Join a team where your growth fuels impact, your voice drives purpose, and your work creates something bigger than yourself. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually, health insurance, a retirement plan, and more.
Rural Democracy Network Organizer Overview
The Rural Democracy Network Organizer is responsible for building, supporting, and activating the Rural Democracy Network— the backbone of the Rural Democracy Program (RDP). This network serves as a space where RDP participants and other community members concerned about growing divisions in their rural communities can come together to learn, discuss, plan, and take collective action. The organizer will recruit for and facilitate various RDP trainings and community events, while also maintaining engagement through consistent follow-up with alumni to foster continued involvement. Ultimately, their mission is to strengthen civic connection, belonging, and engagement across the region.
Location: Fergus Falls with in-person meetings and events in Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Traverse, Stevens, Pope, Grant, Otter Tail, and Douglas Counties and White Earth Nation.
Salary range: $60,831-$68,945 (This position is grant-funded for two years, with continued employment beyond that period contingent on securing additional grant funding.)
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected] by June 20.
Position Details
- Status: Exempt, full-time, 40 hours per week
- Reports to: Director of Civic Partnerships
- Review: After 90 days, then annually
Applicants must possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license and, on occasion, work outside the normal business day (evening events, regional travel).
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The position will perform other related job duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Responsibilities
- Develop, nurture, and grow the Rural Democracy Network. The Network Organizer will build and expand the network. Core to this work will be building relationships with and fostering relationships between RDP network members, alumni, community members, and organizations. The Network Organizer will identify and cultivate emerging leaders and provide development opportunities to encourage deeper involvement, including designing and implementing an alumni engagement strategy.
- Recruit, promote, and facilitate RDP initiatives. The Network Organizer will promote and implement outreach and recruitment efforts for each of RDP’s initiatives. They will also assist in organizing and facilitating RDP training and community events and act as a bridge between RDP and local rural communities, developing meaningful partnerships with local organizations, businesses, schools, and other civic groups.
Other Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate records of participant engagement, outreach efforts, event attendance, and alumni activity, using CRM systems or databases.
- Provide reports to RDP leadership on recruitment, event outcomes, and alumni engagement.
- Work with the Rural Democracy Program leadership to identify community needs.
- Collect and share alumni stories, amplifying their impact and reinforcing the collective value of rural civic engagement.
Qualifications
- At least 2 years of experience in community organizing or similar deep relational grassroots community engagement, ideally working in rural settings and with rural communities.
- Demonstrated experience in relationship-building, leadership development, and event planning/facilitation, ideally with a focus on civic engagement.
Skills
To perform this job successfully, the Rural Democracy Network Organizer should have the abilities and strong working knowledge of:
- Communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging with diverse groups and working with teams, including rural residents, local leaders, Indigenous communities, and New American neighbors.
- Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint.
- Written and verbal communication skills in a second language are highly valued.
Characterstics
The following characteristics are preferred for this position:
- A deep passion for rural communities and democracy, community engagement, and creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for civic life.
- Proactive, self-starter with the ability to inspire and connect people around shared community values.
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work and community engagement.
- Willingness to travel within rural areas and to work occasional evenings or weekends as necessary.
Competencies
To perform the job successfully, the Rural Democracy Network Organizer should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Technical Skills – Assesses own strengths and weaknesses, pursues training and development opportunities, strives to continuously build knowledge and skills, shares expertise with others.
- Project Management – Develops communication strategies, coordinates projects, communicates changes and progress, and completes projects on time and budget.
- Strategic thinking – Demonstrates ability to facilitate discussions and take actions to support and expand goals and mission.
- Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict, maintains confidentiality, listens to others without interrupting, keeps emotions under control, remains open to others’ ideas, and tries new things.
- Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, listens and gets clarification, responds well to questions, and participates in meetings.
- Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively, edits work for spelling and grammar, varies writing style to meet needs, reads and interprets written information.
Alignment with Core Values
The Rural Democracy Network Organizer understands, supports, and executes WCI’s strategic plan and aligns work with the organization’s four core values:
Neighborliness arises out of a strong belief that our interconnectedness is crucial to our long-term viability. Town to town, county to county, organization to organization, and certainly person to person, the fabric of our region depends on cooperation, appreciation, openness, and generosity.
Generosity is a dimension of neighborliness, but it flies higher over the region because it speaks to a willingness to embrace a common good that can only be achieved through collective action, through everyone giving of their time, talent, and treasure.
Empowerment in our current context is directed both internally and externally. We encourage our staff and fellow citizens to take bold action in our region and develop and use power for good.
Trend-testing is a dimension of that bold action. We learn from one another while we work together to solve problems. We will embrace risk and learn from our mistakes, always.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $60,831.00 - $68,945.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to Commute:
- Fergus Falls, MN 56537 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Fergus Falls, MN 56537: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person