ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: Harm Reduction Coalition is a national advocacy and capacity-building organization that works to promote the health and dignity of individuals and communities who are affected by drug use. With offices in New York and California, we advance harm reduction policy and practice through five core programs: 1) harm reduction policy and advocacy; 2) national training and capacity building initiatives; 3) national and regional conferences; 4) publications and resources, and; 5) technical assistance on overdose prevention education, hepatitis C prevention and treatment, syringe access expansion, and the US opioid overdose crisis.
JOB SUMMARY: The State Advocacy Manager leads Harm Reduction Coalition’s work to advance harm reduction policies in states, cultivate and support state advocates, and build state and local coalitions. Key focus areas include expanding syringe access, ending the overdose epidemic, building and mobilizing support for harm reduction, and supporting grassroots community organizing and mobilization. The State Advocacy Manager monitors relevant state and local harm reduction policy developments and trends, builds relationships with emerging harm reduction leaders and allied advocates, and represents Harm Reduction Coalition on relevant coalitions and before elected officials.
The State Advocacy Manager is an excellent communicator with a strong passion for advocacy and coalition building; a keen desire to build leadership among people who use drugs and other directly affected populations; and a commitment to racial justice and forging coalitions across intersecting movements. As a Manager, this position is responsible for planning and coordination, project management, and documentation. This position is part of the Policy Department, working in close collaboration with the Government Relations Manager and reporting to the Associate Director of Policy.
This position will be based in Washington, D.C.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Policy and advocacy:
- Provide mentoring and support to state and local advocacy and organizing campaigns on strategy, messaging, coalition building, and leadership development.
- Organize and facilitate workshops and advocacy trainings on syringe access, overdose, and related topics.
- Guide and cultivate the development of state and local coalitions and campaigns.
- Identify and mentor new advocacy leaders, including people who use drugs and people with other relevant lived experience.
- Build relationships with advocacy leaders and partners in allied movements.
- Build partnerships with diverse stakeholders and represent Harm Reduction Coalition in meetings, working groups, advocacy coalitions, and conferences.
- Track and analyze relevant state legislation, regulation, funding, and policy developments.
- Monitor and synthesize trends and emerging issues to inform development of policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
- Prepare policy documents, including fact sheets and backgrounders, press releases, ask summaries, and other advocacy materials.
- Contribute to federal advocacy activities as needed.
General:
- Contribute to communications activities, including through social media, blog posts, emails, website curation, and media statements and interviews.
- Recruit and supervise policy interns and volunteers.
- Contribute to national conference planning and other relevant events as needed.
- Participate in Policy Team meetings, all-staff meetings, and other internal meetings and work groups as appropriate or requested.
- Additional duties as necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS
People with lived experience of substance use, incarceration, homelessness, and/or sex work; people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; and people living with HIV/AIDS and/or hepatitis C are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Three to five years of relevant experience, with experience in community organizing, coalition building, or grassroots campaigns preferred.
- Familiarity with harm reduction and commitment to drug policy reform.
- Experience with and knowledge of related issue areas (e.g. criminal justice, racial and economic justice, housing, health care, sex work, reproductive justice, LGBTQ equality, etc.) preferred.
- Experience working in racially diverse settings and with marginalized populations.
- Solid project management abilities and capability to work effectively in team and coalition settings.
- Strong public speaking and group facilitation skills, and excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Highly detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to meet deadlines.
Benefits: Vision / Dental / Medical / Pre-tax Programs
How To Apply: applicants must follow all instructions to be considered for an interview:
- Cover letter and resume should be sent to resumes [@] harmreduction.org
- Subject line should read: “job title_last name”.
- Please include PDF versions of your cover letter and resume. Files should adhere to the following naming convention: “Lastname_Firstname_Cover Letter” and “Lastname_Firstname_Resume”.
- Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. No phone calls or visits please.
Application Deadline: 04/23/2018
Start Date: 05/01/2018