The VPIRG Fellowship is a two-year entry-level organizing and advocacy position that gives you the training and hands on experience to be a leader. If you love VPIRG’s grassroots action, canvass and advocacy on campaigns ranging from promoting clean energy, taking on big money in politics, increasing recycling, getting toxic chemicals out of everyday products, and more, this is your opportunity to make an immediate impact while building key skills for a successful career at VPIRG or in the non-profit, campaigns, or policy fields.
Depending on your specific role, you’ll work alongside either a seasoned advocate or our communications & engagement team, getting a chance to do everything from tabling and recruiting volunteers to helping conduct policy research to aiding action in the State House. As a member of our canvass leadership team, you’ll help plan, prepare and recruit for each upcoming canvass. From May-August, you’ll help run the day-to-day operations and managing dozens of staff in the Burlington canvass office.
Major elements of the position include:
Communications & Engagement; Campaign & Advocacy Support
- Engagement:
- Mobilize grassroots activists and interns to participate in VPIRG campaigns by:
- Tabling/generating petition signatures
- Generating calls, emails, and other contact into legislators
- Organizing events
- Conducting outreach to strategic partners and networks
- Mobilize grassroots activists and interns to participate in VPIRG campaigns by:
- Communications
- Aid in writing and creating web posts, emails, videos, FAQs and other communications
- Implement communications plans in clear and compelling ways using all available media
- Additional Campaign, Program & Advocacy Support
- Monitor legislative and/or administrative proceedings
- Conduct research as needed
Canvass Directing
- Recruit, train, and manage canvass staff
- Meet and exceed personal fundraising goals
- Take responsibility for a specific realm in the office
- Help ensure office meets overall performance goals
- Participate in pre-canvass recruitment, planning and preparation
Fundraising and Administration
- Participate in various aspects of fundraising beyond the canvass, including major donor campaigns and year-end phone outreach.
- Responsible for tracking data, time and benchmarks on a weekly basis.
Qualifications: Must have excellent written and verbal communications skills. Commitment to VPIRG’s issues and a mission-driven approach. Ability to travel (within state) and work evening/weekend hours as needed. Experience in VPIRG’s canvassing operation strongly preferred.
VPIRG values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. VPIRG is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Duration: Two-year commitment from September 11, 2023 – August 15, 2025
Compensation: Starting salary of $46,616.67 with bonus opportunities. Excellent benefits package including employer-paid health insurance and employer-matching IRA contributions or student loan repayment of up to 3% of salary. Four weeks of vacation and 10 personal days annually accrued and 11 paid holidays.
How To Apply: All applications are due by Sunday, July 30th, 2023. Please apply online using the form below.
Advocacy & Organizing Fellowship Job Application
Submit job application online