Associate State Director - Outreach and Advocacy

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 Dallas/Ft. Worth area, 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, lets have a conversation.

This position is based in Metro Dallas and serves the Dallas/Fort Worth metro and North Texas region.

Responsibilities

• Identifies issues of public policy and organizational importance, and develops and implements advocacy strategies at the local, state, and federal levels, collaborating with cross-functional teams, as well as internal and external partners to achieve the organization’s legislative goals.
• Collaborates with internal/external partners on advocacy campaign communication strategy development. Utilizes direct action organizing tactics and implements grassroots advocacy tools to build constituent support for the organization’s legislative priorities.
• 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.
• Represents the organization and its interests to federal, state, local government agencies and media outlets. Builds and maintains relationships with governmental representatives, with the goal of advancing and promoting the organization's goals.
• Develops and manages relationships with elected officials at all levels.Establishes strategic community partnerships and leverages internal/external resources to raise the visibility of the organization within communities.
• Develops and communicates persuasive narratives aligned with the organization’s priorities to diverse audiences. Confidently represents the organization in public facing settings to the media, the public, and members.Serves as a subject-matter-expert on the state office’s advocacy issues, utilizing data and input from diverse stakeholders. Produces written reports and/or convenes public meetings to disseminate findings, share best practices, and advance solutions through relevant communication channels.
• 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 Dallas and serves the Dallas/Fort Worth metro and North Texas region. Requires up to 50% 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.

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
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds
• Home office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate home environment noise

Hybrid Work EnvironmentAARP 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 BenefitsAARP 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 OpportunityAARP 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.