Program Associate (Temporary) – COVID-19

Organizational Background:

Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer+ (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization with over 900,000 members. Equality California brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. For more than 20 years, Equality California has been fighting for full, lived LGBTQ+ equality in a number of ways: electing pro-equality leaders up and down the ballot; passing pro-equality legislation in California, Nevada and Washington, DC; and fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice in the courtroom.

Equality California Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization that has a parallel mission to Equality California, its 501(c)(4) counterpart. Equality California Institute works to achieve full, lived LGBTQ+ equality by reducing disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being, developing a pipeline of LGBTQ+ leaders and increasing civic participation within the LGBTQ+ community.

Silver State Equality is Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, affiliated with and supported by Equality California.

Equality California’s affiliated political action committees work to elect pro-equality candidates running for federal, state and local elected office who have a proven track record of supporting civil rights and social justice for LGBTQ+ people and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Position Overview:

In 2021, EQCA/I launched a LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Outreach and Education program to disseminate COVID-19 information to the full spectrum of California’s LGBTQ+ population – with special attention to Spanish speakers, transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people, and LGBTQ+ people in communities of color – to increase individual knowledge about how to prevent spread and adopt harm reduction practices and behaviors. Equality California and Equality California Institute seek two (2) full-time, temporary Program Associates to help support EQCA/I’s COVID-19 statewide outreach and education program, build partnerships with LGBTQ+ and allied organizations, support the EQCA/I COVID-19 Help Center, develop targeted social media content and virtual activities, assist with peer-to-peer texting to members and supporters, and execute grant objectives. Please note, these are temporary positions lasting 5-6 months.

The Program Associates will be hired as at-will employees in a full-time, temporary position reporting to the Associate Program Director. Start dates will be no earlier than February 1, 2021 and the end date will be no later than July 31, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Equality California/Equality California Institute staff are working remotely. If and when it is safe to do so (in compliance with state and local guidance), Temporary Program Associates may work at EQCA/I headquartered in Los Angeles.

Program Associates may need to assist with other current EQCA/I programs and issues, including expanding healthcare access, immigration, HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention, PrEP, transgender rights, safe and supportive schools, leadership development, passing pro-equality legislation and electing supportive candidates to office. EQCA/I’s expanded mission includes an intersectional approach to issues, as well as working with a wide range of institutions such as schools, businesses, unions, religious congregations, local governments, health clinics, and LGBTQ+ centers.

Salary Range: $4,000 Monthly

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as an EQCA/I’s Program Associate by primarily supporting the LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Outreach and Education program and assisting with other programs as needed. This work includes:

• Developing partnerships and supporting subgrants to LGBTQ+ and allied organizations, LGBTQ+ friendly religious congregations, LGBTQ+ student groups, labor organizations, immigration and healthcare organizations.
• Maintaining the EQCA/I COVID-19 Help Center (online resource database), which includes monitoring accuracy and researching new resources for Californians dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
• Organizing and managing virtual webinars, live panels, and educational trainings hosted by EQCA/I and subgrantee organizations.
• Creating educational social media content, op-eds, and blog posts with provided COVID-19 information.
• Assisting with peer-to-peer texting to EQCA/I members and supporters to disseminate COVID-19 information.
• Tracking grant metrics and objectives and developing strategies for meeting all grant objectives.
• Assist in state-mandated grant reporting processes.
• Providing program support across all EQCA/I’s program and issue priorities.
• Support Associate Program Director with goals and activities as needed and as asked.

2. Support all of EQCAI’s program work including:

• Program Implementation including presentations, public speaking, leading some partner conference calls and meetings, drafting meeting notes, preparing meeting materials and agendas, meeting logistics including ordering food and securing venues, scheduling meetings, making phone calls, attending outreach events, drafting social media, and writing articles.
• Subgrantee and Partner management. Including partner communication materials and emails, updating partners and grantees, collecting documents, assembling check requests for grantees, and writing memos.
• Support Associate Program Directors and Program Managers across all EQCA/I programs. This includes working with all program managers and associates to execute program priorities across the organization.

3. Support other work of the organization on an as-needed basis at the discretion of the Program Director, Deputy Director and Executive Director:

• All program associates are expected and required to work across all programs.
• Program associates might be assigned and tasked with short and long-term additional programs.
• Program associates might be assigned a different program completely based on the needs of the organization.

Qualifications:

Applicants for this position should bring the following knowledge, abilities, and attitude:

• At least 1 – 3 years of experience working in any of the following fields: advocacy, outreach, public education, and mobilization; as well as, working in social justice areas including: civil rights, progressive and/or social justice organizations, preferably in the LGBTQ+ movement or public health.
• Experience working within the confines of government funded grants, detail-oriented and thorough work style.
• Experience working on (or a desire to work on) health issues, including LGBTQ+ health and well-being.
• Knowledge, passion and commitment to addressing issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community as well as advancing equality and social justice generally.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred.
• Strong public presentation skills, and experience and/or training in public speaking.
• Strong written communication skills including ability to assist in writing grant proposals, draft member communications, social media outreach, and event publicity.
• Commitment to working across lines of difference including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age to achieve objectives.
• Ability and interest to work with a wide range of organizations and institutions including other LGBTQ+ groups, schools, unions, religious congregations, and other social justice and advocacy organizations. Demonstrated experience with at least some of these types of organizations preferred.
• Ability and experience in forming strong public relationships.
• Healthcare advocacy knowledge and expertise, and/or a background in public health policy preferred.
• Experienced campaign/community organizer preferred.
• A Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience is required; higher degree in public health or public policy preferred.
• Above all else, a positive attitude and willingness to work collaboratively and in support of the EQCA/I mission.

Salary will be based on experience. This full-time, temporary position will require a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work time.

Equality California is an equal employment opportunity employer. Equality California does not make employment decisions or discriminate based on protected characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression), sexual orientation, age, physical or mental handicaps, veteran status, or genetic information as prescribed by applicable local, state, and federal law. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply, including, but not limited to, women, people of color, people of diverse gender identities, and non-LGBTQ+ allies.

To apply:

Email resume (including names and contact of 3 references), cover letter and two writing samples to Robbie Rodriguez at jobs@eqca.org. Please be sure to put “Program Associate – COVID19” in the subject line of your email.