The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the leading organization in the U.S. promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. We envision a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights; in which people are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies; and in which the fears, prejudices, and punitive prohibitions of today are no more.
DPA has more than 50 staff in New York, California, New Mexico, and Washington, DC; an annual operating budget of approximately $12 million, 25,000 dues-paying members and more than 300,000 online subscribers. It has a solid track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and consistent visibility in prominent media and policy circles. For more information, please visit our website at www.drugpolicy.org.
The Position
The Organizing and Legislative Manager reports to the Managing Director, Policy Advocacy & Campaigns, and works with allied state-based advocates and DPA staff largely on legislative strategies to advance drug policy reform, serving as a conduit between state-based advocates and DPA’s expertise and resources.
The Policy Advocacy & Campaigns Team
DPA’s Policy Advocacy & Campaigns Team, based in New York, works to extend the reach of DPA’s advocacy to new states and constituencies, and works with grassroots organizations around the country to build the movement for drug policy reform. Our goal is not simply to pass drug policy reform legislation, but to do so while increasing the numbers of activists and advocacy groups that view drug policy reform as essential to their own organizing or advocacy.
Primary Responsibilities
The Organizing and Legislative Manager is responsible for the following:
Broad responsibilities include:
• Preparing drug policy reform landscape analyses and strategy in DPA priority states and nationally, including tracking legislation, elected leadership, and grassroots organizations to find opportunities for DPA to help advance drug policy reform.
• Working with DPA partners and allies on legislative and other reform efforts in various states, providing campaign planning and support.
• Cultivating relationships with state and local elected officials around the country and building the presence of legislators in the drug policy reform movement.
• Online organizing, working with organizers across movements and constituencies.
• Development of advocacy materials for policymakers and advocacy partners, including briefing books, fact sheets, and information packets.
• Convening stakeholder meetings, facilitating communication between people and organizations doing parallel or intersecting work across the country.
• Evaluating campaign/advocacy best practices and disseminating them among advocates nationwide.
• Facilitating the sharing of DPA resources, including staff expertise, with allies working on drug policy reform throughout the country.
Primary Responsibilities Include:
•Prepare state profiles and other documents setting out opportunities for DPA to advance drug policy reform in states where DPA does not have an office.
• Reach out to and cultivate relationships with movement allies, supportive elected officials and others with an eye to connecting advocates to each other; serve as the “connector” between advocates around the country on drug policy reform issues.
• Work with state-based advocates to develop legislative and other strategies to advance drug policy reform.
• Work to ensure that DPA’s national efforts are coordinated between DPA allies, partners, DPA’s Office of National Affairs (ONA) and state-based DPA staff.
• Work with DPA Policy and Communications staff to facilitate staff support of allies’ efforts in various states.
• Draft fact sheets, sign-on letters and other materials.
• Research policy issues.
• Recruit, train and manage a group of interns to track legislation and help with administrative tasks.
• Participate in partners meetings, policy meetings, and other meetings as required.
• Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
• Excellent writing, analytic, and verbal communication skills.
• At least three years working in a campaign, policy, organizing or advocacy environment.
• Familiarity and experience with the state legislative process.
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, creativity, and curiosity
• Ability to build and cultivate relationships with people and organizations of various orientations and backgrounds.
• Ability to be a self-starter and to be extremely detail-oriented.
• Ability to work under pressure, meeting quick deadlines while juggling multiple projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, and commitment to, issues DPA addresses, including racial justice.
• High degree of proficiency with standard office applications such as Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, and with CRM databases.
• Experience in community-based organizing or legislative advocacy preferred.
• Familiarity/facility with social media a plus.
• Spanish language skills a plus.
Terms of Employment
This position requires the candidate to work in the NYC office. Extensive travel required.
Deadline
Applications will be reviewed immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled.
Application Process
Please submit your application with resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample at: https://drugpolicy.bamboohr.com/jobs
Benefits
Compensation
DPA offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance; a generous 403(b) plan; and 25 days paid time off.
Level of Language Proficiency
Spanish language skills a plus.
How to Apply
Location
New York, NY
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