

 

Job Opportunity:

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the largest socialist organization in the USA, and the sole US affiliate of the global Socialist International, seeks an organizer for its youth section, the Young Democratic Socialists (YDS).  YDS is a political activist organization of campus-based chapters and regionally-based groups of younger (under 30) socialists who work (and play!) to advance democratic socialist politics, vision, and culture in the USA. 

The YDS organizer is primarily responsible for the maintenance and growth of YDS. Duties include recruiting new members, identifying new leaders, helping to start new chapters, and working with elected and volunteer leadership to foster the talents, skills, and activism of existing members and chapters.  The YDS organizer is the staff person foremost responsible for planning YDS outreach conferences and retreats and maintaining YDS membership data.  S/he is based in DSA?s national office in New York City, but travels periodically to speak about democratic socialism and YDS activism, to help new chapters get started and enhance the growth of existing chapters, and to liaise with other progressive youth-oriented organizations and movements.

Candidates should have a good understanding of democratic socialism and the history, politics, and organization of DSA.   Excellent public speaking and social skills, and talent for explaining democratic socialism and YDS politics and projects to a broad audience, are essential.  Ability to multitask, to work independently and as part of a team, and to work with people of diverse backgrounds are required.  Strong writing skills are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

 •   Organize an annual winter outreach conference and an annual summer conference for current members and chapters, in collaboration with the elected and volunteer leadership of Young Democratic socialists (YDS)

•     Recruit new members and assist in the formation of new chapters of YDS

•    Facilitate the ongoing political work of the members and chapters of YDS

•    Provide staff support, especially leadership development, for YDS

•    Represent YDS at conferences and meetings of other radical activists

•    Participate in meetings of the DSA National Political Committee and serve as a liaison between YDS and DSA?s locals and commissions

•   Report to and assist DSA?s National Director as needed

Requirements

•    Identify as a socialist and be grounded in democratic socialist politics and history; general agreement with the positions and perspectives of YDS and DSA

•    Experience organizing campus, labor, political, or community-based groups and events

•    Excellent public speaking, communication, writing, and computer skills

•    Strong time management skills and ability to use limited resources effectively

•    Thorough understanding of academic settings, politics, and calendars at secondary and post-secondary levels

•    Ability to work effectively with young people from diverse backgrounds

•    Commitment to feminist, anti-racist, and anti-heterosexist principles and action

•    Willing and able to travel extensively around the United States on a moderate budget

•    Available to start work in New York City by August of 2010 and willing to make at least a one-year commitment

Desirable Qualifications

•    Creativity

•    Sense of humor

•    Fund-raising experience

•    Web design, HTML, database, and graphic design experience and skills

•    Bilingual

Starting Salary: High $20?s; full benefit package including regular salary increases.

Application deadline: April 19th, 2010. Self-identified women, LGBTQ and people of color are especially encouraged to apply.

Email resume and statement of how your qualifications make you a good candidate for this position to: Frank Llewellyn, National Director, DSA, fllewellyn@dsausa.org. Please send attachments in Microsoft Word. Applicants without email access may send their materials to DSA, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 505, New York, NY 10038