Denver Metro Tenants Union

Bilingual Tenant Union Field Director

Based in Denver, CO

 

Inquiries about this position, DMTU, and what we're looking for are Welcome.

Contact Eida Altman, Director: eida.altman@denvertenants.org

Experienced organizers from out of state are encouraged to apply but are especially encouraged to contact our director for a brief conversation prior to working on application materials.

This position requires fluency in Spanish.

This position includes a supervisory role and is a senior position in the organization.

The description of this position is articulated in the section outlining duties and responsibilities below, but questions and conversations about our history and framework are welcome and encouraged prior to working on application materials.

We are a new organization, started in early 2023, receiving funding and hiring our first staff in November of 2024, and still growing. This is a ground floor, upstart environment.

Summary of benefits and salary:
Health insurance costs are provided up to $380 per month, reimbursing the cost of premiums through the QSHERA program.

This position pays $70,000 per year to start, during an exploratory period. There is an increase to $75,000 after 6 months and a positive evaluation. However, exceptional work can move the timeline up, as would relevant experience over the minimum. Organizers with a proven track record over 5 years may start at $75,000 per year. Organizers with experience in housing justice may start at $75,000 per year.

Like any organizing job, this position requires long and variable hours, including weekends and evenings. Currently, there is no cap on PTO. We expect organizers to take time off to compensate for the demands of our schedules during peak periods. If goals are being met and there are no urgent matters on the table, organizers should take the opportunity to spend time away from work.

Minium qualifications:

• At least 4 years of structure-based organizing experience. This might be labor, tenant organizing, or similar work.
• Experience in non-profit administration is helpful but not required.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.
• Strong ability to work with word processing, spreadsheets, and applications like Canva as well as the ability to learn contact management software is required.
• Proven commitment to economic justice must be demonstrated through previous work.
• Strategic, practical thinking is required and should be communicated in application materials.
• An ability to connect with people and be persuasive is paramount.
• The ability to work under pressure as well as the ability to communicate about needs regarding time off or other support is required.

Duties and responsibilities of this position include:

• 70 % of the time on-site at multifamily residential properties:
  • Perform door-to-door outreach at organizing sites, identifying Tenant Leaders, recording and charting pertinent records.
  • Setting and conducting one-on-one meetings with potential Tenant Leaders aimed at building relationships that allow the Field Lead to deepen Tenant Leader involvement, organizing committee capacity, and confidence.
    • Goal is a minimum of 5 per week. During the initial stages of a campaign, one-on-ones should prioritize building new relationships.
• Chart organizing sites in a manner that allows for strategic decisions, capacity assessments, and structure test analysis at a glance
• Meet with the Director for a strategy session at least once a week
• Support, train, onboard, supervise field staff (currently supervising one staff as well as union member organizing teams (We expect to grow staff over the coming year.)
• Compose quarterly staff assessments
• Attend coalition meetings relevant to your fieldwork
• Assist the Director in mentoring organizing staff working in coalition with DMTU – A key goal of ours is to create a deeper bench of skilled organizers in our ecosystem, not just within DMTU.
• Direct tenants in need of legal or tenant assistance services to appropriate partners or agencies without performing additional resource navigation.
• Monthly, report to the Director the following:
  • Number of one-on-ones scheduled and completed
  • Number of doors knocked by Field Director and staff
  • The number of Tenant Leaders on Organizing Committees
• Prepare Tenant Leaders for active speaking roles in General Meetings, Accountability Sessions, and other DMTU spaces
• Track spending (DMTU debit card is provided), collect and submit relevant receipts, and get proper approval for spending that exceeds established caps
• Plan, turn out (through phone calls, not texts), and conduct tenant Organizing Committee meetings, being sure to increasingly give Tenant Leaders roles in developing and facilitating items on the agenda
• Assist in grant reporting as needed
• Create materials regarding tenants' rights and union activities (such as fliers and emails)
• Facilitate Field Team door-knocking by scheduling on-site time, confirming Field Team organizer attendance, and preparing necessary materials and tracking tools, and providing “cut turf” for organizers, pairing up newer organizers with more experienced organizers as possible
• Facilitate the weekly Field Team check-in
• Provide the Field Team with written site-specific strategy and door-knocking memos ahead of any fieldwork so that organizers understand what the goals are for that specific day and where those goals fit on a strategic arc
• Prepare Tenant Leaders for active speaking roles in General Meetings, Accountability Sessions, and other DMTU spaces
• Track spending (DMTU debit card provided), collect and submit relevant receipts, and get proper approval for spending that exceeds established caps.
• Plan, turn out (including phone reminders), and conduct tenant Organizing Committee meetings, being sure to increasingly give Tenant Leaders roles in developing and facilitating items on the agenda
• Research, read, understand, and communicate policy in a manner that is readily understandable to renters
• Work with director in facilitating the work of our Member Executive Board which sets our priorities for structural change, policy work, policy endorsements, and more

Application Requirements and Process:
Please provide a cover letter that:

• Explains your experience with and approach to organizing
• Explains what moves you to do this work
• Discusses your most relevant skills

Please provide a list of 4 references that includes:

• Two from former supervisors or co-workers
• Two must be from a community member whom you have worked with and empowered

Process:

• Initial phone interview
• Interview with hiring committee
• Final interview
• Decision
• Onboarding

Brief calls prior to application are welcome.
To schedule a brief call and to submit materials, write to: Eida at eida.altman@denvertenants.org.