Community Advocacy Manager

Are you passionate about creating opportunities for people to thrive?

Catholic Charities is the place for you!

Community Advocacy Manager

Elliot Park/hybrid

The mission of Catholic Charities is to serve those most in need and to advocate for justice in the community.

As the need for our services grows and becomes increasingly complex, Catholic Charities is working to adapt and respond. We respond in three ways – preventing poverty, meeting basic needs in times of crisis, and creating pathways out of poverty.

WAGE RANGE: $59,000-$68,000/annually

JOB SUMMARY: Catholic Charities seeks a self-motivated leader and advocate who is engaged in social justice and is compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally aware to join its team as a Community Advocacy Manager.

As part of its mission to serve those in need, Catholic Charities engages in advocacy to strengthen its direct service programs and address systemic inequities in housing. The Community Advocacy Manager will advance this work by leading the agency’s grassroots advocacy strategy, helping to manage coalition partnerships, and supporting direct lobbying on select agenda items, with a primary focus on local government advocacy.

This position will work to engage advocates (including Catholic Charities staff and clients), local government officials, and community partners through education and strategic advocacy that emphasizes strengthening the homelessness response system and supportive housing programs.

The Community Advocacy Manager will report directly to the Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs and work in partnership with the Advancement and Engagement teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Build and maintain an expertise on policy issues related to Catholic Charities’ direct service programs and advocacy priorities.
• Collaborate with the VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs and Advancement and Engagement teams to develop and implement a targeted advocacy strategy that emphasizes relationship building with city, county, and community partners.
• Develop strategies to recruit and retain community members and other interested individuals as members of our grassroots advocacy network.
• Promote participation of staff, clients, and members of the Board of Directors in advocacy and civic engagement through timely and appropriate resources, trainings, and event support.
• Represent Catholic Charities and build community relationships at select community/civic events and with key partners, such as coalitions, faith-based organizations, neighborhood councils, and continuums of care.
• Monitor local government and legislative hearings; engage coalition partners on policy priorities.
• Research and write materials to support Catholic Charities’ policy agenda, including fact sheets, action alerts, advocacy updates, and online content.
• Manage Catholic Charities nonpartisan voter outreach campaigns.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two (2) years of relevant experience required, which may include direct program delivery, relevant work and/or volunteer experience; secondary education experience preferred.
• Knowledge of local government systems and prior grassroots, community organizing, or lobbying experience preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required; must be comfortable with public speaking and able to present information in an engaging and understandable manner.
• Ability to learn and retain information about several different policy issues at once.
• Ability to identify and train leaders, plan strategically, analyze issues, and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to work with diverse and/or low-income populations, including those who may be experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, and/or mental illness required.
• Ability to work flexible hours. At times, this position will require more than a 40-hour work week, including nights and weekends to attend organizational events and align with government schedules.

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Regular; Full-Time; Salaried; Exempt

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Description Updated: 8/9/2024.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all functions that are required of the employee for this job.