Summary

The mission of the Joyful Heart Foundation is to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues. The cornerstone of the Foundation’s Policy & Advocacy work is a focus on improving community and criminal justice responses to sexual violence and, in particular, ending the backlog of untested rape kits.

The Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, reporting to the Director, provides high-level support to the Joyful Heart Foundation’s Policy and Advocacy initiatives. The Coordinator is a key point person within the Policy and Advocacy Department, helping to manage the policy and advocacy work of the organization. S/he works closely with staff members within and across departments to formulate and implement strategies to advance the Foundation’s policy and advocacy priorities and goals. S/he leads and manages designated initiatives and projects as assigned including, but not limited to, the management of the policy department’s website, endthebacklog.org.

Essential Job Functions

The duties outlined below are considered to be the most significant responsibilities of the Coordinator, ones that are essential for effective performance in this position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Program – Policy and Advocacy General (85%)

• Provide high level support for Policy and Advocacy department activities at local and state levels
• Manage the website and associated social media accounts, including but not limited to: contributing original content, maintaining updated and accurate information, contributing to website development and working with the External Affairs team, and implementing a strategy to broaden and engage a wider audience
• Provide project management of The Accountability Project through support of the Director, maintaining consistent communication with lawyers and keeping records of progress, responses, and contact with external officials; develop strategy and facilitate the release of said information
• Provide project management support for the state advocacy program, including monitoring and tracking legislation across the country
• Conduct and compile research on rape kit reform and work with Policy and Advocacy team to strengthen opportunities for Joyful Heart to assist with reform
• Represent the Policy and Advocacy department with both internal and external partners, cultivate and maintain relationships with strategic partners and attend conferences and coalition meetings
• Monitor and track media coverage of rape kit reform, policy and legislative developments in news; convey relevant information to Policy and Advocacy staff as well as External Affairs staff
• Research, analyze, draft and manage internal vetting process for high-level documents such as speeches, op-eds, reports, memos, briefing papers, publications, and web content
• Prepare, draft, edit and distribute quarterly accomplishments, program metrics, fact sheets, reports, memos and publications to be used in advancing the Foundation’s advocacy work
• Respond to requests for information from the general public and media, maintain database of all inquiries

Management Support (15%)

• Provide Policy and Advocacy training and support for new staff upon their hiring
• Collect invoices for all department expenditures and prepare check requests for approval; reconcile monthly credit card expenditures and reconcile any cash advances for the department
• Provide additional financial administration support for the department including tracking spending on the budget, the creation of quarterly budget reports and analysis of expenditures on an ongoing basis for projects on which Coordinator is the lead
• Support management of internship program and coordinate intern schedules and supervision
• Handle meeting logistics and preparation including schedule coordination, compiling agendas, assembling briefing materials and making travel and conference call arrangements
• Manage all data entry, record keeping and organization of server and hard files
• Assist department in improving administrative procedures and systems
• Answer phone and screen messages for team as needed

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Degree in law, political science, public policy, sociology, women or gender studies, criminal justice, or related field. Advanced degree a plus
• Two to three years of policy, advocacy, research, or reporting experience regarding violence against women and girls in the United States; focus on sexual violence work preferred
• Non-for-profit experience strongly preferred
• Government affairs experience a plus

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong project management skills, proven and effective leadership skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment, approaching problems and conflict professionally and constructively
• Compassionate, self-motivated, extremely well-organized, collegial and able to handle numerous tasks and projects simultaneously
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to prioritize with minimal supervision and work independently as well as a member of a team
• Ability to gather and analyze data, identify problems and opportunities, consider alternative
  courses of action, draw logical conclusions and adopt appropriate solutions; action oriented
• Extremely detail oriented and precise
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately to all organizational levels and external constituents
• Experience with content management systems for websites and blogs strongly preferred
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Google Apps required; proficiency in PowerPoint preferred

Disclaimer

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

How to apply

Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary requirements to: jobs@joyfulheartfoundation.org. Subject line must read: Policy & Advocacy Coordinator. No calls will be accepted.