The Drug Policy Alliance has an immediate opening for a National Organizing and Field Director, to lead its organizing efforts among drug policy reform allies around the country and DPA’s Policy staff.

The Position

The National Organizing and Field Director will oversee DPA’s organizing efforts among drug policy reform organizations around the country, particularly in states where DPA does not have offices or staff. The Director will reach out to allies and potential allies who are working at the federal, state and local levels on issues that are aligned with DPA’s organizational priorities, and will work with these organizations and individuals to coordinate a national strategy to end the drug war.

Reporting to DPA’s Managing Director for Public Policy, and working closely with DPA’s Policy Staff and Grants Program Director, the National Organizing and Field Director will be broadly responsible for:

• Identifying the states where DPA can work with local partners to impact drug policy issues;
• Identifying organizations and individuals with whom DPA can partner to advance the cause of drug policy reform on a  national level;
• Working with existing DPA partners to coordinate advocacy efforts on drug policy issues;
• Serving as a convener and connector of various individuals and organizations working on drug policy reform on the federal, state or local level;
• Providing policy and/or communications support to DPA’s partners to help them advocate more effectively;
• Working with DPA policy staff to maximize the effectiveness of DPA’s partnerships in DPA states.

Based in DPA’s New York City headquarters, the National Organizing and Field Director will be part of DPA’s Policy team.

Primary Responsibilities 

Primary responsibilities include:

• As a member of the Policy Team, be familiar with DPA’s national agenda, and identify allies whose work is or can be aligned with that agenda;
• Work with the Grants Program Director and the Staff Grants Committee to bring the grants program in line with DPA’s national goals, and identify areas where the grants program can add capacity to DPA’s national efforts;
• Convene allies regularly by phone and in person, to discuss national drug policy issues, keep the allies up to date on DPA’s national efforts, and discuss how local and national efforts can be aligned and maximized;
• Serve as a liaison between DPA’s Office of National Affairs and allies, and facilitate the allies’ work in support of DPA’s federal agenda, working with ONA to identify federal elected officials who need to be contacted by constituents, and providing support to allies’ federal lobbying efforts;
• Serve as the liaison between the allies and DPA’s media team, helping allies to align their local media efforts with DPA’s national media efforts, and providing support and media training where appropriate;
• Work with the State Policy Directors to maximize their ability to effectively partner with allies in support of local work in DPA state;
• Provide training and capacity-building for allies;
• Work with the Grants Program Director to provide training and capacity-building for DPA grantees where appropriate;
• Identify and work with contractors, where appropriate, to advance DPA’s drug policy reform agenda;
• On behalf of DPA’s affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPA Network), identify opportunities for political action in support of the organization’s mission, vision, and goals;
• Keep the Policy team apprised of the work of allies around the country, and aware of opportunities for collaboration.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• Five-ten years experience in public policy advocacy, community organizing, and/or political campaigns.
• Track record of success in building coalitions in pursuit of a shared agenda to achieve concrete results.
• Ability to build and cultivate relationships with people and organizations of various orientations and backgrounds.
• A demonstrated passion for social justice and commitment to the issues DPA addresses.
• Strong leadership abilities and experience managing complex advocacy projects.
• Ability to be a self-starter and to be detail-oriented.
• Excellent writing, speaking and analytic skills.
• Advanced degree preferred but not required.
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility, creativity, curiosity and a good sense of humor.

About The Drug Policy Alliance

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization seeking to dramatically alter drug policy here and around the world.   DPA fights for drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights. The work is grounded in the principles of harm reduction, an approach that seeks to minimize the negative consequences of both drug use and drug policies.  DPA’s work encompasses a wide array of policy issues, including:

• Sentencing reform and alternatives to incarceration
• Harm reduction (HIV, hepatitis C and overdose prevention)
• Ending marijuana prohibition, marijuana decriminalization, medical marijuana
• Drug education, youth and drugs
• Race and the drug war
• Effective drug treatment
• Civil liberties and rights
• International drug control
• Alternatives to prohibition and pragmatic steps for ending the drug war

In the last 12 years, DPA has expanded from its New York headquarters to include eight offices, 46 staff, 26,000 dues-paying members and over 50,000 online subscribers.  It has a growing track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels and is increasingly visible in prominent media and policy circles.

Compensation

DPA offers a competitive salary, based on experience, and a benefits package including health, dental, long-term disability and life insurance; a generous 403(b) plan; and 25 days paid time off.

Deadline

Applications will be reviewed immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter with your resume and salary requirements by email to hr@drugpolicy.org.  Reference (National Organizing and Field Director) in the subject line – or by mail to:

Lina Mingoia
Human Resources Manager
Re: (National Organizing and Field Director)
Drug Policy Alliance
70 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018

All inquiries or referrals will be held in strict confidence.

Drug Policy Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women, people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in hiring those who have been adversely affected by the war on drugs.