A political organizer, also known as a campaign organizer or field organizer, is a vital member of any political campaign’s staff. The political organizer’s main responsibility is to recruit and mobilize voters to support the candidate. This requires excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills to be successful.

Responsibilities of a Political Organizer

The core responsibilities of a political organizer include:

  • Recruiting and training volunteers
  • Planning and executing voter contact programs like door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and text banking
  • Organizing campaign events
  • Registering voters and get out the vote (GOTV) efforts
  • Collecting signatures for ballot initiatives or recall petitions if needed
  • Gathering voter data through surveys and other methods
  • Mobilizing voters on election day
  • Reporting data and metrics to the campaign manager

The political organizer acts as the main representative of the campaign in their designated area, which may be a precinct, neighborhood, district, county, or entire state. They mobilize grassroots support for the candidate through voter contact programs. The organizer recruits, trains, and manages teams of volunteers to help with these efforts. They also track voter data to target undecided voters.

Skills and Qualities

To succeed as a political organizer, certain skills and personal qualities are invaluable:

  • Leadership abilities – Can recruit, motivate, and direct teams of volunteers
  • Communication skills – Excellent verbal and written skills to interact with voters and volunteers
  • Organizational skills – Can manage many moving parts of a campaign efficiently
  • Problem-solving – Resourceful and proactive when challenges inevitably arise
  • Data analysis – Can interpret voter data to target outreach effectively
  • Technologically savvy – Proficient with databases, social media, and digital tools
  • Passion – Truly believes in the candidate and their platform
  • Resilience – Persistent and energetic despite working long, stressful hours
  • Team mentality – Collaborates well with campaign staff, volunteers, and voters

Political organizing requires a motivated self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative. The role involves regularly interacting with the public, so strong people skills are a must. Organization, multi-tasking and stress management abilities are also vitally important.

Necessary Background and Experience

While there are no absolute requirements to become a political organizer, certain background and experiences are helpful, such as:

  • Bachelor’s degree – Especially in political science, communications, marketing, or related field
  • Campaign experience – Either volunteer work or a prior paid role
  • Field work – Door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, or gathering petition signatures
  • Political connections – Active in college groups or local political organizations
  • Event planning – Experience coordinating outreach events and rallies
  • Leadership – Management experience or led student or volunteer groups
  • Public speaking – Addresses crowds or presents to groups confidently

These types of background experiences demonstrate passion for civic engagement and interaction with voters. However, eager learners from diverse fields can thrive in this role with proper training.

Typical Career Path

Many political organizers start out volunteering or interning on campaigns to gain experience. Taking an entry-level field organizer role is an important step to learn the fundamentals of voter outreach and mobilization. With 1-2 campaign cycles under their belt, organizers can progress to lead field organizer or regional field director positions with more responsibility. Some eventually become campaign managers or open their own consulting firms. The most ambitious may run for political office themselves.

Related roles that experienced political organizers may transition into include:

  • Campaign manager
  • Field director
  • Campaign fundraising director
  • Communications director
  • Legislative aide
  • Lobbyist
  • Non-profit advocate
  • Community organizer
  • Elected official

The networking and relationship-building skills gained from political organizing are transferable to many fields. Some utilize their expertise to work in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, or running grassroots initiatives.

Pay and Job Outlook

According to Payscale, the average salary for a political field organizer in the U.S. is $38,000 per year. Entry-level positions may start around $27,000 with senior field organizers earning $47,000 or more. High cost areas like Washington DC have higher average pay. Political consultants with their own firms can earn well above these figures.

Demand for political organizers fluctuates based on election cycles and number of competitive races. Presidential election years see spikes in hiring at the national, state, and local levels. While campaign roles are temporary, experienced organizers can find work year-round with political parties, legislator’s offices, advocacy groups, or consulting firms. With sufficient drive, creativity, and persistence, political organizing can be parlayed into a long and meaningful career.

Finding Political Organizer Positions

The best resources for finding political organizer job openings include:

  • Politico – Specialized political news site with campaign job listings
  • Democratic National Committee Career Portal
  • Republican National Committee Career Page
  • Zippia – Job aggregation site
  • Idealist – Non-profit job boards with campaign openings
  • LinkedIn – Network and follow political groups
  • State or local party websites – Check employment pages

Attending Democratic job fairs is also an excellent way to connect directly with campaigns and build your professional network. Try searching sites like Eventbrite and Meetup for local political happenings. Start getting involved well ahead of elections to make the right connections.

Professional Associations

Joining relevant professional groups provides resources and opportunities for political organizers, such as:

  • The Campaign School at American University – Offers certifications and training programs in campaign management
  • American Association of Political Consultants – Leading industry group with job board, conferences, etc.
  • Run for Office – Encourages women to run for elected office themselves
  • Center for Voter Participation – Non-profit focused on increasing voter turnout

Getting involved with groups like these expands your professional network within the political organizing world. Their job boards, events, and resources can significantly advance your career.

Essential Advice

Those aspiring to work as political organizers should consider this key advice:

  • Start by volunteering or interning on local campaigns to gain experience
  • Build connections through political groups, events, conferences, and social media
  • Be willing to relocate for campaign roles and commit to irregular, demanding hours
  • Develop excellent communication skills to persuade and motivate diverse voters
  • Master campaign technology tools like voter databases, phone apps, social media, etc.
  • Pay attention to details, metrics, and deadlines in the high-pressure campaign environment
  • Learn from mentors but also bring fresh perspectives on voter outreach strategies
  • Consider specialized training programs like those offered by The Campaign School

Political organizing careers allow passionate, driven individuals to make a direct impact on elections and causes they care deeply about. It demands hard work and perseverance but can lead to highly rewarding experiences and opportunities.