Job Openings

MERI Executive Director

Summary

Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI) seeks a dedicated professional to help lead Rhode Island's effort to win marriage equality for same-sex couples. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair and other regular communication channels.

Under the direction of the Board, the Executive Director is responsible for overall management and operation of MERI and protection of the organization's financial assets while ensuring compliance with Board directives and applicable grantor, federal and state requirements.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Executive Director will perform the following duties and/or oversee their performance by other staff and/or volunteers:

Strategic Vision

  • Define and advance a variety of strategies and tactics to secure equal marriage rights. Work independently on projects to fulfill MERI's mission.
  • Advance MERI's legislative campaign, working with legislative sponsors. Become a registered lobbyist. Develop new and existing district organizing teams.
  • Develop a public education plan and act as a media liaison/spokesperson. Oversee website, blog, newsletter, and other communications such as press releases.
  • Foster new and maintain existing relationships with communities/organizations that will advance MERI's work. Oversee planning/management of public events/outreach.
  • Monitor the external environment for significant changes that will impact MERI's work and report this to the Board.
Financial/Fundraising
  • Prepare an annual budget and fundraising plan, including writing grants and reports, tracking grant deliverables, and ensuring grant compliance. Secure funding for existing and new programs and report measurable impact of each program.
  • Prepare and evaluate monthly financial statement with the Treasurer and ensure that cash flow is sustained. Assist an auditor in preparing an annual audit if necessary.
  • Assist with and help manage fundraising including events, soliciting individual donors and cultivating new resources.
Personnel
  • Hire/recruit, supervise, and evaluate MERI's staff, consultants, and volunteers. Terminate staff when necessary. Create a positive work environment where staff can develop.
  • Manage IT needs, benefits, insurance, and facilities.
Board Relations
  • Assist with developing, updating, and administering MERI policies and procedures.
  • Monitor and assist with Board development and performance monitoring.
  • Prepare monthly reports for the Board and alert the Board of any organizational issues.

How to Apply

Please send letter of interest, resume, and salary expectations to:

Marriage Equality RI Hiring Committee OR Info@MarriageEqualityRI.org
99 Bald Hill Road
Cranston, RI 02920

Deadline:
Complete applications must be received by 5 pm, September 15, 2008. No telephone or email inquiries, please.

Political Director

Description

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Political Director leads MassEquality's work to secure public policy wins in the State House and Executive Branch and electoral wins at the ballot box to ensure Massachusetts' continued leadership in promoting and advancing equality for all members of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community.

Legislative

  • The Political Director is responsible for developing an annual "Equality Agenda" to achieve equality for LGBT people in Massachusetts and securing tangible and measurable legislative and administrative victories to ensure its implementation.

    • This requires:

  • Working closely and collaboratively with MassEquality's issue-specific partners (organizations that work on LGBT youth; seniors; HIV/AIDS; domestic violence; transgender rights; and any new issues that MassEquality takes on).
  • Working closely with the MassEquality Field Director to develop a field strategy to best enable success.
  • Working collaboratively with the MassEquality Communications Director to develop a media and communications strategy to best position the organization to achieve success.
  • Building strong working relationships with elected officials, their staffs and other political figures and organizations.
  • Overseeing MassEquality's State House lobbyists.

Electoral

Assist pro-equality candidates for state legislature to win elections. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Facilitating MassEquality members' involvement in all aspects of campaigns of key candidates.
  • Maximizing effectiveness of our efforts by working closely with organizations who share an interest in electing pro-equality candidates.
  • Facilitating maximum financial contributions from MassEquality members to priority candidates.
  • Ensuring maximum voter registration and voter participation of MassEquality members.
  • Supporting MassEquality partners in participating in some or all of the above, based on their legal status.

Qualifications

Professional:

  • A mature professional with a minimum of 5 years experience in an advocacy or policymaking position, with proven and measurable accomplishments.
  • Solid understanding of, and track-record in, state-level electoral politics.
  • Knowledge of "players" in Massachusetts political and electoral communities strongly preferred.
  • Knowledge of LGBT policy issues strongly preferred.

Personal:

The ideal Political Director will have:

  • A relentless focus on achieving measurable victories through the legislative, administrative, and electoral processes.
  • A collaborative orientation and gracious personal manner.
  • The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work effectively under pressure.
  • Excellent motivational skills and good listening and communication skills.
  • A passion for LGBT equality and for politics/policy.

How to Apply

Please respond with a cover letter and resume to: by August 1. Qualified candidates will be interviewed upon receipt of materials.

 

Fall Intern

Description

Specific responsibilities include:

Organizing interns will advance MassEquality's grassroots lobbying campaign and electoral work. Each organizer, focusing on 2 - 3 geographic districts, will work with local volunteers and coalition partners to demonstrate support of equal marriage rights and produce legislative contacts. Organizers will also support MassEquality's electoral work, encouraging supporters to become involved in campaigns of pro-equality candidates.

Interns support the work of MassEquality affiliates in their area, including assistance recruiting volunteers, managing lists, organizing field activities, and responding to the needs of area activists. In addition, organizing interns will assist MassEquality's Field Staff as needed with research, database management, and other necessary tasks.

Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with MassEquality staff and to take on independent projects.

Qualifications

Candidates should be:

  • Have 2-3 years experience managing volunteers on a political or issue advocacy campaign,
  • Articulate, detail-oriented, diplomatic, organized, and computer-literate;
  • Able to work independently and manage a number of simultaneous projects;
  • Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and the internet; and
  • Willing to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

Top-notch "people skills," including excellent oral and written communication skills, are a must. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

How to Apply

Please apply in writing, with a cover letter and résumé. You may submit your application by mail, facsimile or e-mail.

Mail

Amy Mello
MassEquality
11 Beacon St, Suite 1125
Boston, MA 02108

Facsimile

(617) 878-2333

E-mail

AmyMello@MassEquality.org

About MassEquality

MassEquality.org works to protect, promote and defend equal marriage and to advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

MassEquality's 2008 Equality Agenda includes legislation supporting transgender equality, respect for LGBT seniors, supporting LGBT youth programs and programs that reduce domestic violence in the LGBT community.

The MassEquality family of organizations includes the advocacy organization MassEquality.org, the educational charity MassEquality Education Fund, and the Massachusetts political action committee MassEquality PAC.

MassEquality's offices are centrally located in downtown Boston. MassEquality is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates.