Coordinator, Advocacy-Temp-Remote-Washington, DC/East Coast
Washington, DC
Temporary
Experienced
Autism Speaks is seeking a Coordinator for a temporary, full time role working in our Advocacy department. This would be a 12 month grant funded position with the possibility of being extended.
At Autism Speaks, advocacy is how we turn passion into policy. As an Advocacy Coordinator, you will help level up our grassroots advocacy program as we enhance communication with advocates and empower them to confidently engage in policymaking. You’ll master tools like Quorum Advocacy, explore new ways technology can expand impact, help train volunteers, and play a key role in events like state lobby days and our annual Advocacy Forum & Hill Day. The ideal candidate will be ready to hit the ground running - applying their own experience to new skills in order to get the job done. If you're eager to learn, ready to take initiative, and passionate about helping autistic people and allies engage with their elected officials, then we'd love to have you on the team.
This is a Remote/Home based position with preference to candidates in the Washington, DC metro area. If located in Washington, DC, you’ll have an option for hybrid work out of our DC office near Union Station.
At Autism Speaks, advocacy is how we turn passion into policy. As an Advocacy Coordinator, you will help level up our grassroots advocacy program as we enhance communication with advocates and empower them to confidently engage in policymaking. You’ll master tools like Quorum Advocacy, explore new ways technology can expand impact, help train volunteers, and play a key role in events like state lobby days and our annual Advocacy Forum & Hill Day. The ideal candidate will be ready to hit the ground running - applying their own experience to new skills in order to get the job done. If you're eager to learn, ready to take initiative, and passionate about helping autistic people and allies engage with their elected officials, then we'd love to have you on the team.
This is a Remote/Home based position with preference to candidates in the Washington, DC metro area. If located in Washington, DC, you’ll have an option for hybrid work out of our DC office near Union Station.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter. Only applications with a cover letter will be considered.
Cover letters should include your interest for working with Autism Speaks and the autism/disability community, as well as any personal, academic or professional experience that make you a strong candidate.
Cover letters should include your interest for working with Autism Speaks and the autism/disability community, as well as any personal, academic or professional experience that make you a strong candidate.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this position is to support activities of the Advocacy Department. The Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for assisting in the development and coordination of Autism Speaks’ grassroots advocacy programming at the federal and state levels. This may include, but is not limited to, assisting with volunteer recruitment, engagement/activation and training. The coordinator will also provide assistance with in-person advocacy events such as lobby days, briefings, conferences and other federal or state initiatives. The position will coordinate and track internal communication for the department, serve as a liaison to other departments and provide administrative assistance as needed.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advocate engagement & mobilization
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Advocate engagement & mobilization
- Support the recruitment, training, and coordination of grassroots volunteers, including but not limited to participants in the Autism Speaks Grassroots Advocacy Network.
- Assist with volunteer and constituent correspondence via email, phone, social media, grassroots digital databases or other platforms.
- Work collaboratively to maintain accurate record keeping of volunteer information and activity as well as volunteer and advocacy team engagement with members of Congress.
- Assist in the planning and execution of federal and state lobby days, briefings, conferences and events sponsored or co-sponsored by the Advocacy Department of Autism Speaks.
Advocacy communications
- Draft and assist in the production and distribution of grassroots advocacy communications, trainings and other resource – including emails, social media, web content and articles, volunteer training guides, internal and external presentations, and talking points for various meetings/conferences/media.
- Support communications (specifically digital media) content performance measurement reporting and analysis.
- Assist to create, format and publish approved advocacy action alerts and social media via advocacy and marketing software or digital properties.
Government affairs & advocacy team support
- Assist advocacy team with research, tracking, preparation of materials and outreach related to state and federal legislative initiatives.
- Directly coordinate with Autism Speaks Field, Services and Supports, Marketing and Communications, and Science departments as necessary to integrate advocacy priorities through the mission and ensure that appropriate departmental content is distributed to relevant audiences.
- Support local volunteer/intern recruitment through outreach and recruitment at universities, organization of application and interview process and oversight of 1-2 volunteer interns per semester.
- Represent Autism Speaks at events and in coalitions with other autism groups as needed.
- Assist with administrative tasks and coordination of the advocacy team as needed.
- Perform other duties as directed.
(The responsibilities listed above are representative and not all inclusive. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor/s. As outlined in your performance goal setting forms, you will be responsible for achieving the goals provided by and agreed upon with your manager.)
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Affairs or Social Sciences preferred.
Experience:
- 2+ years of recent, relevant public policy and/or volunteer management experience
- Demonstrated ability to interpret public policy information for a variety of audiences.
- Experience utilizing a variety of social media platforms (Facebook, X and Instagram) as well as video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams and Zoom)
- Disability/IDD/autism-related experience is a plus
- Experience using grassroots advocacy software is a plus (Quorum or others)
Related Skills and Knowledge:
- Extremely polished and professional demeanor, excellent interpersonal skills
- Strong communications skills (written & oral)
- Detail-oriented, highly-organized, with ability to work independently with minimal supervision
- Solid administrative skills and a high level of proficiency in MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint and various social media platforms
- Technological savvy with the ability to quickly adapt to various advocacy software and databases (ex: Quorum/Phone2Action)
- Ability to prepare draft documents and talking points on different advocacy topics for various audiences
- Knowledge of legislative process and familiarity with policy areas related to autism
- Experience managing or training volunteers
- Flexible and eager to learn and do more about autism advocacy
- Flexible to work nights and weekends when required
CORE COMPETENCIES:
- Building Collaborative Relationships
- Professional Behavior
- Results Driven
- Customer Orientation
- Flexibility
You are responsible for protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all Autism Speaks data and information to which you have access.
Autism Speaks is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive workplace. We recruit, evaluate, employ, and promote candidates without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender identity or expression, protected veteran or military status, disability or other legally protected status. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for job openings. Reasonable accommodations will be provided. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
About Autism Speaks:
At Autism Speaks, our mission is to promote solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of people with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Together with our broad and diverse community, we strive every day to achieve our vision of a world where all people with autism can reach their full potential. This mission and vision drive every member of our staff; our employees are inspired, energized and motivated by the impact we can collectively have on behalf of the autism community.
Autism Speaks celebrates every success achieved to create a kinder, more inclusive world for people with autism, and we work collaboratively across departments to find solutions that will do the most good for the most people.
Just as we strive to enhance lives today and accelerate a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow for people on the spectrum, we also aim to enhance the lives of our dedicated employees, through thick and thin.
Salary & Benefits:
Autism Speaks offers a competitive compensation, benefit and vacation package. We also provide flex work hours, weekly training sessions, tuition reimbursement and summer bonus Fridays in addition to a creative, innovative, collaborative, inclusive, kind and fun work environment.
Autism Speaks is an employer that participates in E-Verify
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