Campaign Coordinator (Criminal Justice and Mass Incarceration)

About VOCAL-NY

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 Civil Rights Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for building and coordinating VOCAL-NY campaigns related to ending mass incarceration. In the near term our campaigns seek to reduce the size, scope and resources of the criminal punishment system (ie. policing, jails, prosecutors and prison). The Coordinator will also work with VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights team on collaborative campaign projects to advance criminal justice reforms and issues. All VOCAL-NY campaigns are led by VOCAL-NY members who are directly impacted by incarceration and this role will be to support the vision and leadership of our members to advance campaigns.

This includes, supporting grassroots advocacy in Albany and at City Hall via lobby days and meetings with elected officials, leadership development, organizing rallies and actions to draw attention to campaigns, representing VOCAL-NY in coalitions to advance campaigns and leading coalitions around our core issue areas. Examples of recent campaigns include: passing legislation to reduce the use of money bail, discovery reforms, ending solitary confinement, police response to mental health issues, challenging wrongful convictions, and restoring the right to vote for people in prison.

This position will be based in the Brooklyn office location.

Job Responsibilities

• Support Strategic Campaigns: Win concrete policy change on the state and local levels. Help plan and implement campaign strategies and tactics. Maintain campaign strategy charts, project plans, and support grassroots political relationships with elected officials and community leaders.
• Leadership and membership development: Support the development of people directly impacted by our core issues to become strong members and leaders of VOCAL-NY and our campaigns. Support the execution & facilitation of effective monthly membership meetings and bi-monthly leadership meetings. Facilitate political education and skills-based trainings for leadership development.
• Campaign Materials: Research, write and edit campaign materials – this includes but is not limited to legislative & issue summaries, public education documents, research reports, organizational talking points, hearing testimony, and other written materials as needed.
• Coalition Work: Represent the organization in existing coalitions. Build relationships with new coalitions and key allies.
• Press and communications: Support powerful communications work by developing talking points and prepping VOCAL-NY members to speak to the press. Draft and pitch media advisories, press releases, and press statements. Work with VOCAL-NY members to write op-eds.
• Support other campaigns: The position will be expected to periodically provide support for any and all community organizing and campaign work within VOCALNY. We have a highly collaborative office environment where staff members provide support for each other’s campaigns as needed.

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 criminal justice reform and a willingness to approach these issues through a racial justice analysis. People directly impacted by mass incarceration and criminalization are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will have:

• A deep and demonstrated commitment to ending mass incarceration.
• A deep and demonstrated commitment to working with and promoting the leadership of people directly impacted by mass incarceration.
• At least 3 years of full-time community organizing, advocacy (or related) experience.
• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent lived or work experience.
• Familiarity with the New York City and State criminal legal system – 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 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.
• Strong relational & interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop partnerships among a wide and diverse array of stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• A deep commitment to VOCAL-NY’s mission
• Proficiency with common business software (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail) and ability to learn how to use VOCAL-NY’s CRM database.

This is a full-time position. The position will require occasional attendance at evening and weekend meetings, and occasional travel to Albany, including early morning departures and overnight trips.

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining.