Associate State Director, Community Engagement

OATS; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Pension plan

Paid time off

Job summary

AARP is seeking an Associate State Director, Community Engagement to lead state and local outreach efforts, build strategic partnerships, and advance the organization's social mission. You will work with internal teams to implement engagement initiatives, mobilize volunteers, and represent AARP in diverse communities.

The role requires navigating multi-state programs, traveling up to 50% locally and potentially regionally, and maintaining a nonpartisan stance while driving community impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 5+ years in community engagement, lobbying, or related fields.
• Experience creating and executing campaigns to advance advocacy goals.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and manage volunteers and partners.

Responsibilities

• Advise cross-functional teams on state and community strategy implementations.
• Assess and adjust strategies to meet local goals nationwide.
• Establish a local presence by engaging communities and developing partnerships.
• Coordinate volunteers and align interests with organizational priorities.
• Ensure clear communication across a matrix organization.
• Develop and implement outreach and engagement strategies across statewide and local levels.

Skills

Community organizing

Coalition building

Lobbying

Relationship building

Grassroots techniques

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

AARP’s Community, State and National Affairs (CSN) Group includes Government Relations, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, Community Outreach and Advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. It delivers on AARP’s social mission by educating and engaging people 50-plus and their families, strengthening communities, and championing issues that help give people financial and health security.

The Associate State Director, Community Engagement, establishes strategic community partnerships and leverages internal and external resources to achieve the organization’s community engagement goals at the state and local levels. Researches target audiences and designs engagement opportunities that align with strategic objectives. Ensures integration of engagement strategies across geographies and issue areas. Collaborates with management to identify opportunities to streamline processes and to develop new procedures that support the business unit/department.

Responsibilities

• Provides advice and counsel to cross-functional teams in the implementation of the organization's state and community strategy initiatives including local advocacy, member/public engagement, volunteer management, and communications priorities.
• Evaluates and adjusts strategy implementation to achieve the organization's local goals nationwide. Assesses state and regional needs and develops and implements training programs as needed.
• Works with staff, volunteers, members, and other cross-organization teams to achieve the organization’s community engagement goals at the state and local levels. Establishes a presence for the organization in targeted communities by engaging multicultural audiences, developing community partnerships, building volunteer capacity, and designing and executing engaging community programs and events.
• Resolves systemic issues across functions and ensures strong communication within a matrixed business environment.
• Develops and implements community engagement and communication strategies tailored to target audiences in statewide and local communities. Establishes strategic community partnerships and leverages internal and/or external resources to raise the visibility of the organization within communities.
• Recruits, trains, develops, and deploys volunteers in accordance with organizational goals. Aligns volunteers’ interests with organizational priorities. Supports volunteer needs and designs opportunities to maximize volunteer engagement. Ensures inclusion of volunteer perspectives in strategic planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 5 years of related experience, including community organizing, lobbying, coalition and relationship building, and using grassroots techniques to influence legislation.
• Experience with developing and executing campaign tactics to promote issues related to AARP’s social mission.
• Experience with recruiting, training, engaging, and managing volunteers.
• Ability to lead and manage multiple issues and/or projects at the same time, including developing both short- and long-term strategies and tactical plans to achieve success.
• Commitment to nonpartisanship.
• Ability to travel up to 50% local plus occasional state, national travel.
• Familiarity with local and state businesses, entertainment, and community service environments (e.g., community service leaders, non-profit organizations, critical city-wide community service needs, business leaders).

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.