Outreach Field Organizer, Prometheus Radio Project

Posted by on February 14, 2011

Outreach Field Organizer, Prometheus Radio Project

Posted on: February 3, 2011

In the wake of our successful fight to pass the Local Community Radio Act through Congress, the Prometheus Radio Project is hiring an Outreach Field Organizer to coordinate a nationwide, coalition-based campaign to help social justice and community groups throughout the U.S. prepare and apply for low power community radio station licenses.

Prometheus is a grassroots organization that works to expand and protect community radio stations, and to promote a more democratic and accountable media in the United States and around the world. From farmworker groups in Oregon to environmental justice groups in South Carolina to social justice groups in Puerto Rico, we help community groups develop their own radio stations as tools social justice organizing and community expression.

We help community groups navigate the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the radio licensing process, and we provide technical assistance to groups building radio stations. We also advocate in Congress and at the FCC to protect community radio, and actively participate in the broader campaign for a better media. We are tireless in our fight to make community radio and local, appropriate technologies available to every neighborhood, city, and town.

Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Prometheus is now accepting applications for our Outreach Field Organizer position. This individual will be responsible for leading a fast-paced national outreach and support campaign, coordinated by Prometheus with participation from our allies. The Outreach Field Organizer will lead a two-year project to successfully mobilize and enable social justice and community groups to apply for low power community radio licenses. After two years, pending organizational need and resources, this position may be continued, shifting to support groups as they build their stations and get on the air.

This position is part of Prometheus Radio Project’s campaign to mobilize the nation’s most underserved communities to seize this one time opportunity to gain access to the airwaves to educate, express, and organize.

Nationally and regionally, the campaign will inform social movements and communities about the upcoming license opportunity, share the potential of community radio as a tool for social justice, and then coordinate groups to apply for and win radio station licenses during the short windows of time provided by the FCC.

The Outreach Field Organizer will report to the staff collective and will work closely with the Prometheus Station Support team, staff, and allies to design and implement a national outreach campaign to expand low power FM (LPFM) radio.  We are seeking a motivated, flexible, committed candidate who has experience in national organizing and outreach and a background in social and economic justice.

The Outreach Field Organizer will be responsible for the following:

Outreach work:
•           Designing and implementing an effective, fast paced campaign action plan to mobilize social justice and community groups to apply for LPFM licenses.
•           Building relationships with organizations and leaders within diverse communities in the United States and educating them about the opportunity and benefits to applying for an LPFM license.
•           Coordinating a national coalition of allies and volunteers to implement an LPFM outreach campaign.
•           Managing interns and Prometheus staff in executing an outreach plan.
•           Recruiting volunteer participants for regional and national LPFM organizing events.
•     Developing and implementing a robust communications strategy surrounding LPFM licensing, and implementation.
•      Performing research and preparing background materials and documents for outreach,
•       Developing materials to assist communities in leading communications campaigns to raise awareness about LPFM — including newsletter articles and e-alerts, press releases, webpages (including social media), op-eds and letters to the editor.
•           Promoting participatory/community media among priority groups.
•           Analyzing local political trends, community needs, and the landscape of community media within groups marginalized from media access.
•           Planning, implementing and mobilizing attendance for meetings, speaking events, conferences and other events about LPFM.
•           Traveling within the Northeast frequently and throughout the US as needed to meet with local leaders and coalition contacts.
•           Supporting our development team in raising funds to execute an LPFM outreach campaign and reporting on activities.
•           Helping groups network with each other for mutual support.
•           Facilitating knowledge sharing of LPFM applicants’ progress, successes and challenges around implementing applications via newsletters, blogs and webinars.

Collective Work
The Prometheus Radio Project operates through a collective structure in which all staff share responsibilities for the management and direction of our organization, as well as daily chores necessary to the upkeep of our office. Candidates for this position should be prepared to take on collective responsibilities including:
•           Setting the vision and direction of the organization with the leadership team and collective
•           Hiring and training new staff
•           Facilitating meetings
•           Creating and revising policies
•           Collaborative event facilitation
•           Organization-building activities
•           Shared day-to-day office maintenance tasks

Qualifications
Essential
•           Well-developed organizing skills, including at least 2-3 years of national, community, or campaign organizing experience, with proven ability to handle multiple tasks successfully
•           A thorough understanding of and demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and politics
•           A commitment to mobilize diverse communities to gain ownership of and access to the media
•           Superior organizational skills with keen attention to detail
•           Ability to creatively deploy limited resources for maximum benefit
•           Ability to build and manage a team including staff, allies, and volunteers
•           Team-oriented personality with can-do attitude
•           Strong communication (oral and written) and research skills
•           Ability to travel regularly to meet with groups and work flexible schedule
•           Ability to present before groups of diverse political, cultural, geographic, and economic backgrounds
•           Self-directed
•           Experience coordinating multiple projects simultaneously
•           Ability to adapt to shifting time tables and strict deadlines
•           Familiarity with word processing software, database work, spreadsheets and electronic communications (i.e. skype, e-mail, distribution lists, etc.)

Preferred
•           Live in or ability to relocate to Philadelphia
•           Financial and budgeting skills
•           History of acting as a liaison for an organization and building relationships with social movements
•           Experience with non profit management, collectives, or  consensus decision-making
•           Experience with communities historically marginalized from media access, representation, and ownership
•         Spanish language skills

Salary, Location, and Application Info

This is a full-time, salaried staff position. All full-time staff earn equal pay and receive medical and dental benefits. Our current salary is $27,040/year although our goal is $31,200 if we successfully meet our fundraising goals.

Hours are flexible with the exception of regular staff meeting times. Since this position requires interacting with the working public, some evenings and weekend work is required. Candidates in (or able to relocate to) Philadelphia strongly preferred, but we will consider specific proposals for other arrangements.

The Prometheus Radio Project respects and values people of all backgrounds and considers applicants for positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, creed, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any legally protected status.  As we work in collaboration with many communities that have been marginalized from media access, we work to employ members of these communities at the Prometheus Radio Project.

To apply, send a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples to jobs(at)prometheusradio.org, and include “Outreach Job Applicant” in the subject line. Applications are due by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, Feb 25, 2011. Interviews will be scheduled for the week of March 7. We will keep this call open until we find the right person for the position.