Friends of Public Bank East Bay

Political Organizer

Based in the East Bay region, CA

 

Position Overview:
The Friends of Public Bank East Bay (“Friends”) is seeking an experienced Political Organizer to oversee the development of several ballot initiatives supporting the founding and capitalization of a publicly owned bank in the East Bay region, potentially as part of larger initiatives furthering popular community needs. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of public banking efforts and proven experience leading electoral campaigns and working in coalition with community organizations, elected officials, labor unions, advocacy groups, and more. 

Position Length and Pay:
This is a short-term (5 month) contract position running from date of hire until the end of November, 2025. The pay is expected to be $5,000/month for a full-time effort. We are aiming for July 14th start date. 

To Apply:
Please email a résumé to jobs@publicbankeastbay.org with “Program Director – [Your name]” in the subject line by 11:59PM (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, June 25. A cover letter is optional.

Job Responsibilities:

• Initiate conversations with partner organizations and elected officials to research how up to three city-wide ballot measures can raise funds to meet community needs and capitalize a public bank
• Educate organizations, elected officials and members of the public about a public bank as needed
• Support the process of developing a 501(c)(4) to carry out PBEB city-wide ballot measures
• Coordinate polling to research the viability of one or many ballot initiative proposals
• Produce all media and print materials needed for the ballot measure process by working with the Friends’ marketing lead 
• Accurately track and report expenses related to ballot measure research 
• Schedule and coordinate meetings with Friends of Public Bank East Bay membership and board to support the above tasks
• Any other tasks mutually agreed to by Program Director and the Friends

Desired Skills, Knowledge, and Prior Experience:

• Understanding of, or willingness to quickly learn the requirements around and abilities of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations to carry out advocacy, and related reporting
• Prior experience running political campaigns
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including ability to give educational presentations to diverse audiences
• Strong listening skills and an ability to find compromise and/or find creative solutions that can produce a successful, collaborative ballot measure campaign
• Comfort working in a dynamic environment and synthesizing many viewpoints to find acceptable solutions. Experience in consensus-based decision making is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail

Key Deliverables:

• Research related to, and submission of, paperwork to start a 501(c)(4) organization
• Produce one or more potential ballot measures in partnership with other community organizations 
• Work with a lawyer to draft ballot measure language that would be acceptable to a diverse coalition and gains approval of Friends Membership and Board
• Complete polling to understand the viability of drafted ballot measure(s)
• Submission of ballot measure language to selected city(ies)
• Recruiting and training of campaigns’ senior staff

Supplemental Information:
Mission: Friends of the Public Bank East Bay (“PBEB”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to invest public monies from participating governments to meet the needs of local communities. PBEB will seek to return a reasonable, but not excessive, profit to its stakeholders by making economically sustainable loans and providing a high level of service to its partners and stakeholders. It will adhere to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and will prioritize environmentally regenerative, culturally equitable and participatory practices that reverse discrimination against members of economically and socially marginalized communities

Please note: PBEB is not the bank itself, but a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to outreach and education about public banking. The bank will open when it has been capitalized and approved by state and federal regulators.

Our Values Are:

• Equity - We are committed to starting a public bank which acknowledges and attempts to relieve the contemporary and historical burdens carried by disenfranchised communities, including low-income communities of color and other marginalized groups.
• Social Responsibility - We are working to develop a public bank that will prioritize investing our money into the wealth and health of local communities and the environment.
• Fiscal Responsibility - We are committed to starting a bank that is committed to compliance with the directives and policies of state and federal regulators. It is equally committed to active and constant attention to managing risk and making fiscally responsible decisions so as to maintain PBEB in a safe and sound condition.
• Accountability - The Bank will be accountable to the residents of the East Bay, who have a right to fully transparent explanations of PBEB’s actions and choices.
• Democracy - The Bank will be governed using inclusive and participatory processes which consciously and intentionally adhere to the values/principles listed here.