Overview
Organizational Background
VOCAL-NY is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among people affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We do this through community organizing, leadership development, participatory research, policy advocacy and direct action with the belief that true social change must come from the bottom up and be led by those most directly impacted.
Position Description
The Drug Policy Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for building and coordinating VOCAL-NY campaigns related to drug user health and advancing drug policy reform. This position will report to the Director of Drug Policy. The Coordinator will work with VOCAL-NY’s User Union team to build leadership, strategies, and advance policies that positively impact drug health, harm reduction, and drug policy reform. VOCAL-NY’s campaigns are led by VOCAL-NY member-leaders who are directly impacted by drug use and the war on drugs.
This includes, supporting grassroots advocacy in Albany and at City Hall via lobby days and meetings with elected officials, organizing rallies and actions to draw attention to campaigns, responding to and shifting the narrative in the press, representing VOCAL-NY in coalitions to advance campaigns and leading coalitions around our core campaigns, and testifying at hearings. Examples of recent campaigns include: the fight to bring Overdose Prevention Centers to New York, launching New York City’s methadone delivery system, fighting back against policies that would increase criminalization for drugs, removing barriers to life-saving treatment, mandating life-saving treatment in prisons and jails, decriminalizing and expanding access to syringes.
We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members may provide support for each other’s campaigns, which is in part a function of our ambitious scope of work.
This position will be based in New York City.
Job Responsibilities
• Facilitation and Organizing – Organize and facilitate regular leadership meetings (2x monthly) in order to strategize on campaigns and move them forward
• Leadership development – Support and foster the development of people directly impacted by our core issue areas as campaign and movement leaders
• Training & Education – create accessible and engaging trainings for VOCAL-NY members-leaders around general issues such as political education and speaking to media, lobbying, political process and education, as well as specific content on campaigns
• Policy documents – Develop one pagers and memos of support on bills/policies, build policy briefs on bills/issues, research and identify political landscape related to campaigns, and create accessible tools and materials for the general public related to issue areas
• Communications & Media – Respond to press inquiries, draft press statements to drive campaigns and emergency response to address targets (in)action , support press strategies related to campaigns, and work with VOCAL-NY members and leaders to be featured in the media.
• Strategic Campaign Design – Develop comprehensive campaign strategies, map opposition and allies, and identify how to engage stakeholders to grow support on issue areas, and build press strategy to elevate campaign
• Institutional and Government Relationship Building– In collaboration with the Director of Drug Policy foster a working relationship with institutions that are natural allies to campaigns, build relationships with elected officials and their staff, and identify and foster communications with government contacts
Requirements / Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking, writing, and strategic problem solving skills. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to harm reduction, and drug policy reform and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice analysis.
The ideal candidate will have:
∙ A deep commitment to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly impacted by the war on drugs.
∙ At least 2 years of full-time of campaign or community organizing experience.
∙ Familiarity with the New York City and State political and institutional landscape – including key players, processes, and practices – and an understanding of why the system is in need of reform.
∙ A willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, with changing assignments. ∙An ability to work within a team and develop strategy.
∙Desire and drive to grow professionally and incorporate feedback.
∙ Excellent ability to facilitate meetings and trainings, build strong agendas, coordinate coalitions, and develop partnerships among a wide and diverse array of stakeholders.
∙ Excellent written communication skills.
∙ Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize urgency among projects.
∙ Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail).
This is a full-time position. The position will require occasional attendance at evening and weekend meetings.
Compensation & Benefits:
VOCAL-NY offers a generous benefits package of 20 vacation days, 12 wellness days, and 13 paid holidays and 2 week paid year end break in December, 100% employer-covered health, vision and dental insurance , 401k plan with 5% employer match, health and dependent care FSA, cell phone, and unlimited Metrocard.