Michigan State Director

We strongly encourage people of color, transgender and non-binary people to apply. HRC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone, including non-LGBTQ+ people, to join our team. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people from marginalized communities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At HRC, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Position Summary:
HRC, in collaboration with our state equality partners, works to defend and advance pro-LGBTQ policies at all levels of government, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-equality champions to office. The State Director will lead organizing efforts of our membership ahead of federal and state elections. This position will manage statewide recruitment, training, and overall cultivation of HRC’s volunteer leaders, then build out volunteer teams in key communities across the state for issue and electoral advocacy actions, and grassroots lobbying activities.

Volunteer Team Building: HRC relies on a powerful grassroots network of volunteer leaders taking regular action to resist attempts to rollback progress for the LGBTQ community while working at the local level to advance LGBTQ equality wherever possible. The State Director works with volunteer teams to establish best practices for group-led actions and to recruit and train an active volunteer base statewide.

Issue & Electoral Advocacy: Our program focus is on building support for pro-active LGBTQ+ legislation and policy at the federal. At the state and local level, we work to train activists on tactics and strategies for advancing legal and lived equality in all areas of life. At the direction of HQ staff, the State Director will also develop and execute a plan for elevating LGBTQ equality in elections, which may include voter registration and traditional volunteer voter contact efforts.

Position Responsibilities:

• Oversee the design and implementation of advocacy training programs for volunteers and supporters in the state.
• Develop and implement strategic plans in collaboration with in-state partner organizations and HRC staff, ensuring the integration of these plans into HRC’s strategic legislative, electoral, membership, communication and education goals.
• Ensure that the diverse population of the state is reflected in planning strategies and implementation.
• Create and implement short-, mid- and long-term strategic action plans and activities needed to support the strategic framework.
• Monitor and adjust all activities to ensure progress toward strategic goals.

• Direct efforts in the state to reach out to selected constituencies, including people of color, transgender communities, religious communities, business leaders, youth, and others.
• Develop strategic partnerships with other organizations and groups to support HRC’s outreach and visibility.
• Lead HRC’s efforts to partner effectively with state and local LGBTQ and allied organizations in the state to collaborate and develop efforts to advance the goals of the LGBTQ movement.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with organizational leaders in healthcare, social, racial and economic justice, K-12 education, higher education, business, youth-serving agencies, and HIV/AIDS.
• Manage full-time field staff in state, and work with HRC staff to determine how best to meet HRC’s strategic legislative, electoral, membership, communication, and education goals for the state.

• Mentor, train and support volunteer leaders so that they can best support their teams of HRC member volunteers; regularly assesses development needs of volunteer leadership, meeting goals, reporting on progress, and testing what organizing models work for member and supporter volunteers.
• Ensure teams are successfully collaborating with and mobilizing important constituent groups, both traditional and non-traditional.
• Work with leaders to create a plan to recruit and engage new and existing volunteers, members, and supporters to engage in grassroots activities as needed to support HRC’s legislative strategies and priorities.
• Ensure that all volunteer outreach and engagement is meticulously tracked in VAN and reports are submitted daily.
• Share HRC’s commitment to inclusion and the intersectionality of our movement by integrating campaign and outreach efforts to defend and advance shared advocacy priorities like women’s reproductive rights, immigrant rights, and other civil rights causes.

• Oversee logistics and recruitment for volunteer team-driven “organizing moments” and visibility opportunities like rallies, marches, sit-ins, etc.
• Serve as on-the-record spokesperson as needed.
• Supervise employees, including when applicable, recruiting, interviewing, hiring, conducting performance reviews, coaching, motivating and instructing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience preferred, not required.
• Five or more years in community, issue, labor, or electoral organizing (equivalent to 4 plus cycles that are more than 6 months) strongly preferred.
• Four to five years’ experience managing staff and teams representing a rich mix of experience, backgrounds, and perspectives; ?experience managing remote staff preferred
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a metrics-driven issue or electoral campaign effort.
• Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced work environment.
• Experience working successfully with coalition partners on issue advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience with VAN and a familiarity with other standard organizing and advocacy tools and social media required.
• Must have strong speaking and writing skills, and strong verbal communication skills.
• Strong skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word and Excel), Google Apps (Gmail, Google Docs and Drive).

• Flexibility with work schedule; this position does require work hours that vary from standard office hours and may include evenings and weekends.
• Must be located in state and able to travel extensively in that state.
• Must have valid driver’s license.
• Must have reliable vehicle available because this position requires extensive travel.
• Strong interest in the rapidly changing LGBTQ equality movement and a working knowledge of LGBTQ issues. A demonstrated commitment to advancing HRC’s goals and objectives.

All positions at the Human Rights Campaign may require travel on a regular basis or periodically. ?Where the need arises for business travel, appropriate compensation as outlined by the Fair Labor Standards Act will apply.