Reproductive Freedom
Program Coordinator
Part-Time

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The ACLU of Arizona is seeking a part-time community organizer and strategist to coordinate our statewide campaign advocating for comprehensive sexuality education and seeking to end the use of publicly-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. These abstinence-only-until-marriage programs restrict students’ access to information, discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender, and, in some cases, use taxpayer funds to promote religion.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Reproductive Freedom Program Coordinator also is responsible for spearheading the statewide Coalition for Healthy Arizona Teens, whose members are pressing for change to current sex education policies by working with government officials, activists, and the media. The Reproductive Freedom Program Coordinator will have a demonstrated ability to weigh various political variables and opportunities to help determine success of an organizing campaign around sex education in Arizona.

The ACLU of Arizona is working toward a goal of ensuring that every young person in the state receives complete, medically-accurate, age-appropriate, and unbiased sex education that includes the value of sexual abstinence, as well as instruction regarding the effectiveness of all forms of contraception and how to protect oneself from unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS.

With an annual combined budget of approximately $520,000, the ACLU of Arizona and its Foundation operate jointly as private, non-profit organizations devoted to protecting civil rights and civil liberties. We conduct educational and legislative advocacy, as well as litigation, in defense of reproductive freedom.

The ACLU of Arizona is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. Its staff of seven employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly office located near downtown Phoenix. Founded in 1959, the ACLU of Arizona has nearly 8000 members and 4 volunteer-run chapters in Phoenix and Tucson.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Managing, researching, writing, editing and coordinating projects for abstinence-plus campaign or other identified by the Executive Director including, but not limited to, preparing policy pieces, fact sheets, public education materials and internal materials for coalition members;
• Facilitating, staffing and supporting a statewide coalition by providing administrative assistance and backup for the various organizations joining the campaign;
• Working to expand the coalition to include health, education and medical groups.
• Organizing meetings with high-ranking state officials to advocate for policy change.
• Conducting in-depth and policy research and analysis.
• Coordinating closely with coalition and Executive Director regarding coalition matters;
• Composing and writing materials to be sent out on behalf of the coalition;
• Undertaking special projects related to reproductive freedom as required by the Executive Director.
• When necessary, assisting the Executive Director with administrative back-up, including coordinating and scheduling meetings, travel arrangements, appointments, correspondence and telephone inquiries.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience working with broad-based coalitions.
• Commitment to the goals of the ACLU.
• Intimate knowledge of current civil liberties issues, including reproductive rights.
• Ability to manage several complex writing projects simultaneously, often under strict deadline pressure.
• Ability to put in flexible hours and work evenings and occasional weekends in order to meet goals, communicate and build relationships with parents, students and community leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings, including appropriate scheduling of meetings, plan and follow a successful meeting agenda, facilitate group discussions and decisions, and follow-up with meeting attendees.
• Outstanding writing skills, including ability to communicate complex civil liberties issues clearly and concisely, and ability to adapt writing style as appropriate.
• Computer proficiency, including knowledge and use of Word, Excel, e-mail and Internet-based research.

The organizer will submit quarterly reports summarizing her/his work on this project.

The successful candidate will be able to follow a plan, adjust the plan as needed to ensure success, take direction from her/his supervisor (the Executive Director), and coordinate efforts with the staff of the ACLU National office in New York.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Compensation is commensurate with experience within parameters of Arizona non-profit environment. There are no benefits unless the regular working hours increase beyond twenty hours per week.

TO APPLY:
Please send letter of interest, resume, a short writing sample, and contact information for three references to:

Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director
ACLU Foundation of Arizona
P.O. Box 17148
Phoenix, AZ 85011-0148

Applications may also be submitted by fax to 602-650-1376 or by email to ameetze@acluaz.org

Such inquiries should include “Reproductive Freedom Program Coordinator Applicant” in the reference field and all attachments should be in .pdf or Microsoft Word.

Applications accepted until position is filled. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job listing.

The ACLU of Arizona comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the ACLU Foundation of Arizona. Both the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the ACLU Foundation of Arizona have the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties.

The ACLU of Arizona is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and lesbians and gays to apply.