Associate Director, Field Services (Field Director)

Plans and manages the development of comprehensive grassroots advocacy strategies on AAUW priority policy issues. Implements AAUW field development and training activities, volunteer leadership identification and recruitment, voter education, and e-advocacy activities. Develops public policy and voter education materials and supervises grassroots staff.

• Comprehensively assess field strengths and weaknesses and work to build strength where needed. Develop strategies and systems for providing technical assistance and training to state branches and track their activities.
• Provide and oversee other staff’s technical assistance to support members’ public policy advocacy and voter education work.
• Coordinate with staff in preparing an annual budget proposal for grassroots lobbying and voter education.
• Manage AAUW’s Action Network database. Work with IT staff to keep data synchronized with AAUW member database.
• Work with Development to develop new ways to raise funds from Action Network and with Membership to recruit new members through grassroots advocacy activities.
• Write and deliver speeches, develop and facilitate workshops on AAUW public policy priorities, grassroots advocacy, voter education, and voter turnout.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of AAUW public policy events as well as AAUW conventions, lobby days, conferences, and other special events.
• Oversee the selection and technical assistance for the progress of Impact Grant states. Monitor and evaluate program to ensure it reflects AAUW priorities.
• Oversee responses to member comments, questions, and concerns.
• Keep abreast of and implement latest electronic and grassroots advocacy techniques, tools, and best practices.
• Develop and write articles for AAUW Outlook and other publications; and coordinate the development and distribution of Action Network alerts and Washington Update ebulletins.
• Manage national voter education campaign, including coalition-building, voter guide production, targeting and field activation.
• Provide oversight to departmental grassroots projects, including coordination of timelines and appropriate staff to ensure goals are met.
• Ensure that appropriate staff in other departments is regularly informed about public policy advocacy and voter education activities.
• Work with Communications, Membership, and other program departments to carry out strategies to link work on AAUW’s policy priorities and programs to our mission.
• Participate as requested in leader meetings including AAUW Public Policy Committee (APPC) and AAUW Board of Directors.
• Assist department director with her liaison duties to the APPC by coordinating committee meetings, activities and calendars.
• Maintain regular contact with key activists in assigned states. Keep up-to-date on AAUW issues by reading professional journals, newspapers, magazines, and other relevant sources.
• Take action authorized during lead staff’s absence and use initiative and judgment to see that matters requiring attention are referred to delegated authority.
• Participate on staff committees or tasks forces as assigned.
• Be an active supporter and participant in a collegial and productive work environment.
• Represent AAUW in coalition organizations to develop effective advocacy strategies.
• Perform other related/comparable duties as required and assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required. Master’s strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five years related experience.
• Expert knowledge of field organizing and e-advocacy best practices.
• Experience in working with non-profit membership organizations.
• Knowledge of women’s, education, and equity issues preferred.
• Required to work weekends and evenings as needed. Job related travel required.
• Ability to demonstrate and establish credibility and professionalism with diverse group of volunteer leaders in person, over phone, and in written communications.
• Successful experience in managing political and/or issue advocacy campaigns.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; and ability to analyze and synthesize information.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.