Reports to: Colorado Project Director 

Location: Montezuma County, CO

Position Overview

The SW Project Lead plays a critical role as the eyes and ears on the ground for the Project Director to ensure project goals are met, and in a similar vein convey those goals to the mobilizers (aka “canvassers”). The Project Lead should be a bridge between our leadership team, and our mobilizing staff, ensuring training, materials, and daily operations lead to overall success of our SW Colorado field program.  

Project Specifics

Open Answer will be canvassing in Montezuma County to educate residents about and generate support for solar energy in the county. We will be going door-to-door, as well as tabling to talk to residents and collect visible signs of support from the community.

Core Responsibilities

Community Outreach

• Engage members of Montezuma County through petition signature collection and event turn out through doors knocking, tabling, and other in-person community outreach strategies.

Canvasser and Field Performance

• Ensure all canvassers receive the training they need in order to be successful.

• Collaborate with leadership team members to establish performance standards for each project, and when those standards are not met, work with the Project Director and  Managing Director to implement Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) with canvassers.

• Lead regular check-ins and debriefs with the canvass team in order to confirm messaging, ensure targeting is fruitful, and make adaptations if necessary.

• Provide regular coaching and feedback to canvassers.

• Document necessary write-ups and warnings for field and office performance.

• Communicate with Project Director and Managing Director on daily progress.

Campaign support 

• Create weekly schedule to meet project goals.

• Work closely with Project Director to track metrics to ensure goals are being met.

• Assist in creating lists, cutting turf, and assigning turf in the Voter Activation Network (VAN). 

• Create and implement team structures and schedules to ensure daily output meets overall project needs. 

• Serve as the canvassing team’s first point of contact for daily field needs.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a canvassing or campaign lead.

• At least 1 election cycle of canvassing experience on behalf of an issue or a candidate. 

• Strong leadership skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a diverse group of canvassers.

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

• A deep understanding of target audiences and the political landscape of Colorado’s Western Slope is preferred.

• A strong appreciation for using quantitative and qualitative data to inform our work.

• A goal-oriented, solution-focused approach to problem solving.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace with experience using spreadsheets for data management and analysis.

• Proficiency in utilizing the Voter Action Network (VAN).

• Ability to work under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.

Job Details

• The starting hourly rate for this position is $30/hour.

• Full-time, temporary position located in Montezuma County. 

• Target start date: Immediately.

Open Answer Non-Discrimination Policy

Open Answer is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any term, condition or privilege of employment. Open Answer does not discriminate in employment or advancement opportunities on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation (including gender identity and gender expression), disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

We believe that traditional hiring practices have historically and systemically marginalized entire groups of people — including people of color, people from different socio-economic backgrounds, women, and people in the LGBTQIA+ community, to name a few. We believe that we are better as an organization when we work to deconstruct barriers and build a team that has authentic representation from diverse communities, backgrounds and beliefs. Hence, we strongly encourage qualified candidates from those mentioned, as well as other marginalized communities, to apply for roles within our team.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the position.

1. Tell us about your experience working in the SW Colorado community (canvassing, organizing etc.) If you don’t have experience in this region, share your experience doing community outreach in general.

2. What is your experience with building and managing a team?

3. How would you collaborate from afar with the Project Director and Managing Director to ensure project success?