The Drug Policy Alliance has an immediate opening for State Director, New Mexico reporting to the Managing Director for Public Policy in DPA’s New York Office. 

Ten years ago, DPA opened an office in New Mexico, which has had a history of major legislative, and regulatory successes, including legal access to medical marijuana, overdose prevention and harm reduction measures, and a statewide drug education project. Current areas of focus include the implementation of medical marijuana legislation, alternatives to incarceration legislation, youth drug education, and marijuana policy.

The Position

The State Director, New Mexico reports to the Managing Director for Public Policy in DPA’s New York headquarters office and serves as DPA’s primary strategist in the Southwest. Based in Santa Fe, the New Mexico State Director manages the work of 3 employees. In addition, the New Mexico State Director works closely with allies on the ground in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest, and oversees the work of the agency’s Santa Fe-based lobbyists.

Primary Responsibilities

The New Mexico State Director oversees DPA’s legislative agenda, and works with allies in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest to advance DPA’s vision and agenda.
Primary responsibilities include:

• Developing and articulating a vision for New Mexico and the region that is consistent with the organization’s overall mission, philosophy, and strategic approach;
• Seeking out and identifying opportunities to promote DPA’s core priorities in New Mexico and the Southwest; implement strategies to achieve DPA’s goals and objectives throughout the state and region, particularly among Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities;
• Seeking out and identifying opportunities to “push the envelope” in discussions of drug policy in New Mexico and the Southwest;
• Creating and maintaining solid relationships with diverse partners, including state agencies, community-based organizations, elected officials, and local DPA members;
• Supervising DPA’s legislative, advocacy and program efforts in New Mexico, both statewide and in local jurisdictions;
• Contributing to DPA fundraising activities, both locally and nationally; enhancing DPA’s fundraising capacity in the Southwest;
• Serving as DPA spokesperson in the media and at community events, conferences, and other forums;
• Supervising and mentoring professional staff, student interns, and volunteers. 
• Contributing to DPA management, oversight, quality control and internal communications.

Professional Qualifications

Specific qualifications include: 

• Experience building and leading coalitions in pursuit of an activist agenda with measurable results;
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including 5-7 years progressively senior experience in public policy, legislative and/or governmental affairs, political campaigns or ballot initiatives; criminal justice and/or public health experience preferred.
• Enthusiasm and motivation to lead on cutting-edge issues;
• Entrepreneurial outlook
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse partners, including community-based organizations and community members/constituents.
• Familiarity with drug policy desirable; commitment to harm reduction philosophy essential.
• Familiarity with issues and concerns of Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities highly desirable;
• Understanding of New Mexico and/or Southwest politics a plus.
• Demonstrated fundraising success, including cultivation and solicitation of major donors, foundations, and government funders. 
• Strong analytic ability and superior communication skills, including writing and public speaking.
• Advanced degree in public policy/administration, public health, law or related field preferred but not required.
• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel periodically throughout the state, region, and nationally. 
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Personal Characteristics 

The ideal candidate will be a creative, entrepreneurial, self-motivated and collegial advocate who thinks conceptually and strategically.  This is an organization that encourages initiative, and the successful candidate must be a self-starter and a risk taker, with a high degree of confidence and energy.
Excellent interpersonal skills and a passion for social justice that includes a
fair and equitable drug policies are essential for success.

About The Drug Policy Alliance

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization of people who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good.  In its vision of the future, individuals will not be punished simply for what they put into their bodies, only for harm done to others.  DPA fights for drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights and seeks to promote dialogue on cutting-edge drug policy issues around the country. Its work spans issues from ending marijuana prohibition and promoting more honest and effective drug education to reducing the many harms of drug use and drug laws.  DPA works to ensure that our nation’s drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise and otherwise harm millions of nonviolent people, especially people of color.

DPA formed in 2000 when The Lindesmith Center, an activist drug policy think-tank established by Ethan Nadelmann in 1994, merged with the Drug Policy Foundation, a membership and grantmaking organization established in 1987.  The objective of the merger was to create a powerful organization to promote drug policy reform in mainstream public and political discourse.  Today, DPA has seven offices, 42 staff, an annual operating budget of $9 million, 26,000 dues-paying members, over 100,000 online subscribers, and a growing track record of success at the local, state, and federal levels. 

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, teens and drugs
• Race and the drug war
• Drug treatment
• Civil liberties and rights
• International drug control
• Alternatives to prohibition and pragmatic steps for ending the drug war

Compensation

This position offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, as well as an excellent 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 (State Director, New Mexico) in the subject line – or by mail to:

Human Resources Manager
RE: (State Director, New Mexico)
Drug Policy Alliance
70 West 36th Street, 16th Floor
New York, New York 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.