Neighborhood Organizer (Part-Time)

About OHI: The Open Hearts Initiative builds community support for housing and services for homeless New Yorkers by organizing housed community residents to advocate for housing justice in their own backyards. We connect communities, homeless New Yorkers, and service providers to create welcoming environments rooted in empathy, compassion, and respect in order to build strong and integrated neighborhoods. 

OHI staff support a network of volunteers in neighborhood-based chapters across New York City, helping them mobilize community resources for neighbors experiencing homelessness, advocate for needed transitional and permanent housing in their communities, and build connections across housing status. 

About the role: The Neighborhood Organizer will organize several Open Hearts volunteer chapters, helping them deepen and expand their work supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness and advocating for housing solutions in their communities. This position will report to our Deputy Executive Director and will work closely with the rest of our team.

Core Responsibilities

As the primary liaison to 2-3 neighborhood-based OHI chapters, you will:

• Co-organize events with volunteers, providing support with project management, outreach and publicity, and event logistics
• Mobilize volunteers for neighborhood advocacy efforts such as speaking at Community Board meetings and writing op-eds
• Work with volunteers to plan and facilitate monthly chapter meetings
• Mentor volunteers to grow grassroots chapter leadership
• Bring in and onboard new chapter members to broaden our volunteer base
• Track volunteer participation, communicate with volunteers about interests and needs, and implement strategies to move volunteers up the “ladder of engagement”
• Build relationships with service providers, local elected officials, and other community groups in your chapter areas

Additional Possible Responsibilities

To help us build capacity in all areas of our work, the Neighborhood Organizer will take on additional responsibilities in at least one of the following areas. This will be based on the person’s skills and interests and on OHI’s needs. If you have strength in one of these areas, please mention that in your cover letter.

• Citywide advocacy
• Social media 
• Communications and media relations

Skills/Experience: The ideal candidate will have a passion for housing justice and welcoming homeless neighbors, and will bring experience or interest in community organizing work or managing volunteers. Educational background could be a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent years in work experience. Must be an excellent writer and communicator, comfortable interacting with a wide range of people, and have strong project management skills. Additional language competency is a plus but not required. If you’re not sure if you’re qualified, please inquire!

Hours: This is a part-time hourly position working 20 hours per week. Most work will take place during regular business hours, but some evening and weekend work is required for attending chapter meetings and events. 

Location: You will be working primarily out of our office in Upper Manhattan, with some work “in the field” staffing chapter events around NYC. There is occasional flexibility for some remote work.