Austin Campaign Manager

Organization Overview: VOCAL-TX is a grassroots membership organization working to create healthy and just communities by building power among low-income 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 Austin Campaign Manager will be based in Austin and responsible for building and coordinating VOCAL-TX’s local campaigns, with an emphasis on developing the power and leadership of low income people of color who have direct experience with our core issues. This role will work with VOCAL-TX Co-Directors, Organizers and Leaders to coordinate the policy, advocacy, and community organizing components of our campaigns.

Examples of active campaigns include:

• Improve conditions for residents of homeless shelters
• Expand access to housing programs and services, especially permanent housing
• Improve the rapid rehousing program to offer longer rental assistance
• Invest in harm reduction services and supplies for people who use drugs
• Require representation at magistration for people arrested in Travis County

This role will report to VOCAL-TX’s Co-Directors.

Specific Responsibilities include (but not limited to):

• Team Development: Establish and facilitate regular team meetings with staff to develop strategy and troubleshoot campaign challenges. Support a results-driven team to build capacity for our campaigns.
• Campaign Strategy: Support staff and VOCAL-TX members in identifying advocacy issues, and developing campaign strategy, and ensuring timely and effective implementation.
• Coalition Building: Represent VOCAL-TX in coalitions, build relationships with key allies, and move other organizations to action in support of VOCAL-TX goals.
• Legislative & Budget Work: Support Co-Directors in their work to monitor the city and state budget and legislative processes, identify and/or develop budget and legislative priorities, and lead a grassroots lobbying strategy to pass legislation or adopt budget priorities.
• Institutional and Government Relationship Building: In collaboration with the Co-Directors, 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
• Campaign Materials: Oversee the preparation of policy & research reports, legislative summaries, talking points for members, hearing testimony, and other campaign materials as needed.
• Press: Develop relationships with media contacts; draft and pitch media advisories, press releases, and press statements for events; draft opinion editorials with members and pitch to media.

Requirements / Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, self-motivated individual who has strong interpersonal, public speaking, writing, and problem solving skills. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to housing & homelessness issues, harm reduction and ending mass incarceration and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice lens. People directly impacted by our issue areas are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will have:

• 3-5 years of full-time community organizing, advocacy (or related) experience.
• A deep commitment to ending homelessness, the war on drugs, HIV/AIDS and mass incarceration in Austin, and across Texas.
• A deep commitment to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly impacted by homelessness, overdose and the war on drugs, mass incarceration and HIV/AIDS.
• Familiarity with Austin’s housing system, criminal legal system, and drug policies – including key players, processes, and practices – and an understanding of why the systems are in need of reform.
• A willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, with changing assignments.
• An ability to lead their own projects, and take initiative.
• Excellent ability to facilitate meetings and trainings, coordinate coalitions, and develop partnerships among a wide and diverse array of stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail).

Equal Opportunity Statement: VOCAL-TX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, people who are LGBTQ and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in hiring those who have been adversely affected by HIV, drug use, mass incarceration, and/or homelessness.