Come work with us!
We’re looking for a Campaigns and Ideas Organiser to join our small but lively and busy team in London. 

Salary: £25 000 – £30 000, depending on experience
Days per week: 5 (35 hours)
Location: London
Application deadline: Wednesday 16 September 2015
Interview: Monday 21 September 2015 

About us

Compass is the pressure group for a good society – one that is more equal, democratic and sustainable.

We’re interested in exploring big questions. How are we going to fix the mess we’re in and build a good society? From climate change and growing inequality, to a broken and undemocratic electoral system – things need to change. At Compass, we know politics needs to change. We now know that no one political party, organisation, individual or group can make real systemic change. We need to work together strategically and in solidarity with each other if we’re going to win on the big issues. 

That means we experiment; with ideas, events and campaigns. There’s no blueprint but a good Compass intervention will always start by asking how do we move towards a good society? It asks the deep, strategic questions, collectively develops ideas and thinking, and brings together a diverse range of people from grassroots groups to political parties to frame the terms of the debate and influence decisions and actions. For instance, our campaign on pay inequality shifted the conversation around high pay and forced the issue onto the mainstream political agenda.

Working with Compass is fast-paced, energetic and fun; it’s more than just a job to us. You’ll work directly with the National Organiser, a host of activists and volunteers and be lightly managed by the Chair.

If you have ideas about how we can continue to grow our thinking, how we can use ideas to influence the political agenda and how to connect ideas with practice and make them accessible and popular, then this could be the job for you.

About you

You’ll care deeply about creating a more equal, democratic and sustainable society and are open, inquisitive and creative. You’ll enjoy working with ideas and people. We believe strongly in living according to our values, so the how is at least as important as the what. You’ll care deeply about diversity and making Compass a political home that is open to all.

The job is to help develop and implement the ideas output and events of Compass and to make sure complex visions, policies and strategies are accessible to our members, supporters and the wider public as we look to combine leading thinking on society, politics and systems change with participatory political education. You’ll demonstrate a strong track record of working with ideas, and an understanding of how to make them accessible and popular.

We each do our fair share of the admin and core office work (about a day a week) the pay off for which is that we’re all also involved in working out the strategy and developing the projects. This means you’ll be flexible and open and happy to get involved and do what’s needed. It’s a small office but in reality the team is much bigger than the 3 staff – with activists across political parties, areas of work, campaigns, academics and newcomers to politics all mucking in to make Compass what it is. If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

We particularly encourage applications from women and people from all groups under-represented in our areas of work, and politics and activism in general.

Key elements of the job

• Work with the National Organiser to make sure Compass is strategic, lives by its values and delivers projects and ideas in a creative, open and impactful way 
• Work with the broader Compass network, members and supporters to develop ideas and thinking
• Communicate and share those ideas through our networks in exciting and accessible ways
• Develop platforms and participatory events to deepen our thinking together with the wider Compass network
• Work with the National Organiser to develop and implement participatory political education
• Work with the National Organiser to perform core work, to keep things running, including admin, website maintenance (no technical skills necessary), social media, and communications (we’ll figure out who does what together)
• Work with the National Organiser and wider Compass team on engaging with and growing our supporter base and membership
• Willing and able to work occasional evening or weekend with time offered off in lieu

Person specification

We’re interested in fast learner and an open and enquiring mind rather than someone with all of the experience or formal qualifications:

Essential

• Have an understanding of and care passionately about creating a good society
• Happy to work on your own and as part of a small but busy team 
• Excellent interpersonal skills; warm, friendly and positive personality
• Proactive and organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Knowledge and understanding of the political landscape
• Experience developing and running successful, participatory ideas based campaigns and projects
• Be comfortable working with a diverse range of people
• Writing and editing skills, with an eye for detail
• Decent IT skills (Microsoft Office)
• Decent communications skills, including active use of social media 

Nice to have

• Experience of creating and facilitating participatory events
• Project management experience
• Networks in relevant communities
• Working in a membership-based organisation
• Fundraising experience
• Experience using CRM systems
• Design skills (Adobe or equivalents)
• Be comfortable speaking to the media 

To apply

If this this sounds like a job you’d love and be good at, send a 500-word covering letter that shows how you meet the job description and person specification with a CV, including 2 referees or references by email to jacqui@compassonline.flywheelsites.com by 16^th September

We especially encourage women and people from groups who tend to be underrepresented in politics, campaigning and activism to apply. Please get in touch with Jacqui on email or mobile (07746 330422) if you’re thinking about applying and want to have a chat, especially if you’re feeling unsure! I’m very happy to meet up for a coffee or chat on the phone with anyone interested in the role.