Housing Campaigns Manager

About VOCAL-NY

Founded in 1999, Voices of Community Activists & Leaders (VOCAL-NY) is a statewide grassroots membership organization that builds power among low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness to create healthy and just communities. We accomplish this through community organizing, leadership development, advocacy, direct services, participatory research, and direct action.

At VOCAL-NY, 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 and services have saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers across the state.

​​Position Description

VOCAL-NY is seeking a passionate and strategic organizer to serve as our Housing Campaigns Manager. This role is ideal for someone eager to fight for transformative policy change, build grassroots power, and support directly impacted New Yorkers leading the fight to end homelessness. The Housing Campaigns Manager will report to the Housing Campaigns Director and work closely with VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union and Positive Leaders Union to win concrete housing victories across New York City and State.

This position will play a central role in shaping and executing campaigns to prevent homelessness, expand access to permanent affordable, and supportive housing, and guarantee care and services for people experiencing homelessness. Our current priorities include:

• Passing a statewide Section 8-style rental assistance program to help people exit and avoid homelessness.
• Expanding the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) to cover HIV-positive New Yorkers in Upstate and Long Island.
• Securing long-term funding for deeply affordable housing development and conversions.
• Reforming Cash Assistance programs and advancing guaranteed income efforts.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage Strategic Campaigns: Win concrete policy change on the state and local levels. Lead project management for campaign strategies and tactics, including planning, implementation, and evaluation. Manage campaign strategy charts, project plans, and cultivate ongoing grassroots political relationships with elected officials and community leaders.
• Supervision: While the Housing Campaigns Manager will not supervise staff immediately upon onboarding, we expect to add 1–2 direct reports—such as organizers or interns—to their team within the first year. The Manager will support their supervisees in running powerful campaigns, achieving key goals, and executing high-impact activities such as lobby days, direct actions, and regular membership and leadership meetings.
• Leadership and membership development: Support the development of people directly impacted to become strong members and leaders of VOCAL and our campaigns. Support the creation and facilitation of effective monthly membership and bi-monthly leadership meetings, and political education and skills based-trainings for leadership development. Support community leaders and staff to connect campaign work to national networks, and federal campaigns.
• 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. Facilitate and manage research & policy projects with allies, research institutions, and other key collaborators, as needed.
• Coalition Work: Represent the organization in existing coalitions. Build relationships with new coalitions and key allies. Responsible for developing new coalitions when strategic, this includes recruitment, agenda-setting, facilitation, and work planning.
• Press and communications: Support powerful communications work by creating talking points and prepping community leaders to speak to the press. Draft and pitch media advisories, press releases, and press statements. Work with leaders to write Op-eds. Build strategic relationships with key reporters and news outlets.
• Cross-Campaign Support: VOCAL-NY values collaboration across teams and issue areas. While the Housing Campaigns Manager’s primary focus will be on housing and homelessness, they may occasionally support other campaigns during high-impact moments or organizational priorities. This could include offering strategic input, joining joint mobilizations, or sharing best practices with colleagues.

Job Requirements

The ideal candidate will be energetic and self-motivated, with strong interpersonal, public speaking, writing, and problem-solving skills. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to ending homelessness and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, grounded in a racial justice analysis. People directly impacted by homelessness and people living with HIV/AIDS are strongly encouraged to apply.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A demonstrated commitment to ending homelessness and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• A deep commitment to working with—and uplifting the leadership of—people directly impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity.
• Familiarity with New York City and State housing systems, including key agencies, policies, and political dynamics, and an understanding of the need for systemic reform.
• At least 5 years of full-time experience in community organizing, advocacy, or related work.
• Experience leading campaigns, supervising staff or interns, and supporting others to meet goals.
• A bachelor’s degree—or equivalent experience based on lived expertise or work history.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, adaptive environment.
• A track record of leading projects independently and taking initiative.
• Strong facilitation skills, including the ability to run engaging meetings, coordinate coalitions, and build partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, especially across diverse communities.
• Clear and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Alignment with VOCAL-NY’s mission and values.
• Proficiency with common business software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail) and a willingness to learn new tools, including our CRM database.
• Spanish fluency is a plus.

This is a full-time position. It requires occasional evening and weekend work, and periodic travel to Albany and other locations outside of NYC - including early morning departures and overnight trips.

This position reports to the Housing Campaigns Director.