Associate State Director - Outreach & Advocacy

OATS; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Pension plan

Health, dental & vision

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

AARP is seeking an Associate State Director for Advocacy and Community Engagement to lead outreach and grassroots efforts in the Austin area and Central Texas. You will recruit and empower volunteers, build coalitions with community leaders, academic institutions, and policymakers, and lead issue campaigns that advance older adults’ health and financial security.

You’ll manage projects across local and state levels, partner with internal teams and external organizations, and represent AARP to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years in advocacy, community engagement, and mobilization.
• Ability to build coalitions and relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated nonpartisan strategy development and execution.
• Strong project management across multiple initiatives and partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for varied audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provides advice to cross-functional teams on state and community strategy initiatives.
• Adjusts strategy implementation to meet local goals and to train staff as needed.
• Collaborates with staff, volunteers, members, and partners to reach state/local goals.
• Establishes a presence in communities by engaging multicultural audiences and partners.
• Develops community engagement and communication strategies; builds partnerships.
• Recruits, trains, and deploys volunteers aligned with organizational priorities.

Skills

Advocacy

Community engagement

Grassroots organizing

Coalition building

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Project management

Communication

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.

As the Associate State Director for Advocacy and Community Engagement for AARP, you will help us bring our mission to life in the Austin Texas and the surrounding region. In this role, you will be at the forefront of our community engagement efforts and local advocacy efforts. Imagine yourself leading community activities and engagement, leading grassroots outreach and mobilization, coalition and relationship building with community leaders, academic institutions, businesses, policymakers, and volunteers, all while championing initiatives that address critical issues impacting older adults. You’ll serve as the voice for our AARP in the region, representing our interests to elected officials, government agencies, and partner organizations. In addition, you’ll become a community builder. You’ll lead the implementation of projects and issue campaigns focused on the surrounding areas within the Capital and Northwest regions ensuring they resonate with the unique needs of the community. You’ll recruit, train, and empower volunteer teams, fostering a sense of purpose and collaboration to achieve ambitious goals. By establishing strategic partnerships and leveraging resources, you’ll amplify our impact and help create a stronger, more connected community.

If you’re someone who thrives on building connections, leading impactful initiatives, and making a tangible difference, let’s have a conversation.

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 5 or more years of related experience, including advocacy, community engagement, grassroots organizing and mobilization, coalition and relationship building.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute nonpartisan strategies, including the ability to develop and execute strategies that address issues related to AARP’s social mission.
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects and issues, including developing both short- and long-term strategies and tactical plans to achieve success in both advocacy and grassroots organizing.
• Solid interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a highly matrixed work environment with many key stakeholders and the ability to develop strategic relationships with external partners. Demonstrated ability to lead advocacy initiatives and cultivate strategic relationships with local leaders, community organizations, and stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.
• Position is based in Austin and serves the Austin metro and Central Texas region. Requires up to 30% local and in-state travel, reliable transportation, and flexibility for evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Experience developing and implementing advocacy campaigns that advance community or public policy priorities through grassroots engagement and coalition building.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with elected officials, government agencies, community coalitions, and volunteer activists, including recruiting, training, engaging, and mobilizing volunteers to support advocacy and community engagement efforts.

Preferred:

• Bilingual Skills

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

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
• Home office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate home environment noise

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.