Position: Policy & Community Coordinator, Exempt Full-Time
Salary: $51,000 – $58,000
Location: On-site (St. Paul MN)
Reports to: Organizing and Partnership Director
Benefits: Employee only health, dental, vision, PTO, STD, LTD, HSA, Life Insurance, Retirement plan, annual bonuses, organization breaks, paid holidays and professional development funds
Organization Summary Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP) is a non-partisan organization led by and for young Asian Minnesotans in the Twin Cities. Through our grassroots organizing efforts and programming, we aim to develop young Asian community leaders to resist oppression and co-create a more just future for their families, schools, communities, and cities.
Who are we looking for? The ideal candidate is community driven, people-centered, socially conscious, and skilled in fostering relationships in individuals to influence/impact systems change. The candidate is organized, a self-starter, a strong communicator, able to effectively manage varied tasks and timelines, conduct evaluations and written reports, and effectively lead and support community members, and young leaders. The candidate has experience and familiarity in project implementation and ability to manage volunteers.
Position Summary The Policy and Community Coordinator (PCC) is responsible for our advocacy work on our key issues, co-designing curriculum and co-facilitating workshops to internal staff, volunteers and constituents on issues impacting the community. The PCC will co-build our base membership, co-share the responsibilities for leadership mobilization and identify leaders to advocate on issues. Working closely with the Organizing and Partnership Director and Strategy Program Manager as a thought partner and collaborator to advance the organization’s base-building engagement and mobilization efforts towards a progressive systemic change that centers the social and political power of Asian youth Minnesotans. This person is a key leader within and outside of AAOP to equip and mobilize key leaders and supporters to talk to community members to achieve annual advocacy objectives and move towards systems change.
Salary and Benefits AAOP has a tiered pay scale ranging from hourly to salary positions that are based on Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) every other year, equity and economic justice. This salaried position currently ranges from $51,000 to $58,000 per year with an annual raise between 1% to 3% based on annual reviews and budget. This position is a 40 hours/week full-time, onsite, exempt position, including some evenings and weekends. Benefits include: annual 80 PTO hours lump sum, 10 paid holidays per year, AAOP Organizational paid breaks: 2 days for Spring, 2 days for Fall, and 8 days for Winter Break, annual bonuses, annual $400 Professional Development, Employee Only Health, HSA, Dental and Vision – 80% Employer and 20% Employee, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance and Simple IRA Retirement Plan.
Please submit a resume along with a brief cover letter highlighting experience with the following qualifications to jobs@aaopmn.org. Applications are reviewed and interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please include the following questions in your cover letter to help inform us of your understanding and experiences:
- Please share how your lived experiences inform your approach in navigating and building a base of low-income refugee/immigrant Asian Minnesotans?
- Please share the importance of providing social justice education and advocacy leadership to Asian American Youth?
- What unique skills will you bring to AAOP in this position?
Essential duties and responsibilities:
- Advocacy and Project Management The PCC will prioritize advocacy and issues campaign(s) and developing strategies and objectives in activating and identifying leaders; including, consulting and supporting field canvassing and civic engagement-related efforts that positions the issues for a successful advocacy implementation. Lead in co-designing curriculum and delivery of workshops to advance our community advocacy and organizing agenda that is led by and to the benefit of youth and young Asian Minnesotans; aligning internal and external timelines such as city budget hearing, election and/or legislation. The PCC will lead advocacy meetings, logistics, scheduling, and create and maintain records, review data and organize reports, presentations, and proposals. Develop and coordinate processes to empower and activate core leaders and other stakeholders to advance advocacy and issues-based priorities and strategies. They’ll also organize and identify core leaders and stakeholders to meet and engage in important dialogues with elected officials and decision makers. Monitor implementation of community engagement best practices, and non-partisan compliances with the organization’s standards, policies, and strategies and have other duties as assigned.
- Facilitation The PCC will co-design and facilitate issue-based workshop materials; and foster dialogues to empower core leaders and stakeholders to engage in our advocacy and organizing efforts. Collaborate with the Organizing and Partnership Director and Interns to identify, develop training sessions and ideas to build a strong team of leaders and volunteers to support and lead programming initiatives along with other duties assigned.
- Coalition and Base Building The PCC will co-identify opportunities and co-develop strategies to build relationships and cultivate partnerships with local organizations, decision makers, businesses, and associations that align with our advocacy and organizing objectives. An important collaborative aspect of this role is base-building and the co-development of core community leaders; and co-developing an analysis and process to assign leaders into key positions that support advocacy efforts. It’ll be very important to maintain relationships and have targeted 1:1 meetings related to advocacy and organizing work with coalition members, community leaders, and decision makers.
Minimum Education and Experience A combined minimum of two years of experience in the following: project development, management and implementation; civic engagement and community organizing, youth work, public speaking, facilitation, and campaign and advocacy. Comparable experience in terms of time and background in similar fields and education/degrees will be considered.
Must haves for the position The PCC must have an understanding of the civic and political structure at the local and state level; and community organizing, civic engagement, and campaign. Experience in implementation of strategic planning activities, management, and evaluation through an intersectional and equity lens; including developing and using effective advocacy and community organizing approaches. Experience in leadership recruitment and management, and working cooperatively with community members, young leaders, and community organizations; including networking and coalition building.
Proficient with Google Suite, presentation and database management. Knowledge of and commitment to social and racial justice personally and professionally. Excellent interpersonal, team building, and problem-solving skills, and ability to speak and facilitate in front of a group of people and the public. Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment, taking ownership, and initiative with minimal direction. And ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders from a diversity of backgrounds.
Some evenings and weekends may be required to meet programming needs. Availability and ability to travel statewide and nationally, including occasional overnights and multi-day travel. Lastly, they must have a vehicle, a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
Nice haves for the position A degree in any related field, advocacy and community organizing background, experience supporting a senior staff and providing guidance to others, leading and supporting individuals and a group of people, working with youth and diverse communities, the ability to work on a small, collaborative team or in a small nonprofit organization and knowledge or experience in nonprofits, and public policy.
AAOP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, status on public assistance, and marital status. We strongly encourage individuals who identify as or businesses led by Asian & Pacific Islanders, Black, indigenous, people of color, disabled, queer, trans and women to submit a proposal. AAOP is unable to provide VISA sponsorship at this time.