How to hire a field organizer

How to hire a field organizer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step field organizer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a field organizer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new field organizer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a field organizer job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a field organizer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A field organizer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, field organizers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of field organizers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Field Organizer	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Organizer		$15-37
   Home Mission Worker	Home mission workers act as a head manager for an emergency food pantry. They have varied duties and responsibilities, which include assisting in the construction of playgrounds, helping children learn the softball game, and installing and troubleshooting computers, phones, and the internet... Show more	$11-41
   Field Director	A Field director is l responsible for any candidate's campaign. They possess enough skills to initiate conversation between the candidate and his/her supporters and act as mediators so that all complaints by citizens reach candidates... Show more	$22-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Volunteer Recruitment
   • Community Events
   • Campaign Events
   • Data Collection
   • Phone Bank
   • Building Relationships
   • Community Outreach
   • Gotv
   • Voter Outreach
   • Local Community
   • Local Events
   • Event Planning
   • Get-Out-The-Vote
   • Public Speaking

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and train new staff in and out of the office to develop leadership skills and successful canvassing techniques.
   • Develop independently functioning volunteer lead GOTV teams.
   • Update and maintain the campaign's Facebook website.
   • Create and run candidate Facebook page for UVA student supporters.
   • Gain experience in field organization, human relations, and leadership through a high caliber political campaign
   • Recruit and train volunteers, assist in organizing candidate events and presidential debate, and facilitate GOTV efforts.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your field organizer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A field organizer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, field organizers' average salary in kansas is 55% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level field organizers earn 59% less than senior-level field organizers.
   • Certifications. A field organizer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a field organizer's salary.

   Average field organizer salary

   $51,050yearly

   $24.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level field organizer salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing a field organizer job description

   A field organizer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a field organizer job description:

   Field organizer job description example

   Washington, DC
   
   Travel: Extensive
   
   Job Level: 4
   
   SUMMARY:
   
   Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for equal rights, seeks an experienced Field Organizer to support its Youth & College Division.
   
   SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
   Reporting to the National Director of Youth & College Division, the duties and responsibilities of the Field Organizer, Youth & College include, but are not limited to, the following: Work closely with Field Manager, Operations, and Youth & College Division staff to execute programs and trainings for the membership Manage and coordinate the constitutional election processes for Youth & College units Ignite coalition-building and foster productive relationships between the State/State-Area Conferences and State Youth & College Divisions to increase meaningful youth activism and engagement Assure of unit compliance and support organizing training for units with the Campaign Manager Strengthen and promote NAACP leadership development and unit activities Coordinate the training and organizing curriculum for the CRATIs, retreats, summits, and annual convention Works on the growth and retention of units and members in the youth and college division Support local and state advisors on programmatic and systematic operations of youth councils through tracking systems, training and resources Implement and design membership systems for young leadership development, tracking, and engagement Assist in the development of training tools and other credible resources that will build the capacity of our local units Develop work plans and evaluation tools to measure and track goals and benchmarks Perform other job-related duties as may be assigned by the National Director of Youth & College Division
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   The ideal candidate for this position will possess many, if not all, of the following professional qualifications, competencies, and personal qualities:
   Bachelor's degree, some college coursework or equivalent experience preferred 5+ years of organizing experience, preferably in a national non-profit organization Familiarity with NAACP history, structure, mission, and programs Expertise in community, non-profit, and non-partisan issue-based organizing with specific skills including organizational development and management, grassroots activism, and education and leadership development Solid understanding and experience with social media and digital advocacy campaigns Ability to work in teams, participate in cross-departmental planning, and work with a diverse group of stakeholders Experience with strategic planning and the creation and implementation of issue campaigns Ability to handle multiple priority projects and meet established timelines and reporting requirements Commitment to teamwork and fun Strong written and oral communications skills Excellent analytical, presentation, and leadership skills Manage internal committees and overall deadline and goals Provide units and strategic partners with one-on-one technical assistance and support in developing, implementing, and evaluating organizational plans Proven experience in supervision and personnel management Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills Ability and willingness to travel and work non-standard hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed
   
   NONDISCRIMINATION:
   
   It is the continuing policy of the NAACP to take affirmative action to assure equal opportunity for all current and prospective employees without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, marital status, familial status, family responsibility, pregnancy or other pregnancy-related conditions, childbirth, disability, military/veteran status, citizenship status, religion or political affiliation, past convictions or incarceration, prior psychiatric treatment, or any other status protected by federal or state law, local ordinance or Executive Orders. The NAACP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right field organizer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your field organizer job on Zippia to find and recruit field organizer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting field organizers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new field organizer

   Once you've decided on a perfect field organizer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a field organizer?