Position: Program Manager

Salary: $65,000 – $78,000 annually

Type: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

Reports to: Program Director

Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing date of this position: Open until filled

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.

Position Overview:

Equality California Institute’s OUT Against Big Tobacco program in Los Angeles is designed to educate the community about tobacco-related health disparities and to adopt policies that reduce tobacco-related health disparities within the LGBTQ+ population in Los Angeles County. Equality California and Equality California Institute seek a full-time Program Manager to lead implementation of Equality California Institute’s tobacco program targeted in Los Angeles County, build key relationships with LGBTQ+ and allied organizations, develop grassroots leadership among members and supporters, and execute grant objectives.

The Program Manager will assist with other current Equality California/Institute 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. Equality California/Institute’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. This position will be based at our Los Angeles headquarters and will be supervised by the Program Director.

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as an Equality California/Institute Program Manager by primarily leading Equality California Institute’s Los Angeles-based Tobacco Control program and assisting with other programs as needed. This work includes:
   1. Leading a coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals focused on reducing tobacco-related health disparities in the LGBTQ+ community in Los Angeles County.
   2. Implementing objectives from grant funded programs throughout Los Angeles County.
   3. Implementing state-wide objectives from grant funded programs.
   4. Developing key relationships with representatives of LGBTQ+ organizations, LGBTQ-friendly organizations, LGBTQ+ student groups, labor organizations, immigration, and healthcare organizations.
   5. Representing Equality California/Institute at regional and state convenings, organizing town halls/forums/press events, drafting communications (pamphlets, emails, social media, etc.) related to tobacco control, conducting informational visits with local electeds.
   6. Educating students, teachers, organizations, policymakers, and the public through presentations and workshops focused on tobacco-related health disparities, tobacco control policies, and smoke-free LGBTQ+ spaces.
   7. Managing all aspects of the grant including budget, reports, invoices, and tracking grant metrics and objectives.
   8. Developing strategies for meeting all grant objectives.
   9. Manage state-mandated grant reporting and program evaluation processes.
   10. Manage and delegate tasks and responsibilities to the Program Associate on Los Angeles County tobacco project, in line with successful implementation of the program.
   11. Providing program support across all Equality California’s program and issue priorities.
2. Support all of Equality California’s program work including:
   1. Program implementation including presentations, public speaking, leading 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 blogs.
   2. Coalition and partner management. Including partner communication materials and emails, updating partners and grantees, collecting documents, assembling check requests for grantees, and writing op-eds and memos.
   3. Support program managers across all Equality California/Institute
   4. Leading meetings and conference calls when assigned. This includes working with all program managers and associates to execute program priorities across the organization.
3. Support Equality California’s Pride Parade and Festival outreach and education programming statewide:
   1. Accurately communicate Equality California’s programs to festival attendees.
   2. Execute specific actions and goals related to all Equality California’s programs and legislative priorities.
   3. Volunteer recruitment.
   4. Tracking education materials and meeting event benchmarks.
   5. Availability to work nights and weekends, and willingness to travel across the state.
4. Support Equality California’s advocacy, legislative, and electoral work:
   1. Phone/text bank in support of Equality California endorsed candidates.
   2. Canvassing and talking to voters will be required.
   3. Volunteer recruitment to execute canvasses.
   4. Experience with PDI and VAN helpful.
5. Support other work of the organization on an as-needed basis at the discretion of the Program Director, Managing Director, and Executive Director:
   1. All program managers are expected and required to work across all programs.
   2. Program managers might be assigned and tasked with short and long-term additional programs.
   3. Program managers might be assigned a different program completely based on the needs of the organization.
6. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

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

• At least 3 – 6 years program management 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, public policy, public health, or tobacco control. One year or more of people management experience is required.
• Strong ties to the Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ organization network.
• Experience working within the confines of government funded grants, detail-oriented and thorough work style, preferably with experience managing government-funded grant programs.
• Proven track record for budget management. Strong attention to detail, advanced excel experience, and understanding of basic accounting.
• Experience working on (or a desire to work on) health issues, including smoking cessation and tobacco control issues.
• Knowledge, passion and commitment to addressing issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community as well as advancing equality and social justice generally.
• Particular experience and understanding working with transgender, gender expansive, and intersex (TGI) communities and organizations is a plus.
• Particular experience and understanding working with LGBTQ+ POC communities and organizations is a plus.
• Strong public presentation skills, and experience in public speaking and/or training.
• 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 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 Equality California/Institute mission.

Salary will be based on experience and includes competitive benefits (healthcare, dental, vision, long/short term disability, life insurance and 401K. This position will be based in our Los Angeles office and will require a flexible schedule including evening and weekend work time, as well as regular travel across California. This will also include participation in Equality California’s schedule of events, including Pride festivals, advocacy events, and more. Employees are reimbursed for mileage and must have a reliable car and be able to drive in California. Staff based in the Los Angeles office have the option to work from home two days per week.

All employees must be up to date on their vaccination status in compliance with Equality California’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.  New employees must provide documentation as to their vaccination status 48 hours before their start date unless they are approved for an accommodation due to a medical reason or a sincerely held religious belief.

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.

Qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of the California Consumer Reporting Agencies Act and Los Angeles’s Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

To apply:

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