Overview

Organizational Background

VOCAL-NY is building a movement of low-income people dedicated to ending the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness. We fight for systemic change rooted in justice, compassion, and love. We approach this work with a firm belief in reducing harm and ending stigma, and the knowledge that the issues impacting our communities are driven by institutional oppression, not personal failings. Our campaigns have saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across the state.

We accomplish our goals through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services and direct action. We are based in New York City, with chapters in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Westchester County. You can learn more about our work through our website, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Position Description 

The Lead Organizer will be responsible for supervising and training VOCAL-NY organizers based in NYC, Southern NY, and Western NY. The position will focus primarily on supporting and holding organizers accountable to achieve goals specific to base building, mobilizing for meetings and events and leadership development of individuals directly impacted by VOCAL-NY’s core issue areas: HIV/AIDS, drug use, mass incarceration, and homelessness. The position will work closely with Program Directors on implementing campaign plans and goals.

 Job Responsibilities

  • Supervision: Train and supervise organizers to achieve set outreach and mobilization goals through base building and phone banking; to do strong leadership development through 1-to-1s, trainings and prep meetings; to execute powerful meetings, mobilizations and events; and to implement the campaign activities.
  • Daily Coaching & Support: Responsible for providing daily support and coaching of organizers on outreach, mobilizations and leadership development. 
  • Support Mobilizations and Events: Support the logistical needs and preparation of regular membership meetings, rallies and lobby days and other mobilizations as they arise.
  • Data Management: Support and ensure data entry is kept up-to-date from base building, phone banking and event attendance.
  • Grassroots fundraising: Support the organization in maintaining and continue building a base of monthly sustaining donors of allies and dues paying members. 

Requirements / Qualifications

 The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to community organizing and building the power of people living with HIV/AIDS, experiencing homelessness, active and former drug users, and formerly incarcerated communities.  A deep commitment to social justice is required.

 Candidates must have: 

  • Driver’s license and ability to drive a 15-passenger van.
  • Minimum of 4 years of community organizing experience.
  • Minimum of 1 year of supervising organizers and/or canvass teams to achieve set outreach and phone banking goals.
  • Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email clients).

 The ideal candidate will have:

  • Direct experience with, or demonstrated strength in one or more key areas of VOCAL-NY work.
  • Experience with data management of organizing and/or voter engagement.
  • Experience leadership development, including developing training materials.
  • Experience developing agendas and facilitating powerful community meetings.
  • Live in New York City, the homebase for VOCAL-NY.

This is a full-time position. The position will require periodic travel to Westchester, Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo to support our organizing chapters. And regular travel to Albany during the legislative session during the months of January to June.

Compensation:

The salary range will be commensurate with experience. VOCAL-NY offers a generous benefits package of twenty days of paid vacation, mileage reimbursement, full cell phone coverage, a 100% employer-covered health, dental, and vision insurance plan, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

 

VOCAL-NY is an equal opportunity employer. People who currently or have a history of using drugs, women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit our website at www.vocal-ny.org