Neighborhood Captain, Detroit

Movement Labs is an incubator and consulting firm that uses technology, data, and experimentation to stop fascism and build progressive power. We help progressives win and defeat MAGA extremists through year-round work grounded in research and real-world testing. Our team partners with leading advocacy groups, grassroots organizers, and electoral campaigns to develop innovative tactics, win elections, and shift power for the long term.

This role is located in either Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, or Atlanta, Georgia. This is a temporary hire for the 2026 election cycle that will run from July to November 15, 2026.

Role Overview:

Movement Labs is seeking charismatic, trusted local leaders to serve as Neighborhood Captains for a scaled-up, research-backed organizing program. Building on a successful 2025 pilot, this role focuses on long-term relationship building with neighbors who did not vote in the 2024 election.

As a Neighborhood Captain, you will move away from high-pressure, transactional "asks" and instead focus on becoming a trusted neighbor and civic resource provider. You will apply an interaction model using door-to-door canvass, phone calls, texts, and events, to build trust, identify community needs, and bridge the gap between personal pain points and civic power ahead of the 2026 General Election.

Responsibilities:

• Voter Outreach and Relationship Building: Develop relationships with, and manage a target list of approximately 1,000 high-potential voters within your community. You will conduct repetitive, high-quality outreach through door-to-door visits, phone calls, and peer-to-peer texting, aiming for at least 3+ meaningful interactions with each voter. This will also include prioritizing outreach to folks that you may already know or have relationships with.
• Neighborhood Gathering and Community Event Planning: Organize and execute local gatherings or community events to provide low-pressure opportunities for neighbors to connect and engage.
• Detailed Data Management: Utilize outreach tracking platforms to document interaction and engagement details, and make note of community concerns (e.g., specific neighborhood issues, personal interests) to ensure every follow-up feels like a continuation of a single, long-term friendship. Make note of voter feedback and insights on key issues and resources needed by each voter reached.
• Quality Control Participation: Collaborate with Organizers for outreach reviews, feedback sessions, and verification of engagement standards.

• Community Trust & Charisma: You should be a "grasstops" or “grassroots” leader—someone with deep roots in your neighborhood, and the ability to engage easily with strangers.
• Emotional Intelligence: High empathy and "radical listening" skills, with the ability to listen 80% of the time and speak 20%.
• Experience: Prior experience in community organizing, door-knocking, or census work (e.g., enumerator) is preferred but not required. We’re also looking for folks that may have more informal or unconventional community outreach and organizing experience.
• Tech Savvy: Comfortable using mobile apps and relational databases for tracking engagement and data entry.
• Reliability: A commitment to the full duration of the program and a track record of following through on community support.

You’d be a great fit for this role if:

• You want to engage civically with your neighbors, and care deeply about your community
• You genuinely enjoy meeting strangers and can make people feel welcome and heard within minutes
• You know your block, your building, or your community — and people know you
• You're curious, coachable, and open to learning on the job
• You've shown up for your community in some way, even if you've never called it "organizing"

Why Join Movement Labs?

• Proven Impact: Work with a program that has measured the largest turnout effects in over 100 randomized controlled trials.
• Professional Development: Receive specialized training in relational organizing, boundary management, and data-driven campaigning.
• Community Investment: Get paid to identify and help meet the actual needs of your neighbors while strengthening local social capital.
• Stipends: In addition to hourly pay, captains receive small weekly stipends for meals.
• Flexible Hours: Most of the work of this program can be done at a time that works best with your existing schedule.

Compensation and Benefits

• Temporary, hourly full time position, $26/hour, with paid holiday and accrued sick time.
• This position includes possible on-call requirements
• This is a temporary cycle role and runs through November 15, 2026.
• This position is not eligible for the collective bargaining unit.

We’re looking for candidates with a wide range of skills and experience. If you’re excited about the job, even if you don’t match all the characteristics, we encourage you to apply. 
Movement Labs is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value a team that reflects the communities we serve and strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, veterans, people with disabilities, and people from rural communities.

Applications submitted by June 19 will be given priority. The application process includes a screening call, an exercise, and an interview with the team. Due to the nature of our work, the process is moving quickly, and we hope candidates will start by June 29. Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States. We are not able to provide sponsorship at this time.