Job Description

January 2026

Open position: Community Organizer

Position at a glance

• Please read full job description to see how to apply.
• Iowa CCI is looking to hire a Community Organizer who has a strong desire to meet people where they are at, move people to action, help CCI grow, and win on issues. This organizer would support our work on land, water, and community issues in rural Iowa.
• The organizer would report to the Farming and Environment Director and be expected to work out of CCI HQ at 2001 Forest Avenue Des Moines, Iowa. Regular travel in the field is required.
• Iowa CCI’s office is located in Des Moines, IA. The organizer should be ready to travel across the state and work nights/weekends as necessary.
• This is a full-time position with benefits. The ideal starting date/period is March of 2026.

About the Community Organizer Position

Community organizers support our issue campaigns to win concrete improvements in the lives of everyday Iowans.

This position executes essential base building practices and develops the leadership of directly impacted people with direction from their supervisor. This includes regular one-to-one meetings to meet grassroots people, phone banking, door knocking, emails, and data entry for our actions and events. This role requires a:

• Willingness to work in a dynamic environment with sometimes unpredictable tasks and shifting assignments.
• Ability to take direction and incorporate that into one’s own work.
• Ability to receive, process, and incorporate constructive feedback with openness and professionalism.

About Iowa CCI

Since 1975, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) has been organizing to build the power of everyday people in Iowa’s rural towns and big cities. We believe everyday people, working together, can be a powerful force for justice. Our members are united in the belief that Iowans deserve policies and an economy that serve the common good, rather than corporations and the wealthy few.

We believe that community organizing is the most effective means for engaging people in true democracy to bring about broad, progressive social change. We want to make our communities more just, more humane, more (small-d) democratic – and we want to make life better for a lot more people. Our current organizing campaigns focus on a broad range of economic, racial, environmental, and political justice issues. Together, we work to put People and Planet First.

Our 3,000+ dues-paying members across the state believe you don't have to stand by and just let things happen. We believe in getting things done that put people before profits and communities before corporations. We view this troubling time as a clear call to action and an opportunity to build political power to shape the Iowa we want and need.

Overview of the Community Organizer’s role

The Community Organizer we hire will work with their direct supervisor and the broader CCI team to implement effective organizing strategies and tactics to bring people into CCI campaigns and win positive changes that people can see in their everyday lives.

This position uses our organization’s contact database, Microsoft Word and Excel daily to execute core tasks.

This position requires the ability to prioritize, track, and follow through on many moving pieces. An essential characteristic is to be comfortable talking on the phone and in person with grassroots people, and the ability to be equally comfortable working independently and as part of a team.

The organizers should be ready to travel across the state and work nights/weekends as necessary.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Building organizing relationships with Iowans from all walks of life.
• Working with key leaders, members, and other CCI staff as a part of a team.
• Working on Iowa CCI’s campaigns which are focused on winning solutions that shift power away from corporate interest to everyday people and their communities.
• Learning and implementing CCI style organizing, methodologies, and practices.

The Essentials for this job

Hard skills:

• Able to communicate clearly and directly both internally and externally.
• Able to talk to lots of people and equally comfortable on the phone, Zoom, and in person.
• Punctual and prepared for meetings and other commitments.
• Driven by goals, follows direction, and follows through on tasks or other commitments.
• Research issues, targets, and locations.
• Organized and can juggle multiple projects.

Leadership qualities:

• Knows when to ask questions and get input or help.
• Looks for and steps into opportunities to drive the work forward.
• Solutions-oriented and forward thinking.
• Ability to support people to take the next step in our work.

Core qualifications:

• Curious about people and a good active listener.
• Sees the good in, respects, and appreciates people.
• Persistent and pragmatic while working towards a goal.
• Receptive to feedback and a team player.
• Flexible and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Creative and willing to try new things.
• A good sense of humor is a must!

Salary & Benefits:

• Salary beginning at $45,000.00
• Full health, dental & vision coverage
• Generous paid time-off

How to apply:

Email resume, cover letter and three references including at least one previous supervisor by Monday February 9, 2026, to ava@iowacci.org. We will let candidates know before we contact references. Please put ‘Community Organizer’ in the subject line.

Iowa CCI is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information, go to or

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

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