Program Associate (Los Angeles)

Position: Program Associate (Los Angeles)

Salary: Based on Experience

Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Start: As soon as possible

Closing date of this position: Open until filled

Reports to: Program Manager

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 140 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 to EQCA, 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 Overview:

EQCA and EQCAI seek a full-time Program Associate to help lead implementation of EQCA/I’s programs in the areas of education, immigration, healthcare and leadership development. The program associate will assist all EQCA programs, events and issue areas as needed, including expanding healthcare access, the 2020 Census, electoral activities, HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention, PrEP, transgender rights, passing pro-equality legislation and electing pro-equality candidates to office. EQCA/I’s expanded mission includes an intersectional approach to issues, as well as working with a wide range of institutions such as schools, businesses, unions, religious congregations, local governments, health clinics, law enforcement and LGBTQ centers.

Immediate attention will be focused on supporting EQCA/I programs across the organization. This will include supporting Program Managers in development and recruitment of our LGBTQ Leadership Academies, which seek to provide professional development opportunities for leaders in the LGBTQ community. The new Program Associate will also support Program Managers with event logistics including the LGBTQ Leadership Summit in Sacramento, a convening of all LGBTQ elected officials in the state. The Program Associate will also help lead activities related to our LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training program, which brings in-person training to healthcare providers across California and in other states, including Nevada.

The Program Associate will also be expected to support EQCA/I’s premier education program. In 2016, EQCAI launched our most ambitious campaign yet – the Safe and Supportive Schools Program. In November 2017, we sent a survey to all 343 unified school districts in California to assess their current policies and practices relating to LGBTQ students. We are translating survey responses into a public report that will foster equitable school achievement outcomes and improve student well-being. The report will roll out in early 2019. The Program Associate will help support all launch activities related to the report, coalition management, presentations, interfacing and fielding questions/concerns for school districts, coordinating with external venders and supporting in fundraising activities.

In addition to supporting the Safe and Supportive Schools Program, the Program Associate will help support all activities and programs related to immigration, leadership development, mental health, pride festivals, electoral activities and LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training, as well as assist in planning various special events relating to the organization’s advocacy and policy work. The Program Associate will work across all EQCA/I programs and responsibilities might change depending on the needs of the organization.

This position would be based in our Los Angeles office and will be supervised by a Program Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as an EQCA/I’s Program Associate by primarily supporting EQCA/I’s programs, including LGBTQ cultural competency training for healthcare providers, the leadership academies, the Safe and Supportive Schools Program, Equality4All (immigration program), Out4MentalHealth (mental health program) and assisting with other programs as needed. This work includes:

1. 1. Developing, coordinating and implementing objectives from grant funded and issue-priority programs across California.
   2. Developing key relationships with representatives of LGBTQ organizations, LGBTQ-friendly religious congregations, LGBTQ student groups, labor organizations, immigration-serving organizations, healthcare organizations, and other civil rights and allied partner organizations.
   3. Organizing and managing all trackers, outreach materials, external correspondence, participating in coalition meetings, serve as an ambassador of EQCA/I and tracking issue-area priorities being covered on news outlets.
   4. Tracking grant metrics and objectives, and developing and supporting strategies for meeting all grant objectives. This includes supporting management by being mindful of grant and program budgets, supporting program managers, working collaboratively with other program staff and across departments and interfacing with funders as needed and under the guidance of management.
   5. Assist in grant reporting processes.

• Support all of EQCAI’s program work including:

1. 1. Program Implementation
   2. Researching and Identifying Grant Opportunities
   3. Program Implementation
   4. Grant Reporting

• Support EQCAI/I’s advocacy, legislative, and electoral work.
• Support other work of the organization on an as-needed basis at the discretion of the Program Director, Managing Director and Executive Director.

Qualifications:

Applicants for this position should bring the following knowledge, abilities, and attitude:

1. At least 1 – 3  years experience working in any of the following fields: advocacy, outreach, public education, and mobilization; as well as, working in social justice areas including: civil rights, progressive and/or social justice organizations, preferably in the LGBTQ movement, public health, or tobacco control.
2. Experience working within the confines of government funded grants, detail-oriented and thorough work style, preferably with experience managing government-funded grant programs.
3. Experience working on (or a desire to work on) health issues, education, immigration, and/or HIV/AIDS issues.
4. Knowledge, passion and commitment to addressing issues impacting the LGBTQ community as well as advancing equality and social justice generally.
5. Strong public presentation skills, and 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.
7. Commitment to working across lines of difference including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age to achieve objectives.
8. 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.
9. Ability and experience in forming strong public relationships.
10. Healthcare advocacy knowledge and expertise, and/or a background in public health policy preferred.
11. Experienced campaign/community organizer preferred.
12. Above all else, a positive attitude and willingness to work collaboratively and in support of the EQCA/I mission.
13. A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience is required; higher degree in public health or public policy preferred.

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 Los Angeles and will require a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work time, as well as regular travel across California. Applicants will be reimbursed for mileage, but must have a reliable car and be able to drive in California.

Equality California is an equal employment opportunity employer. Equality California does not make employment decisions or discriminate based on protected characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression), sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicaps, veteran status, or genetic information as prescribed by applicable local, state, and federal law. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply, including, but not limited to, women, people of color, people of diverse gender identities, and non-LGBTQ allies.

To apply:

Email resume (including names and contact of 3 references), cover letter and two writing samples to Tony Hoang at jobs@eqca.org. Please be sure to put “Program Associate” in the subject line of your email.

The post Program Associate (Los Angeles) appeared first on Equality California.