We're Hiring! Community Broadband Outreach Organizer and Community Broadband Intern

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit working to empower communities by striking at the roots of monopoly power and striving toward a vision of thriving, diverse, equitable communities. We use in-depth research, reporting, and data analysis to produce influential reports and articles. Our analyses are frequently featured in national news media and sought out by policymakers. We work closely with a broad range of local community leaders, elected officials, and a diverse coalition of allies to advance these ideas and policies.

Community Broadband Organizer

ILSR is looking for an enthusiastic candidate to assist these local organizing efforts. Our Community Broadband Networks program has many resources and contacts that can dramatically accelerate local organizing efforts. This position will require frequent meetings with local groups to understand their goals and challenges, as well as organizing more general support systems like mutual-aid calls and other resources as needed. Success will mean many more communities will achieve digital equity more rapidly than would otherwise occur.

Responsibilities

• Meeting with local leaders/activists working on community broadband planning or building networks; helping to educate local efforts on common challenges, constraints, and opportunities.
• Learning about broadband technology, policy, and related state and federal tools.
• Finding alignment and opportunities in the work of allies in the field and engaging on them.
• Occasionally developing one-pagers and other basic materials with colleagues at ILSR.
• Knowing when to ignore bullet points.
• Reporting back to ILSR colleagues on trends, challenges, and creative solutions and soliciting feedback to continue helping local efforts.

A Successful Candidate

• Is an empathetic and engaged listener that can quickly understand what people in local efforts need and are struggling with.
• Is highly self-directed and driven with an appreciation of the awesome power of human networking.
• Is quick to learn new subjects.
• Possesses a genuine enjoyment of collaboration with a willingness to give and receive honest feedback.
• Passionate about the ILSR’s mission of countering corporate monopolies and building community power.
• Understands that setbacks are part of progress.
• Excited to join a team focused on long-term, strategic efforts to improve economic and racial equity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience organizing or related efforts working with grassroots groups on a policy issue.
• Knowledge of public policy processes or a tech/telecom background.

This position is full-time working with a team mostly based in Minnesota, but we welcome applications from anywhere within the U.S. We will eventually reopen our office but will continue to have remote employees. Position includes 100% employer-paid health plan, generous vacation and holiday leave, and retirement contribution matching. Salary is commensurate with experience, in the $40,000-$55,000 range based on experience and local cost of living considerations. We are a dynamic and friendly team dedicated to making the world a better place.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter addressed to Christopher Mitchell, résumé, and a maximum 600 word description of how you envision accomplishing the goal of accelerating local community network efforts to hiring@ilsr.org. The cover letter should be no longer than 400 words. The subject line of the email should say “CBN Outreach Application.” Applications will be accepted at least through April 21 and on a rolling basis after that date until the position is filled. Check ILSR’s website for updated information.

Community Broadband Intern (Summer 2021 Paid Internship)

Our Community Broadband Networks program focuses on local approaches to ensure everyone has high-quality Internet access. ILSR is looking for an enthusiastic summer intern to assist researching and developing materials to achieve that vision. This position is full time and paid.

Responsibilities

• Basic research about community broadband efforts – tracking down news articles, official documents, etc.
• Writing short stories and memos about local broadband networks.
• Compiling and updating databases tracking local networks, pricing information, and other data.
• Reaching out to and interviewing local officials / activists.
• Learning about broadband technology, policy, and related state and federal tools.
• Helping to create fact sheets and multimedia tools.

A Successful Candidate

• Is highly self-directed and driven with a hunger to understand how things work.
• Is quick to learn new subjects.
• Is familiar with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
• Possesses a genuine enjoyment of collaboration with a willingness to give and receive honest feedback.
• Is passionate about the ILSR’s mission of countering corporate monopolies and building community power.
• Is excited to join a team focused on long-term, strategic efforts to improve economic and racial equity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in political science and ideally policy and economics.
• In at least third year of post-secondary study.

This position is full-time working with a team mostly based in Minnesota, but we welcome applications from anywhere within the U.S. We are a dynamic and friendly team dedicated to making the world a better place. This is a summer internship that could be extended on a part-time basis in the fall. We are looking for 40 hours per week in the summer at $15/hour.

How to Apply

Please send a cover letter addressed to Christopher Mitchell, résumé, and a writing sample to hiring@ilsr.org.  The cover letter should be no longer than 400 words and the writing sample no more than 2 pages (excerpts of a longer piece are fine). The subject line of the email should say “CBN Intern.” Applications will be accepted at least through April 21 and on a rolling basis after that date until the position is filled. Check ILSR’s website for updated information.

If you’re excited about either of these positions, but feel you don’t meet 100% of the requirements, please apply — lived experiences can’t always be reflected in resumes. We take cover letters seriously.  ILSR welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, gender-nonconforming, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. 

ILSR is committed to providing employees with a welcoming work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, color, religion or belief, gender identification, family or parental status.

Have questions about ILSR’s workplace or the application process? Please email info@ilsr.org.