Director of Advocacy

Job Description – Director of Advocacy

Supervisor – Executive Director, National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section (NCJW/Essex)

The Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement is responsible for managing advocacy initiatives around priority issues as designated by NCJW/Essex, its collective membership, and NCJW Inc. The Director of Advocacy works to engage a growing network of members, volunteers, experts, resources, allies and influencers around priority issues. This position directs advocacy initiatives in partnership with the NCJW/Essex Section Board VP of Advocacy and other volunteer leaders as appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Advocacy, Grassroots Engagement and Community Partnerships

• Develop and manage an adaptable advocacy agenda for each fiscal year, outlining the political landscape, key partnership and networks, timelines of national, state and local legislative and budgetary cycles, and broad strategies to influence decision makers

• Research, develop, target, manage and track campaign strategy to achieve priority advocacy initiatives

• Generate NCJW/Essex membership engagement around priority advocacy issues by developing and managing actions, programs and events for NCJW/Essex members and volunteers to take part in support of priority advocacy initiatives

• Develop and cultivate relationships with advocacy coalitions, community organizations, issue experts, resource providers, traditional and nontraditional allies, decision makers and decision maker influencers, and other relationships as appropriate, to generate public support and political good will

• In coordination with the Director of Communications, create issue fact sheets, talking points, action alerts, social media posts, etc. around key advocacy issues

• Prepare Section members to communicate with elected officials and other decision makers, and to attend NCJW, Inc. advocacy initiatives and other special advocacy events

• Regularly communicate with and diplomatically coordinate campaign strategies with community partners

• Publicly represent NCJW/Essex on Board approved advocacy issues as authorized by the Executive Director and Section Board President

• Provide support for NCJW/Essex Advocacy issues, programs and events, including Reproductive Rights, Voting Rights and Get Out the Vote, Anti-Hate and Antisemitism, Period.Project, Gun Violence Prevention, Anti-Human Trafficking, Lunch & Learns and other events as needed

• Support development efforts as requested

• Identify issues relevant to NCJW/Essex

• Provide support to the VP of Advocacy as needed

General

• Follow all NCJW/Essex policy and procedures

• Provide staff support for NCJW/Essex members as appropriate

• Monitor Advocacy budgetary line items

• Supervise interns as appropriate

• Professionally represent NCJW/Essex in the community

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Strong commitment to and passion for the mission of NCJW/Essex

• Four year or advanced degree required

• 3 years successful advocacy campaign experience in a leadership capacity, including campaign planning and implementation, identifying and influencing decision makers, and managing coalition partnerships

• Experience working with and cultivating volunteer leadership

• Experience and enthusiasm for working with diverse communities, underrepresented communities and nontraditional partners

• Experience with community organizing a plus

• Familiarity with state and local politics and issues a plus

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to generate interest and passion around priority advocacy issues

• Excellent computer and technology skills

• Proven ability to work in a team environment

• Strong organizational and time management skills, including flexibility to handle multiple projects

• Strong problem-solving skills and analytical ability

• Creative and self-motivated

Salary and Benefits:

This position is full-time at 35 hours/week and can be flexible to a qualified candidate’s schedule, including some working time outside of traditional working hours. The starting wage is up to $36/hour. NCJW/Essex offers vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, a flexible spending account, and 403B retirement plan to eligible employees.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume via Indeed. Electronic submissions only, and please, no phone calls. We are an equal opportunity employer and recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate, and administer all personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, culture, age, creed, disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, or any other protected status.

About NCJW/Essex:

NCJW/Essex a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

Founded in 1912, the Essex County Section is one of the largest in the country, populated with members who advocate and give of their time, talents and treasure to create a world that demands and supports social and economic justice for all. Our offices are located in Livingston, New Jersey.

NCJW/Essex is part of a national network of affiliates across the country that make up NCJW. Collectively, there are nearly 90,000 members, supporters, and advocates. Our national headquarters, NCJW Inc., is located in Washington, D.C.

Our mission and our Jewish values provide a strong foundation for all that we do as NCJW/Essex. We are an engaged and passionate group that always gets things done in the community, on issues and for each other.

Several signature programs serve as the tentpoles for our organization: the Back 2 School Store which empowers thousands of Essex County children to achieve their academic potential; the Linda and Rudy Slucker NCJW/Essex Center for Women which provides counseling and other support for women entering or re-entering the workforce; and our Advocacy programs that focus on issues like reproductive rights, gun violence prevention and others critical to the health and safety of women, children and families.

We offer many ways to be involved and make an impact ranging from hands-on volunteer opportunities that directly support local agencies and organizations to digging deep into issues and chairing an event or program to exercising your leadership skills through service on our Section Board, and much more.

Above all, NCJW/Essex is a place where you can expand your circle of friends and develop lifelong, meaningful relationships. NCJW/Essex has a proud history, an active present and an exciting future.

For more information, please visit https://ncjwessex.org/.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $63,700.00 - $65,520.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Choose your own hours
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Livingston, NJ 07039: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person