Student Employment Opportunities

MPIRG Campus Organizer - Morris

Minnesota Public Interest Research Group

Position Description:

Minnesota has more problems than it can tolerate and more solutions than it utilizes. We have the technology to solve the global climate crisis, we have resources to provide quality, affordable health care to all people, we have the expertise to solve many of society's most pressing problems, and we have the necessary momentum to move Minnesota forward. The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) was founded with a broad vision of achieving social change that gives passionate college students the opportunity to work with a set of professional staff to have a lasting impact on society’s pressing social and environmental issues.
Over the years, MPIRG students, working closely with their staff, helped establish the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness, ensured that sweatshop-free apparel is sold on their campus, helped pass legislation requiring Minnesota to get a large percentage of its energy from clean, renewable sources, helped pass the nation's first law regulating toxic chemicals in consumer products, and won numerous other concrete victories on campus, in the community and at the state legislature for the public interest. MPIRG has a rich history of empowering students and the community to take collective action in solving Minnesota’s problems. This fall MPIRG will embark on a new campaign focused on mobilizing thousands of college students to vote against the two proposed constitutional amendments.
MPIRG Campus Organizers are responsible for facilitating the greatest level of student involvement in the issues that the organization has prioritized. They are responsible for building strong, effective campus chapters, educating students on MPIRG and the organization’s issues, training students on grassroots organizing and advocacy skills, engaging students in campus, local, and state legislative campaigns, and increasing cohesion amongst all member campuses.
Campus Organizers work closely with students and other staff to execute the most effective implementation of MPIRG’s resources as a statewide grassroots advocacy organization, and work closely with the Organizing Director to develop their own skills, increase the effectiveness of the work they are doing at the campus level, and ensure that they are running a highly visible program that is a benefit to the entire campus community. Campus Organizers participate in a comprehensive training program which gives them the skills and direction necessary to be effective in their work.

JOB DUTIES
Functioning of Campus Chapter:
Work closely with the campus chapter leadership
Recruit, train, and develop leadership among chapter members,
Work with students to develop campaign strategies and plans
Implement campus campaigns and programs
Ensure that students have a good understanding of MPIRG
Oversee a campus internship program
Maintain relations with other student organizations and campus media
Develop campus faculty, staff and administration member support.
Coordinate Statewide Campaigns and Projects:
Coordinate all statewide campaigns and projects at assigned campuses
Build grassroots support for statewide campaigns and projects on campus
Integrate statewide campaigns into specific culture of assigned campuses
Utilize social media networks to educate the campus and community. .
Campus Contract Requirements:
Monitor compliance, contract status, fee collections, and refunds in conjunction with the Organizing Director
Maintain good relations with student governments and other student organizations
Maintain channels of communication with campus administrators.
Develop Materials and Trainings:
Provide group and individual training and development on issues, leadership, and organizing and advocacy skills
Coordinate the distribution of program and organizational information
Develop campus resource lists and relationships with campus faculty, student leaders, administrators media and other VIPs
Assist in preparing and posting campus information to the web site, newsletters, and listservs.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Jamison Tessneer, Organizing Director at jamison@mpirg.org with the subject line: Morris Campus Organizer.
All materials must be received by close of business Friday, July 6th, 2012 in order to be considered.

MPIRG is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, and women.

Qualifications/Additional Comments:

Required:
Experience working with college students in political activism and organizing
Commitment to environmental and social change
Good writing, organizational, and public speaking skills
Attention to detail
Ability to develop and implement work plans
Ability to work well with a variety of people
Strong time management, problem solving, critical thinking, and leadership qualities
Positive, outgoing attitude.

Preferred:
Previous organizing or student activist experience with a state PIRG
Familiarity with student activity fee-funded or membership-funded organizations
B.A. or equivalent degree.

Hours Per Week:

Average 20 hours per week

• Preferred Application Procedure(s): send cover letter and resume to Jamison

Number of Positions Available