Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

VOCAL-NY (Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders) Seeks Campaigns Director (NYC)

VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to building the power of low-income people affected by the drug war, mass incarceration, the HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C epidemics, and homelessness to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, activism, and public policy advocacy. You can learn more about our work through our website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

Position Description

Job Responsibilities:

  • Campaign Strategy: Developing and executing campaign strategies with VOCAL-NY members and community organizing staff.
  • Coalition Building: Representing VOCAL-NY in coalitions and maintaining high-value relationships with other organizations and institutions, including labor unions and congregations.
  • Legislative & Budget Monitoring: Monitor the city, state, and federal budget and legislative processes around our core issue areas.
  • Hearing Testimony: Work with VOCAL-NY members to prepare testimony for legislative, policy, and budget proposals that impact them.
  • Lobbying: Direct and indirect lobbying of public officials around VOCAL-NY’s membership priorities, including HIV/AIDS, housing, overdose prevention, syringe access, hepatitis C, harm reduction, re-entry, and police reform.
  • Documentation: Prepare written reports, meeting summaries, and related materials as required.

Requirements / Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong inter-personal, public speaking, writing, and problem solving skills. Candidates must demonstrate interest in AIDS, Hepatitis C, homelessness, drug policy, and criminal justice reform and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice analysis. A deep commitment to social justice is required.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • At least 5 years of related advocacy or organizing experience.
  • Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment with sometimes unpredictable hours and shifting assignments.
  • Ability to lead their own campaigns is a must.
  • A strong commitment to teamwork and to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly affected by the issues we work on.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated substantive strength in one or more key areas of VOCAL-NY’s work.
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings and trainings, coordinate coalitions, and develop partnerships among a wide and diverse array of stakeholders.
  • Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email clients).

This is a full-time position. The position will report to the Co-Executive Directors and will work collaboratively with other members of the policy and community organizing staff.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@vocal-ny.org. In the subject line, please write “Campaigns Director [Your Name]”. No phone calls, please.

VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, people who are formerly incarcerated, people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, women, LGBT people, and those who have been adversely affected by the criminal justice system and the war on drugs are strongly encouraged to apply.