OTSE seeks a Community Organizer who will grow, mobilize, and manage our members and supporters to spread awareness and foster public support for ending the death penalty. In particular, this position will be responsible for identifying and empowering individuals directly impacted by racism and injustice in the criminal legal system and drawing attention to the death penalty’s historical connection to lynching and racial oppression. An ideal candidate will creatively and effectively educate community members about the flaws and misinformation of the death penalty by convening meetings, events, protests, vigils, and more. The organizer will also help oversee some communications work, including digital outreach via social media channels. Special projects may be assigned to the community organizer to assist the Executive Director and Board in developing and implementing strategy.
A successful community organizer will be able to develop relationships across multiple identities and backgrounds, is committed to working to end systemic biases and prejudices within the criminal legal system, especially as related to ending the death penalty, and will foster grassroots power in communities impacted by the unjust application of the death penalty to help realize a more equitable criminal justice system and the end of the death penalty in Ohio.
About OTSE
OTSE was founded in the 1980s with the sole purpose of reducing the use of, and eventually abolishing, Ohio’s death penalty. OTSE is a statewide group of people and organizations united by a desire to abolish the death penalty and to promote effective, humane alternatives to its use. OTSE is committed to dialogue, education, and action against the death penalty through its organizing efforts of murder victims’ family members, the law enforcement community, religious communities, death row exonerees, and the general public.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Educating community members, community leaders, and elected officials about the need for Ohio to end the death penalty, with a special emphasis on outreach to directly impacted communities.
- Hosting, coordinating, and convening events, meetings, and outreach efforts in targeted districts / communities.
- Working with the Executive Director to implement, manage, and track volunteering programs.
- Connect with impacted community members to educate, engage, and urge them to support an end to the death penalty.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop local individual, political, and organizational leaders as possible participants, representatives, and spokespersons for the campaign.
- Data entry and some database management.
- This position involves travel around Ohio to attend community events, connect with community members, and various other tasks, as needed.
- Performing necessary administrative duties, including correspondences with members and volunteers via email, phone, social media, etc.
- This role will require willingness to occasionally work on weeknights and weekends.
Preferred Skills, Abilities, and Qualifications:
- Passion for speaking truth to power – strong interpersonal skills and problem solving skills.
- At least two years of community organizing experience.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement related to controversial and/or culturally sensitive subjects. Handle confrontational situations with tact and poise.
- Demonstrated ability or experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, spiritual and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to adapt to a diverse array of communities, groups and settings.
- Ability to motivate and manage small teams of people.
- Self motivation and the ability to work well collaboratively.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Ability to learn new software quickly.
- Comfortable making quick decisions.
Prior knowledge of grassroots organizing principles, issue advocacy are REQUIRED. Knowledge of Ohio politics and criminal legal system reform are pluses, but are NOT REQUIRED.
Fluency in additional languages, especially Spanish, is desirable, but is NOT REQUIRED.
How to Apply:
Please send a resume, cover letter, and any additional materials you’d like to hkubbins@otse.org with the subject line “OTSE statewide organizer application.” Feel free to email hkubbins@otse.org with any questions.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Ohioans to Stop Executions is an equal opportunity employer. The Coalition is committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that works to provide a supportive work environment with excellent benefits and incentives. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.
