Program Associate (Southern California)

Organizational Background:

Equality California (EQCA) is California’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization with over 800,000 members. EQCA’s mission is to achieve full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for members of the LGBT community. Through its legislative work, EQCA has successfully sponsored 102 pieces of pro-equality legislation cementing California as the state with broadest LGBT-civil rights protections in the country. EQCA strives to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals.

Equality California Institute (EQCAI), EQCA’s sister organization, is a 501(c)3 organization that utilizes advocacy, education, and mobilization programs to promote full and lasting equality and acceptance of LGBT people, improve the health and well-being of the LGBT community, and to educate the broader community on important LGBT related issues such as marriage equality, healthcare, health disparities, and immigration. Over the last five years, EQCAI has spearheaded successful programs to tackle these issues, including multiple public education campaigns, such as Let California Ring, Fair Share for Equality, the Breakthrough Conversations Project, and Health Happens with Equality.

Tentative Start Date: ASAP

Position Overview:

Equality California and Equality California Institute seek a full-time Organizer/Program Associate for Southern California (Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Diego, Orange County). The Southern California Organizer will help lead implementation of EQCA/I’s programs on the ground in the region, build key relationships with LGBT and allied organizations, develop grassroots leadership among members and supporters, and support fundraising efforts and major events.   Current programs and issues include expanding healthcare access, HIV/AIDS advocacy, transgender rights, safe and supportive schools, and leadership development. EQCA/I’s expanded mission includes an intersectional approach to issues, as well as working with a wide range of institutions such as schools, unions, religious congregations, health clinics, and LGBT centers.   This position would be based in our Los Angeles office and will be supervised by the Director of Programs and Program Development.

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as an EQCAI’s Organizer/Program Associate on the ground in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Orange County, and San Diego.   This work includes:
   1. Coordinating and implementing objectives from grant funded programs in those geographic areas.
   2. Developing key relationships with representatives of LGBT organizations, LGBT friendly religious congregations, LGBT student groups, labor organizations, immigration and healthcare organizations.
   3. Identify, train, and develop teams of EQCAI members and supporters to help implement program and organizational objectives.

2. Support all of EQCAI’s program work including:
   1. Program Development and Proposal/Grantwriting
   2. Program Implementation
   3. Grant Reporting

3. Staff EQCAI’s Pride Parade and Festival outreach and education programming in the region.

4. Support EQCAI/I’s advocacy, legislative, and electoral work.

5. Support EQCA/I’s fundraising efforts including local foundation grants, corporate and individual donations, and helping with major events.

6. Support other work of the organization on an as-needed basis at the discretion of the Director of Programs and Program Development and Executive Director.

Qualifications:

1. Passion and commitment to addressing issues impacting the LGBT community as well as advancing equality and social justice generally.
2. Commitment to working across lines of difference including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age.
3. Ability and interest to work with a wide range of organizations and institutions including other LGBT groups, schools, unions, religious congregations, and other social justice and advocacy organizations. Demonstrated experience with at least some of these types of organizations preferred.
4. Ability and experience in forming strong public relationships.
5. Strong public presentation skills, and some experience in public speaking and/or training.
6. Strong written communication skills including ability to assist in writing grant proposals, draft member communications, social media outreach, and event publicity.

Salary will be based on experience and includes competitive benefits (healthcare, dental, vision, long/short term disability, life insurance and 401K). This full time position will be based out of our Los Angeles office and will require a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work time, as well as regular travel within the region.  Applicants will be reimbursed for mileage, but must have a car and be able to drive within the region.

We strongly encourage people of color, people of diverse gender identities, women, and non-LGBT persons to apply.

To apply:

Email resume (including names and contact of three references), cover letter and a writing sample to Tony Hoang at jobs@eqca.org. Please be sure to put “Program Associate” in the subject line of your email.