Civic Engagement Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Civic Engagement Manager

Reports To: Executive Director (interim); Senior Director of Programs (permanent)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Bakersfield, CA

Pay Range: $68k – $73k

Position Summary:

The Civic Engagement Manager to develop and execute DHF's legislative and advocacy campaigns, voter engagement projects, and civic participation efforts to advance our work at the local, state, and national levels. The civic engagement manager will be an integral part of the organization's leadership team.

Strong candidates will have a successful track record of developing and implementing strategic voter engagement campaigns; experience in legislative advocacy on local and state levels; electoral organizing and technical training; and have experience working in, and leading, coalitions at the regional or statewide level.

The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of and proficiency in using voter database platforms, organizing contact tools and platforms, as well as project management tools and platforms and supervisory skills. Great communication and people skills are a must in this role. This includes working with people from diverse backgrounds, coalitions, legislative offices, and elected officials.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Long Term Policy Agenda and Statewide Campaigns

Track state and regional politics (conditions, decision makers, organized opposition, movement landscape, narrative landscape, and active battles), pending legislation, ballot measures that are related to DHF policy agenda, with an emphasis on Immigration and Environmental and Climate Justice.

Develop recommendations to the Board of Directors about policy positions, priorities, and campaigns.

Identify legislative priorities; develop and implement strategies to pass or oppose legislation that affects underrepresented and historically disenfranchised communities.

Work with directors, community, and coalition members to develop a strategy and implementation of campaigns. Oversees the development and execution of campaign tactical plans and strategy that exercises and leverages coalition and grassroots power, including endorsement strategy, core message development, testing and material development, communications and digital strategies, grassroots lobbying, and actions.

Develop an analysis of policies that advance the organization's long-term agenda

Support the Civic Engagement and Organizing teams to develop and execute campaign tactical plans that exercise and leverage coalition and grassroots power.

Work with the Communications Director to develop and test messaging and communications strategies to build narrative power, shift the debate, and win over hearts and minds.

Develop external and strategic relationships with state, regional, and local partners to build alignment around long-term agenda, policy priorities and campaigns

Manages relationships with key state, regional, and local collaborative partners, including labor, elected officials, and research/academics.

Represent DHF at relevant coalition, government, partner, and community events.

Oversee the development and implementation of voter registration and outreach campaigns.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree or equivalent required

At least 5 years of leadership experience in civic engagement, electoral, candidate or ballot initiative campaigns

Team supervision and management

Excellent writing and editing skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines

Established network with colleagues/peers in civic participation community at the local, state and national level

Experience with the latest civic and voter engagement technologies and platforms

Experience in stakeholder/community engagement

Experience with cross-functional leadership and staff engagement

Strong and confident leadership skills

Key Competencies:

Proficiency working with diverse communities and with grassroots organizations

Analysis and problem solving

Time management

Organization skills

Effective written and oral communication

Self-motivated - proven ability to work independently

Strategic thinking

Leadership and empowerment

Compassionate service

Resolving conflict

Fostering Teamwork

Understanding of social justice issues and challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and working-class families

Full-time