Job Title: Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator
Reports to: NYCC Program Manager
Position Summary
Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a grassroots, civil society organization dedicated to securing and protecting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls in Afghanistan and the US, particularly their rights to develop their individual potential, to self-determination, and to be represented in all areas of life: political, social, cultural, and economic. WAW advocates for women’s rights and challenges the norms that underpin gender-based violence wherever opportunities arise to influence attitudes and bring about change.
The Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator will lead WAW’s advocacy work in the United States, and work closely with WAW’s education, case management and communications teams in our New York Community Center (NYCC).
Location: Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
Job Type: Full Time, In-Person
Responsibilities
Community Outreach & Relationship Building
- Promote and communicate WAW’s mission and objectives, identify collaboration opportunities, develop working relationships with community partners;
- Coordinate with community organizations to provide info sessions covering topics such as laws on protected classes, immigrant rights, available immigration services and gender-based violence awareness;
- Provide community members with materials and resources on immigrant services, including services offered by WAW and partner organizations;
- Call, text, and/or email community members to inform and register them in WAW programs;
- Engage with the partner community organizations, agencies, and stakeholders to determine locations to conduct workshops for Afghan, South Asian, and Muslim immigrant and refugee communities;
- Ensure that participants are informed of advocacy and participation opportunities by facilitating communication with them through variety of channels (email, phone and in-person);
- Conduct outreach to local mosques, businesses to inform the community on the services and classes provided by WAW;
- Meet with partner agencies to promote immigrants and women’s rights issues; and
- Create and disseminate outreach materials for civic engagement, WAW programming and events.
Advocacy
- Develop and lead the execution of WAW’s advocacy plan, taking into account thought leadership, government relations, advocacy campaigns, identification of key stakeholders and the amplification of critical issues;
- Represent WAW in meetings with US government officials and other key stakeholders to inform and raise the profile of Afghan women’s rights;
- Take immediate action, with help from WAW’s existing and potential partner networks, when/if any policies threaten, undermine or sideline the rights of Afghan and immigrant women;
- Keep abreast of policy developments relating to Afghanistan and immigrants in the USA, in particular those which will impact women’s rights, and provide timely updates to the organization;
- Write opinion editorials, press releases, advocacy statements and other advocacy materials to raise awareness and promote Afghan women’s rights;
- Collaborate with WAW’s Communication team on messaging and media advocacy to develop video/social media/and infographic content for use on the website, social media accounts, events and public speaking engagements;
- Create rapid response action plan to assist community members during times of increased Islamophobia; and
- Network and conduct advocacy with other coalitions and community-based organizations to counter legislation and public policies that adversely affect the rights of all citizens, non-citizens, families, and communities.
Organizational responsibilities
- Contribute to staff and partner meetings, and funder site visits;
- Provide updates monthly, and upon request, for all outreach and advocacy activities;
- Incorporate WAW’s mission and values into all advocacy and community outreach initiatives and events when serving as a WAW representative;
- Attend conferences, workshops, presentations, and other events as required and/or approved by the NYCC Program Manager; and
- Lead WAW NYCC community organizing / leadership development program for community members in order to build immigrant leadership on relevant issues.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 4 years experience engaging and mobilizing immigrant communities on grassroots level.
- Bachelor’s degree, required; Master’s degree, preferred.
- Demonstrated commitment to women’s and immigrants’ rights.
- Knowledge of US Congress and legislative procedures.
- Ability to work with diverse stakeholders, with minimal supervision.
- Possess a collaborative workstyle and ethic.
- Willingness to travel by all forms of transportation, including subway and bus.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Flexible and able to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Self-starter and creative thinker who can take initiative and meet deadlines.
- Fluency in English (reading, writing and speaking), required.
- Language skills in Dari, Pashto, Urdu or Hindi, preferred
Compensation
Job Type: Full-time/In-Person
Pay: $50,000-55,000 annually, depending on experience
Benefits: 403(b) plan; Dental insurance; Health insurance; Life insurance; Paid time off
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Ability to commute/relocate
This position is located in Queens, NY. Candidates must reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work. (Required)
To apply, please email your cover letter and resume to jobs@womenforafghanwomen.org. Please type Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator, NY – [your last name] in the subject line and apply at your earliest convenience as we are looking to hire as soon as possible. No phone calls please.
Women for Afghan Women is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, socioeconomic status, marital or veteran status, pregnancy status or sexual orientation.