Position: Legislative Assistant (Sacramento)
Salary: Based on Experience
Type: This is a full-time, temporary position from April through August 2018
Reports to: Legislative Manager
Start: As soon as possible
Closing date of this position: Open until filled
Organizational Background:
Equality California (EQCA) is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization with over 800,000 members. Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. Through its legislative work, EQCA has successfully sponsored 127 pieces of pro-equality legislation cementing California as the state with strongest LGBTQ-civil rights protections in the country.
Equality California Institute (EQCAI) is a 501(c)3 organization that has a parallel mission statement to EQCAI, its 501(c)4 counterpart. EQCAI educates the broader community on important LGBTQ issues such as transgender equality, violence and hate crimes, healthcare, health disparities, the needs of LGBTQ seniors and youth, homelessness and immigration. Over the last five years, EQCAI has spearheaded successful programs to tackle these issues, including multiple public education campaigns, such as Transform California, Equality4All, #Take It, I’m PrEPed, Let California Ring, Fair Share for Equality, the Breakthrough Conversations Project, and Health Happens with Equality.
Position Type: This is a full-time, temporary position from April through August 2018
Position Overview:
The Legislative Assistant will have the opportunity to support Equality California’s legislative advocacy both substantively and administratively, as well as potentially participate in electoral work for pro-LGBTQ candidates and community engagement in Northern California.
The Legislative Assistant will work directly under the supervision of the Legislative Manager while providing assistance to other departments based on need. May be called upon to attend meetings or events outside of the office as needed.
Responsibilities:
The Legislative Assistant may be called upon to work on any or all of the following tasks:
- Research questions that arise around pending and potential legislation and administrative advocacy
- Monitor and attend legislative sessions and hearings
- Help schedule meetings with members of the Legislature and their staff, particularly for any advocacy days
- Attend meetings with members of the Legislature and their staff
- Help prepare fact sheets, position letters, sample letters, EQCA legislative scorecard data, and other materials
- Work with coalition partners to gain support for EQCA-sponsored legislation
- Help plan and implement press conferences and similar events related to legislation
- Handle EQCA member inquiries
- Help with general office work, tasks, and special projects related to legislative and administrative advocacy
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Relevant college degree or equivalent experience required
- Experience working in public policy in California either in a government position or a position at a nongovernmental organization preferred
- Working knowledge of the legislative process in California required
- Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills required
- Knowledge of LGBTQ issues and/or experience working with the LGBTQ community strongly preferred
Compensation is dependent on experience. Salary will be based on experience. This position will be based out of the Sacramento office and may require evening and weekend work time on occasion.
We strongly encourage women, people of color, people of diverse gender identities and non-LGBTQ persons to apply.
To Apply:
Email resume (including names and contact of three references), cover letter and salary requirements to Tony Hoang at jobs@eqca.org. Please be sure to put “Legislative Assistant” in the subject line of your email.