PACIFIC REGION OUTREACH COORDINATOR

POSITION DESCRIPTION: PACIFIC REGION OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Type: Full-time permanent, exempt

Supervisor: Operations Director

Location: California or Oregon, USA

Timeline: Applications will be accepted beginning July 23rd, reviewed immediately, and accepted until the position is filled. Anticipated start date is August 15th, 2021.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is the largest international network of students dedicated to ending the war on drugs. At its heart, SSDP is a grassroots organization, led by a student-run Board of Directors. We create change by bringing young people together and creating safe spaces for students of all political and ideological stripes to have honest conversations about drugs and drug policy. Founded in 1998, SSDP comprises thousands of members at hundreds of campuses in countries around the globe.

Mission statement

SSDP is an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact drug misuse has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society. SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth.

Hiring and compensation policies
SSDP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women or non-binary people, people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply, particularly those who have been adversely affected by the War on Drugs. We understand that unraveling the harms of the War on Drugs requires us to engage in practices and adopt policies aligned with the values we seek to engender in the world. We leverage our opportunity to create a more just and equitable workplace through our Hiring and Compensation Policies. We do not conduct drug testing of candidates or employees.

Organizational management
SSDP uses Holacracy to define and organize domains, roles, and accountabilities for staff. Work is conducted using the Getting Things Done time management system, and all staff capture their work in Asana, promoting a very high degree of transparency. Responsibility is distributed throughout the entire team and successful team members are driven, accountable self-managers who are open to constructive feedback, enjoy iterative processes, and embrace well-managed risk.

The Position

The Pacific Region Outreach Coordinator will be primarily responsible for developing strong student leaders and cultivating active, effective SSDP activists and chapters in the Pacific Region, facilitating communication among chapter leaders; reporting regularly on the health of the chapter network; and collaborating with other staff, members of the board, alumni, and other members of the SSDP network to further the mission of SSDP, with a strong emphasis on emerging opportunities in harm reduction, combating mass incarceration, and post-prohibition marijuana policy in collaboration with new and existing allies.

Responsibilities

Outreach

Develops strong student leaders and cultivates active, effective SSDP chapters:

Responds to all new chapter applicants in a professional manner within one business day of receipt
Maintains contact with all chapter leaders and Ambassadors in region of responsibility, Provides assistance, advice, guidance, and support to SSDP members in the areas of chapter management, advocacy, event planning, leadership transition, etc.
Documents outreach work through strict adherence to internal data standards, including maintaining organized and accurate data on established and interim SSDP chapters and Ambassadors
Tracks and reports on chapter activities in region of responsibility, including maintaining notes on campaign involvement, membership changes, events, high quality chapter attributes, etc.
Continuously collects and records accurate membership data from chapters
Keeps website content (as it relates to chapter data) up to date
Records and reports work activities and progress to other members of the SSDP team on a weekly basis

Facilitates communication among chapter leaders:

Hosts (statewide, regional, or topically focused) conference calls for members
Connects SSDP members with each other and to other entities that could aid in their development
Assists with maintenance of state and regional social media groups, including Facebook and Slack, and email lists
Maintains and moderates channels of communication

Additional responsibilities may include:

Responsible for assisting, facilitating, and attending (unless impossible) regional SSDP conferences
Provides support as necessary for international conferences and other SSDP-hosted events
Plans, promotes, and conducts leadership training and provides associated materials
Assists chapters in seeking out sources of local funding
Travels to chapters in assigned regions for major events when possible
Assists with organizing regional fundraising and/or alumni events
Helps organize local outreach, action, and educational events
Attends chapter activities in person (when ﬁnances and logistics allow) and participates as a facilitator, trainer, or speaker

Advocacy and Policy Development

Aids in developing policy analysis as assigned or in collaboration with state activists and allies
Builds coalition with community-based allies to further relevant policy and advocacy goals; works with SSDP members to build coalition with campus-based allies and others representing communities most harmed by the Drug War
Facilitates programs designed to strengthen the skills of students and SSDP members, provides opportunities for chapters to accomplish political and fundraising objectives, and advances SSDP’s role and profile in advancing sensible drug policy

Communications

Captures important audio and video for record keeping and public consumption
Produces compelling and accurate content for the blog and website
Helps to draft and publish new resources such as guides, manuals, posters, press releases and campaign action plans
Facilitates communication between SSDP chapters and other drug policy activists and reform organizations
Suggests content for, and occasionally drafts, local press releases
Effectively communicates with limited media and the public in an organized, clear, and concise manner in order to promote SSDP’s mission and goals
Maintains clear and regular communication with the SSDP team, Board, and chapters, as individuals and groups, regarding SSDP’s mission and objectives
Cultivates cooperative relationships with organizations and individuals working for sensible drug policies to carry out the organization’s objectives, strategies, and tactics

Management & Professional Development

Aids Operations Director in analyzing chapter network data
Maintains relationships with members, alumni, supporters, vendors, donors, and allies on behalf of the organization
Participates in professional development and training activities including attending webinars, reading articles, and seeking other learning opportunities
Serves as a leader and mentor for the SSDP network
Manages part-time interns as needed

Qualifications

Ideal candidates for this position have experience as a member of the SSDP network, are friendly, outgoing, energetic, accountable, communicative, and display a strong desire to work with our members to change drug policy around the world.

Necessary skills and experience:

Demonstrated success in group leadership and coalition building
Exceptional oral and written communication skills
Comfort with extensive phone and video chat communication
Demonstrated willingness and ability to adhere to strict data and record keeping practices
Proficiency in the use of the Google Apps for Business suite; strong ability to use and understand web-based programs

Terms of Employment

This is a full-time, permanent, exempt position. Some travel is required. Evening and weekend hours will frequently be required but are generally planned in advance.

Compensation and benefits

SSDP offers a salary commensurate with experience and similar positions in the local market and ensures a living wage to all full time employees. The salary for this position is $40,000 with annual salary adjustments available according to the Hiring and Compensation policies. The benefits package includes health, dental, vision and life insurance, a generous paid time off policy, and an Employee Assistance Program. SSDP offers flexible work scheduling and observes all federal holidays except Columbus Day, instead closing the office the day after Thanksgiving.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter with your resume by email to jobs@ssdp.org. The resume and cover letter should be combined in a single PDF file and titled as follows: Last-First-Coordinator. Reference “Pacific Coordinator” in the subject line.

Note: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.