Compass is a growing organisation, with a network of over 40 local groups, and is looking for someone to help get these groups election-ready within the next year. This is a fantastic time to be working with a dynamic, progressive political organisation with big ambitions.
The Local Campaigns Organiser (LCO) will be responsible for powering up Compass’ local groups, with a key focus on building our Win As One campaign at the local level ahead of the next election.
They will support work across the full range of Compass’ campaigns work, building powerful coalitions in key seats, growing the local groups infrastructure, and working on cutting through to key constituencies.
The role requires someone to use their excellent relationship building skills to work with diverse groups of people to build and grow teams around a shared vision and strategy.
The LCO will work closely with Compass’ Deputy Director and Campaigns and Projects Officer, as well as with the Executive Director, Fundraising and Membership Officer and Media and Press Officer, and alongside a broad network of partners, allies, associates and volunteers. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, relational, organised, committed and keen to learn. They should be comfortable working in a small, lively team and with groups with different perspectives.
This role involves:
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Growing, building and coordinating our local groups network across the UK, supporting them to drive local activity and engagement with our Win as One campaign.
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Working with the Compass Local Groups team to set local strategy, coordinate actions and deliver on Local Groups campaign goals in line with our national campaign.
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Extending and deepening our relationships in key constituencies, and helping groups do effective outreach to groups under-represented in our sector.
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Supporting the delivery of effective and creative campaigns at the national and local level on key issues such as democratic reform, climate action and inequality.
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Organising and activating our local group leaders to grow their mailing lists and expand their local reach
Key Competencies
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Flexible and able to multitask: able to work in a fast-paced environment, to prioritise effectively and handle a range of responsibilities.
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Creative and enterprising: ability to construct local campaigns that energise and persuade.
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Committed and focused: able to sustain energy on campaigns over a long period.
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Able to take the initiative: able to self-organise, work independently and efficiently.
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Collaborative and co-operative: able to bring people together to take action, work across networks, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, online and in person.
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Able to identify leadership potential in others: enable people to take on local leadership roles.
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Good political judgement: able to facilitate effectively, communicate clearly and support local organisers in a fast-paced and sometimes sensitive political environment working across political parties.
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Willingness to learn: be open-minded, flexible and eager to gain new skills.
Experience, qualifications and knowledge
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Experience in the political campaigning sector – whether in a not-for-profit, political party, charity, trade union or NGO.
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Experience with local organising – whether in a professional or volunteering capacity, plus an understanding of the dynamics of how local groups work as part of a national network.
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Alliance- and relationship- building skills – experience working with a range of different allies, stakeholders and partners and able to build trusted relationships quickly across different perspectives.
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Community building/community management skills – experience of working with volunteers, leaders or activist groups to develop their capacity and leadership to campaign.
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Experience managing campaigns or events – working in a team to deliver activities on the ground.
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Familiarity with digital campaigning tools for mass communication.
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An understanding of the UK progressive political scene and support for the aims, vision and values of Compass.
About Compass
Compass is a highly ambitious organisation, working to change the way we do politics. With a strong track record of bold and innovative campaigns and a wide network of members, associates and partners, Compass is rapidly expanding its political influence and reach in the emerging era of the 2020s.
Compass has become synonymous with our campaign to Win As One – a campaign to get progressives to work together on key issues that unite them – climate, equality, democracy – and co-operate to replace the current government with a Progressive Majority. Our local groups are central to this work: they demonstrate the power and potential of alliance-building in place and what can be achieved when progressives work together. At the recent local elections, our local groups outperformed expectations, helping win councillors and flipping councils in key constituencies.
Opportunities and benefits
This post was created to help the organisation ramp up our activities in the run-up to the next general election, where local activity will be the main focus of our campaign. The successful applicant will be energetic, personable and hard-working, with sound political judgement and able to handle a fast-paced political environment.
As the organisation grows, we’re looking for someone with plenty of energy and drive, who wants to help us build our local groups network and run a pacy, creative and effective campaign. Though small in size, the team is supported by a community of partners, members and supporters, who regularly create new content to spread our ideas.
Compass is a membership organisation, so the LCO will need to be comfortable engaging and supporting our members as they run lively local campaigns.
The role is suitable for someone who wants to work hard to develop new skills and is able to learn on the job. You should be willing to pitch in with new ideas and to contribute to all aspects of Compass’ work as required.
You will work closely with Compass’ Deputy Director who will offer managerial support and work to help you develop and deepen your skills over time.
Pay will be £28 – 30k depending on experience. We have an office in Vauxhall, central London and are expecting team members to work there a minimum of 2 – 3 days a week, but there is considerable flexibility in terms of hours of work and location. This role will involve some travel to our local groups around the country.
The contract will extend until 2 months after the next election (whenever it is called, but expected to be in October 2024), with the possibility of extension. We’re looking for someone to start as soon as possible. There is a 3-month standard probation period.
Compass is committed to providing equal opportunities to people regardless of background and we are actively seeking applications from people with backgrounds that are underrepresented in our sector. We recognise that representation in our sector is not good enough; this makes our politics and our campaigns weaker. Compass particularly encourages applications from people who are willing to learn new skills and grow into the role. We encourage people to apply who can demonstrate their aptitude, even if a career in politics has so far been closed off to them.
To apply, please click the Apply tab above. The deadline for applications is Friday 14th July at 5pm, but applications will be looked at on a rolling basis. In-person interviews will take place in mid/late July and early August.