Careers

Green Mountain Grassroots Fellow

The Vermont Democratic Party (VDP) is looking for highly motivated, passionate, and talented Green Mountain Grassroots Fellows to join an innovative, trailblazing movement-building grassroots organizing program. 

 

Green Mountain Grassroots Fellows will work on state party priorities in a ten-week, on-the-ground training program where they will learn critical organizing and campaign skills such as community organizing, movement-building, field organizing, fundraising, voter registration, data analysis, and digital outreach.

 

Program Description: 

The Green Mountain Grassroots Fellowship program is a paid opportunity for emerging Vermont leaders to learn about grassroots organizing, political changemaking, and movement-building work. The Green Mountain Grassroots Fellowship program trains the next generation of changemakers to build power from the ground up in every corner of Vermont.

 

This program will take place from Monday, June 16th to Friday, August 15th and requires a 40 hour/week commitment.

 

About the Role: 

Fellows are responsible for managing and executing the grassroots organizing program in their region of Vermont. They will lead the implementation of a variety of tactics to build capacity, develop leadership, and meet voters all over their region. They report to the Grassroots Organizing Director. 

 

Grassroots Organizing Fellows must be goal-oriented, metrics-driven self-starters with a robust work ethic who are willing to work weekends and evenings in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, with a high level of attention to detail.

 

Positions are being filled in the following regions, you will be expected to spend 2 weeks in

Montpelier for training and then be located in your general region. Please indicate which region or regions you are applying for at the top of your cover letter. 

Northeast Kingdom: Caledonia, Essex, Orleans

Northwest: Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille 

Central: Chittenden, Addison, Washington, Orange

Southeastern: Windham, Windsor

Southwestern: Bennington, Rutland

 

Selected Fellows must:

• Commit to fully participating in a 8 week long full-time program.

• Attend 2 weeks of training in Montpelier.

• Implement power-building operations in your region for 6 weeks.

• Host a capstone event in each region.

• Produce a final report summarizing key metrics, regional learnings, and strategic recommendations.

• Present on findings for VDP officers, staff, state committee, local committees, stakeholders, and affiliate organizations.

• Be at least 16 years of age.

 

Responsibilities (Including, but not limited to): 

• Execute community outreach efforts, such as phone banks, canvasses, and voter registration.

• Develop regional strategies and systems to successfully meet daily and weekly organizing metrics, as well as maintain data integrity.

• Recruit, develop and train volunteers

• Organize and execute town halls, trainings, listening sessions in your region.

• Build and maintain political relationships with local leaders in your region to increase buy-in and trust in the Vermont Democratic Party at large.

• Work directly with county and municipal Democratic organizations.

• Attend local events to recruit volunteers, spread our message, and build community relationships.

• Amplify VDP message by creating online communities through social media.

• Other duties as assigned by the Grassroots Organizing Director. 

 

You’d be a good fit for this program if…

• You are a relationship builder — you make friends everywhere you go and are ready to build successful meaningful relationships in the communities you are organizing.

• You are prepared to dive deeper into communities than in a traditional electoral campaign: find out where the morning coffee crew meets up to talk about politics, build relationships with the grassroots organization leaders who are already organizing in the community, find out who wants to run for school board, and learn which student groups want to be more involved (and so much more!)

• You are goal-oriented and self-disciplined.

• You are able to meet tight deadlines and multitask.

• You thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments and can think on your feet.

• You have the ability to work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends.

• You have access to reliable transportation, and are willing to travel frequently.

   

Qualifications:

• At least one cycle of organizing experience (preferred, but not required).

  • Applicants with rural, field, and/or digital organizing experience are especially encouraged to apply.

• Working knowledge of and experience with VAN (preferred, but not required).

• Strong communications and organizational skills.

• Experience organizing and executing successful, engaging trainings.

• Ability to work effectively with regional and local leaders.

• Highly organized and results-driven, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.

• Strong commitment to Democratic values and political change.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

• Familiarity with Vermont politics is preferred but not required.

 

Benefits:

• Opportunities for advancement/promotion and year-round internship opportunities. 

• Mentorship from professional organizers and advocates.

• Resume builder for future campaign work, organizing roles, and more.

• Learn about grassroots organizing, political changemaking, and movement-building work.

• This is a full-time position that offers a $2,750/month salary, as well as a stipend for travel and potential class credit.

 

How to Apply:

Please send your cover letter, resume, and 3-4 professional references to May Hanlon, Executive Director of the Vermont Democratic Party, at mhanlon@vtdemocrats.org with “Green Mountain Grassroots Fellowship - [Last Name]” in the subject line. 

 

The Vermont Democratic Party is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy and our core value to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity or expression, ethnic identity or physical disability, or any other legally protected basis.