Manager of Grassroots Organizing
ORGANIZATION SUMMARY
The National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) builds power at the state and local level to change public policy, galvanize public support, and normalize women’s decisions about abortion and contraception. Using a partnership model, we provide state and local advocates with strategic guidance, hands-on support, and funding to create national change from the ground up. We are a force multiplier – we form strategic partnerships with a wide range of organizations to directly impact the reproductive health and lives of women across the country. Since 2008, NIRH has provided direct grants and hands-on support to nearly 150 reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations in 39 states and 56 localities across the country. In 2018, NIRH’s partnerships and its work in New York State and City span 23 states, including 13 localities.
The National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund, with associated PAC’s and IEC, conducts nonpartisan advocacy and electoral engagement to advance reproductive health, rights and justice in states and cities across the country.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Manager of Grassroots Organizing will be part of the National Institute’s Political and Government Affairs Team, creating and executing statewide grassroots engagement to advance reproductive health, rights and justice, with a particular emphasis on abortion access, in New York. The Manager will both serve as the organizer for New York City and also supervise 3 part time organizers in other areas of the state. This person will play an integral role in our strategy to expand and preserve access to reproductive health care in New York, working with organizers across the state to support NIRH’s legislative, political and community education goals by building a strong, educated base of supporters. This staff person will be joining a team that’s engaged in shifting its social justice framework to center racial equity as a core priority – NIRH staff and board have committed to advancing racial equity and have been engaged in a multi-year process to adopt a racial equity lens across the organization. This position reports to the Vice President for Political and Government Affairs and is based in New York, NY.
This is an exciting opportunity for a social justice advocate who already has organizing and management experience and who has overseen a team of remote organizers.
Major Responsibilities:
- Develop and lead execution of a long-term base-building plan to recruit, train, and sustain a statewide base of activists.
- Create and implement grassroots campaigns to support the organization’s legislative, political and base-building initiatives.
- Work with the advocacy and communications teams to develop online campaigns that engage current supporters and recruit new supporters to participate in the organization’s advocacy campaigns.
- Ensure data about activists is kept current in organizational databases by ensuring new contacts are immediately added, contact records are maintained and results are tracked.
- Create leadership opportunities for activists that provide opportunities for responsibility, skills development, and ownership of the work.
- Represent the organization at community events that raise the visibility of and educate the public on reproductive health and rights issues.
- Assist in developing materials for activist education and mobilization.
- Supervise a team of 3 remote Grassroots Organizers.
- Additional duties/responsibilities as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications:
- 4-5 years of relevant experience organizing for political or issue campaigns.
- Understanding of legislative and political process essential.
- Experience supervising grassroots organizers.
- Strong public speaking, communication and writing skills.
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, including exceptional attention to detail, a demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, and the ability to inspire others to work hard.
- Must be able to work nights and weekends with a flexible schedule and a willingness to travel across the city and state.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in voter management systems (i.e. VAN, etc.), online advocacy tools, predictive dialer systems, MS Word and Excel.
- Deep commitment to progressive social justice goals, preferably with experience working on reproductive justice, health or rights.
- Ability to work with diverse coalitions and understand a range of perspectives; comfort with and ability to use a racial equity analysis in organizing work.
Compensation:
- This role is for a year with the possibility of extending the contract.
- A salary of $65,000-$75,000 depending on experience
- A comprehensive benefits package including employer-paid health insurance, dental insurance, a 401k retirement plan with employer contribution after 6 months, TransitChek benefits, and generous paid time off
- Summer Fridays
- A friendly and supportive working environment with people passionate about what they do
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Email a thoughtful cover letter and resume in one PDF to [email protected] with “Manager of Grassroots Organizing” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All applications must be received via email. No phone inquiries please.
The National Institute for Reproductive Health is an equal opportunity employer. NIRH strives to build and support an equitable work community that attracts, develops, and retains exceptional people. As a member of the reproductive freedom movement, NIRH aims to foster leadership and raise the voices of historically marginalized people, including but not limited to Black people and people of color, indigenous/native peoples, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people, disabled/differently abled people, immigrants, and low income people. We strongly encourage candidates of these and other diverse backgrounds to apply.