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 Associate Director of Policy leads and oversees the organization’s harm reduction policy and advocacy work at the federal and state levels. 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 Associate Director of Policy directs Harm Reduction Coalition’s federal advocacy efforts and oversees state advocacy activities to secure leadership, policies, and funding that support harm reduction. The Associate Director of Policy also builds relationships with other advocacy groups, represents Harm Reduction Coalition in meetings and coalitions, and develops policy analyses and reports.
The Associate Director of Policy possesses strong strategic, analytic, and management skills; a commitment to racial justice and working across intersecting movements; an understanding of the power of coalitions, personal stories, and the involvement and leadership of members of directly affected groups in advocacy; and a drive to win policy changes that make tangible impacts in the lives of people who use drugs and their communities. As an Associate Director, this position is responsible for strategic direction and coordination, project oversight, and budget and contract management and reporting. This position is part of the Policy Department, supervising the Government Relations Manager and State Advocacy Manager, and reporting to the Deputy Director of Planning and Policy.
This position will be based in Washington, D.C.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Policy and advocacy:
- Direct federal advocacy efforts with Congress and the Administration, including through cultivation of relationships with key offices and officials.
- Analyze federal policy developments relevant to harm reduction, including legislation, funding, and regulations.
- Represent Harm Reduction Coalition in coalitions and working groups, meetings with Congressional offices and Administration officials, and conferences and events.
- Oversee and guide state advocacy and movement building activities.
- Develop policy briefs, written testimony, memos, sign-on letters, press releases, and other advocacy materials.
- Cultivate relationships with diverse leaders, advocates, and partners in allied fields, including criminal justice and housing.
- Liaise with members of the harm reduction community, including people who use drugs, to identify policy priorities and to provide leadership and mentoring on advocacy skills.
- Monitor, document, and assess policy and advocacy activities across the organization.
- Coordinate policy activities and advocacy campaigns with other Harm Reduction Coalition departments.
- Provide leadership to align the Policy Team’s work with Harm Reduction Coalition’s mission and North Star statement.
General:
- Coordinate messaging and advocacy materials with Harm Reduction Coalition’s broader communications efforts, including email newsletters, action alerts, social media, and website.
- Recruit and supervise full-time policy staff and provide team leadership.
- Develop reports to funders and contribute to further program development and fundraising.
- Contribute to national conference planning and other relevant events as needed.
- Coordinate Policy Team meetings and participate in 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.
- Five to eight years of relevant work experience, including policy and advocacy work, with federal policy experience strongly preferred.
- At least five years of experience in supervision and program management 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 leadership and project management abilities and proven experience in working effectively in team and coalition settings.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Highly detail-oriented, well-organized, and able to meet deadlines.
Salary Range: $70,000-78,000 annual
Supervises: Policy department staff
Status: Full-time, exempt
Travel: Position requires moderate-to-heavy travel (approximately 14-21 days per year).
Last edited: March 2018
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