Campaign Research Coordinator

For nearly two decades, the Building Movement Project (BMP) (buildingmovement.org) has cultivated the potential for nonprofit organizations to effectively partner with movements for progressive social change. As part of BMP’s commitment to learning with and from groups and leaders at the local level, BMP has incubated the Detroit People’s Platform (DPP) (detroitpeoplesplatform.org) since 2013. DPP builds the voice and power of Detroit residents to have a say in the issues that affect their lives, particularly in the areas of transportation, housing, equitable development and access to needed services. The work of Detroit People’s Platform is guided by a commitment to organizing local residents to be leaders in addressing inequality in Detroit, the nation’s largest majority-Black city. Although working primarily within the City of Detroit across all seven city council districts, DPP is committed to working across organizational boundaries in order to achieve change locally, across the Southeast Michigan region, and statewide. 

Detroit People’s Platform has worked in partnership with many coalition partners to win policy changes that benefit Detroiters. DPP organized bus riders to lead successful campaigns to restore critical bus service that connects Detroiters to key jobs and institutions. DPP was also a key partner in citywide campaigns for community benefit agreements that contributed to Detroit becoming the first city in the nation to establish an ordinance requiring developers to engage in the CBA process.

The Building Movement Project and Detroit People’s Platform are fiscally sponsored by TSNE (tsne.org).

We are seeking a full-time Research Coordinator who will take on a lead role in the research activities for DPP. This position will work in partnership with the Detroit Director, as well as the staff responsible for coalition building, community organizing and political education. The position will have a key responsibility for informing the campaign strategy and policy demands / proposals to ensure that Detroit People’s Platform wins progress towards racial and economic justice for Detroiters. The Research Coordinator will also take responsibility for documentation and evaluation of campaign activities and wins to demonstrate to DPP’s membership base, coalition partners, and funders that DPP’s activities are impactful.

Essential Job Functions

Learning from and extending DPP’s track record of campaign wins and grassroots organizing, this Research position will have the following primary responsibilities:

• Identify, analyze and develop data to inform strategies for winning campaigns on a range of issues. In some cases, data will be publicly available; such as data on voter activity to inform decisions about districts to focus on for community outreach. On other cases, the data will need to be generated by DPP; such as community-level surveying and other participatory research methods to demonstrate the impacts of policy failures on communities;
• Work closely with the Detroit Director and Public Education and Media Manager to develop and disseminate information about critical policy issues, including policy briefs, presentations for trainings and webinars, op eds to inform the public, etc;
• Develop internal systems for tracking and reporting (to funders, partner organizations and DPP members) on the community organizing activities of DPP staff and volunteers, and the impacts of the DPP’s efforts to build the power of Detroiters;
• Track the progress of policy changes and organizing campaigns across the country that parallel DPP’s priorities. Identify promising and innovative practices from other communities that can inform the strategies of DPP;
• Lead efforts to document DPP’s campaigns and persuasively communicate the impacts of DPP’s work to partner organizations and organizing groups around the country. Identify opportunities and processes to provide technical assistance to grassroots efforts beyond Detroit. For instance, identifying and assisting groups working on community-benefits agreements in other Michigan cities impacted by emergency management;
• Support the DPP organizing team to build relationships with a wide variety of players, particularly grassroots members, other community organizations, government staff, and issue / policy experts around the country;
• Work with DPP members, organizers and coalition partners; assist in moving campaigns forward through organizing, leading trainings and other activities as needed.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and experience, as demonstrated by facility with analytical methods, survey design, and statistical software programs.
• Passion for, and commitment to, working for racial, economic and social justice.
• Excellent writing skills, with an ability to shift writing style to suit differing audiences (i.e. reporting to funders, persuading the public, educating members).
• Good instincts for translating and distilling complex policy issues into digestible and compelling nuggets of information that will motivate community members to take action.
• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of relevant experience (labor, political, urban planning, etc.). Advanced degrees may substitute for additional years of experience.
• Basic understanding of the policy issues that DPP works on, including: transit, housing, economic development, municipal tax and budget issues, etc.
• Ability to quickly learn how to navigate complex systems, synthesize and balance information from various competing or contradictory sources, anticipate campaign / political tensions, and identify paths to collective action.
• Demonstrated commitment to setting and meeting a high bar for quality and rigor, history of getting things done in the face of obstacles, and ability to juggle multiple projects at a time.
• Collaborative personality who works well with others and enjoys working as part of a small team.

Physical Demands/Work Environment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Handle, or feel objects, tools or controls;
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

TSNE/Building Movement Project and Detroit People's Platforms envisions a society grounded in the principles of social and economic justice. As such, we strive to achieve excellence through a diverse and inclusive workplace that honors the unique talents and lived experiences of each person. Our vision and values are reflected in all our employment-related decisions, including hiring practices. Accordingly, TSNE actively seeks people who bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives to join us in our work.

As an EOE/AA employer, TSNE/Building Movement Project and Detroit People's Platform will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.