Job Summary:
 
ACORN Canada, the nationwide community union of low-to-moderate income people, is hiring it’s first paid organizer in New Brunswick.  This job is a perfect position for someone who wants to learn how to be an effective organizer and make major differences in the lives of all low-to-moderate income New Brunswickers.  

No experience is required, but applicants must be interested in fighting for economic and social justice in Canada and be able to explain that in a quick cover letter. 
 
Organizers work afternoons and evenings, and receive high level organizer training from people who have years of experience.  Bilingual applicants are preferred, and we are looking for someone based in either Moncton or Saint John. 
 
What  does an ACORN organizer do?  
 
They start with direct outreach (door to door, street petitioning) in low-to-moderate income communities listening to what the community issues and concerns are, and turn that into effective mass-based action for change. 
 
Job description:
 
The job of an ACORN organizer is to build and develop formal ACORN Chapters so low-to-moderate income people can disrupt, and change, the systems that negatively impact their community. 
 
There is extensive on the job training provided that allows the individual to understand all the fundamentals on how to be a community organizer. This includes learning how to do effective outreach, strategic research,  campaign planning, effective communications, and both internal and external fundraising.  
 
The successful applicant will be joining an exciting staff team at the ACORN Canada. 
 
The current priorities laid out by ACORN’s leadership are focussed around our “End the NB Housing Crisis” campaign which is pushing for major tenant law reform in the province. 
 
Responsibilities and Duties

• Work one on one with ACORN leaders and members. 
• Develop and expand NB ACORN’s membership and donor base.
• Work with our national Field Director on a day to day basis to learn the basics of ACORN’s organizing methods and techniques. 
• Work 30 hours per week - working in afternoons and evenings Monday through Thursday and sometimes on weekends. 
• Fundraising and asking for money is part of an organizer’s job. ACORN is a union: ACORN members pay membership dues.  While this is not the entire job, it’s fundamental that organizers sign up members and can ask for money.
• Willing and able to travel to training, and staff meetings (some outside of Canada).  **COVID has drastically changed our travel***
• Dealing with multiple tasks in the same day - flexibility and resilience are keys to success. 
• Representing the organization in the neighbourhoods, as well as with our leadership at external meetings or events (allies or targets).

 
Qualifications and Skills
 

• No previous experience required; professional organizer training provided
• Have strong social and people skills.
• Be self driven and the ability to work both independently but also follow direction.
• Ability to listen in order to identify issues that are affecting our people. 
• Base compensation is $15.75 an hour + transportation allowance 
• Bilingual is preferred
• Based in Moncton is preferred, but applicants in Saint John are welcome to apply. 

What is ACORN?
 
ACORN is a multi-issue, mass based union of low-to-moderate income people.  ACORN’s purpose is to give low-to-moderate income people the power needed  to have their voices effectively heard at the highest levels in the country. ACORN is able to be both a local-based union winning local campaigns, as well as a large-scale organization that combines all of our members across Canada to fight national corporations and governments that are at the root of most of our problems.
 
We are a tenants’ union. We are a disability action union.  We are a workers’ union. We are a consumers’ union. We are whatever our members are.  Our members pay dues so that the organization can be sustainable and not dependent on outside funding from government, corporations, or foundations.  Each dues paying member has a vote, and only members speak for the organization.  Our members get elected to our board of directors and set our policy and help determine the tactics.