Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist jobs in Las Cruces, NM

THE OPPORTUNITY 

The Reproductive Rights Community Engagement Specialist (RRCES) protects and advances access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion care in New Mexico. This role helps to develop and implement strategies for community and membership engagement and advocacy. They also coordinate with the administrators of activist systems and digital tools, work on other ACLU-NM strategic priorities, and on general member engagement. The RRCES collaborates closely with the organization’s Policy, Communications, Legal and Development departments, as well as coalition partners.  

The Community Engagement Specialist is committed to advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice. They have a proven ability to take initiative, learn quickly, think strategically, communicate clearly and persuasively, and work collaboratively in partnership with diverse groups. They are able and willing to travel throughout the state of New Mexico. 

This is an exempt full-time role based in Las Cruces, New Mexico and reporting to the Reproductive Rights Policy Advocate. 

WHO WE ARE 

Our mission is to protect and advance justice, liberty, and equity as guaranteed by the constitutions of New Mexico and the United States. We are committed to ending racism and other inequities. This includes how we work with each other and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit our website at www.aclu-nm.org  

Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are core values of the ACLU and central to our work. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible.  

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

Community Engagement  

• Strategically recruit, train, and cultivate activists throughout New Mexico to take action to expand reproductive rights, healthcare and justice and to strengthen the overall base of the organization.  
• Build, strengthen, and maintain working relationships with key coalition partners and other allies through community building events and activities 
• Plan and execute events, including activist trainings, volunteer appreciation events, listening sessions, social events, panel discussions, candidate forums and other community events. Includes activist trainings and engagement focusing on policy advocacy, messaging, and mobilization to advance reproductive health care in rural counties, particularly in southern New Mexico. 
• Recruit attendees for, assist in the development of, and co-lead  reproductive health, rights, and justice courses for activists in collaboration with internal staff and external stakeholders. 
• Work collaboratively to recruit and engage a small, core group of activists who will help develop communications and organizing strategies through a multi-issue lens.
• Represent the ACLU of New Mexico in coalitions and community groups, including speaking at community events.
• Ensure that principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) inform all community engagement practices and processes. 

Policy and Advocacy  

• Provide support to advocacy strategies through: scheduling, coordinating, and facilitating meetings and events, and research and support for development of advocacy tools & materials.
• Work with ACLU-NM staff and activist leaders doing criminal-legal reform and immigrant rights work to identify individuals with an interest in exploring the nexus between these other strategic priorities for our organization and reproductive health, rights, and justice.
• Strategically engage activists in support of legislative priorities, includes hosting legislative advocacy trainings with key constituents, supporting participation in state and local policy-making spaces, non-partisan voter education, and legislative debriefs. 

Systems management  

• Utilize and coordinate with other users of the activist databases  
• To include: data entry and updates for the Community Engagement Specialist’s projects, creating activist lists (phone bank lists, canvass lists, outreach targets), utilizing database information and lists to send communications to activists.  
• Utilize communication tools (i.e. VAN, Constant Contact, ThruText) to promote events and communicate organizational messages.  
• Coordinate and be the point of contact with the administrators of activist databases and communication tools (i.e. VAN, Constant Contact, ThruText).   
• Other duties, special projects, and tasks as assigned. 

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU. Passionate commitment to and familiarity with reproductive rights, health, and justice a plus. 
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural and social humility. A commitment to diversity and a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance. 
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to navigate and resolve conflict in a manner that values and respects relationships with colleagues inside and outside the ACLU of New Mexico. 
• Solid organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Strong systems management skills and experience working with database systems, data entry, communication tools (i.e. VAN, Constant Contact, ThruText).
• A self-starter and finisher with a demonstrated ability to manage projects and follow-through with minimal direct supervision.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Emotionally mature, with a sense of humor and the ability to maintain balance and perspective.
• A flexible team player who works collaboratively, shares responsibilities, and supports and acknowledges colleagues’ contributions.
• Willingness to work occasional overtime or irregular hours, including some weekends.
• A car, ability and willingness to travel within the state, and a current driver’s license. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Strong preference given to candidates who have previously or currently live in southern New Mexico
• Fluent in Spanish and/or other languages spoken through New Mexico 

No one person will have all the qualities enumerated above. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested and feel you could be successful in this role. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: 

Annual salary is $43,000-54,000, depending on experience. We offer excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, and generous sick and vacation time, family and medical leave policies. 

HOW TO APPLY: 

All applications are treated confidentially. Please send cover letter no longer than one page and resume by email to HR@aclu-nm.org. Please include “Reproductive Rights CES” in the subject line and all attachments should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Your letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work. Please indicate where you learned of this job posting. No phone calls, please. Note: we will not accept resumes that do not include a cover letter. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be evaluating applications on a rolling basis beginning on September 24, 2023. 

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of New Mexico reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice 

COVID:  

The Reproductive Rights Community Engagement Specialist, like most ACLU-NM staff, will work partially in-office and partially from home. 

For the safety of our staff, their families, and the communities that we work with, ACLU-NM requires that staff be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC.  

ACLU of New Mexico is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and promote an inclusive culture. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups. 

 “ACLU of New Mexico” refers collectively to two separate corporate entities, ACLU of New Mexico and ACLU of New Mexico Foundation. The two entities share the same mission, office space, and employees. 

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