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Job Opportunities: Three Positions at Drug Policy Alliance

Submitted by David Borden on
Politics & Advocacy

The Washington, DC office of Drug Policy Alliance is hiring for three positions:

Deputy Director of National Affairs:

The Deputy Director of National Affairs works with the Director of National Affairs to promote drug policy reform in the nation's capitol, influence federal legislation and regulations, and change the national drug policy debate. Job responsibilities include tracking and analyzing federal legislation and executive branch polices; working with the Internet communications and membership departments to mobilize supporters to take action; developing fact sheets, position papers and other lobbying materials; managing the work of office interns; planning Congressional briefings and other events; and communicating the Alliance's positions to Congressional staffers and representatives of other organizations.

Qualifications include: At least 3 years experience in advocacy or public policy; Experience coordinating legislative campaigns (lobbying, media, grassroots mobilization, etc.); Working knowledge of the federal legislative process (hill experience, especially health, judiciary, or appropriations, a plus); Good research, writing and public speaking skills; Strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities include:

Legislative Tracking: Uses CQ, Thomas, and other services to track the status of drug-related federal legislation; Reads, summarizes, and analyzes legislation and executive policies and maintains legislative database; Monitors committee hearings and marks-ups; Maintains Congressional files; Evaluates and recommends various legislative services, such as bill tracking systems, activist tools, and fax broadcasting.

Research and Writing: Writes, develops and disseminates fact sheets, backgrounders, sign-on letters, policy reports, and other lobbying materials; Researches and writes on key policy issues; Speaks on drug policy reform issues at conferences.

Supervision of Interns: Manages internship program, including advertising the program, reading applications, interviewing applicants and hiring and managing interns.

Lobbying and Outreach: Educates Congressional staffers and others on legislation and executive policies; Represents Alliance at conferences, coalition meetings, and networking events, and builds relationships with other organizations; Plans Congressional briefings and other events; Organizes Alliance's coalition meetings, including maintaining invite lists and recruiting new members.

Grassroots: Works with Internet communications department and membership department to mobilize supporters to call/write/fax their representatives; Writes action alerts, web content, and fax texts for Action component of our website; Works with other groups to get them to send out action alerts and put up banner ads on their web sites regarding DPA campaigns.

DPA offers an excellent benefits package, including health, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance; a generous 403(b) plan; and four weeks paid vacation.

Position open until filled. Send cover letter describing interest, résumé, and writing sample (unedited by others) to: Bill Piper, Drug Policy Alliance, 925 15th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, fax: (202) 216-0803, e-mail: [email protected]. E-mail submissions are encouraged (please use "Deputy Director" in the subject field) -- no phone calls, please.

Legislative Assistant

The Legislative Assistant is responsible for tracking and analyzing federal legislation and executive branch policies pertaining to the war on drugs, developing lobbying materials, researching issues, planning events, assisting other staff and coordinating special projects.

Qualifications include: Some legislative or advocacy experience; Excellent research and writing skills; Strong attention to detail.

DPA offers an excellent benefits package, including health, dental, vision, long-term disability and life insurance; a generous 403(b) plan; and four weeks paid vacation.

Position open until filled. Send cover letter describing interest, résumé, and writing sample (unedited by others) to: Bill Piper, Drug Policy Alliance, 925 15th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, fax: (202) 216-0803, e-mail: [email protected]. E-mail submissions are encouraged (please use "Legislative Assistant" in the subject field) -- no phone calls, please.

Part-Time Office Manager/Receptionist

The office manager oversees the daily operations of the Alliance's Washington, DC office. Duties include, but are not limited to, answering the telephone, meeting and greeting visitors, tracking and ordering office supplies, processing mail, handling office maintenance issues, and assisting staff. Applicants should be organized, friendly, thoughtful, and have excellent phone skills. Commitment to drug policy reform preferred, but not essential.

The Office Manager position is part-time (25 hours a week) and pays $12 per hour with no benefits.

Position open until filled. Send cover letter describing interest, résumé, and writing sample (unedited by others) to: Bill Piper, Drug Policy Alliance, 925 15th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20005, fax: (202) 216-0803, e-mail: [email protected]. E-mail submissions are encouraged (please use "Office Manager" in the subject field) -- no phone calls, please.

The core mission of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation’s leading drug policy reform organization, is to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug abuse and the war on drugs, and to protect the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies. Among other things, the DPA works to end marijuana prohibition; repeal mandatory minimum sentencing; enact alternatives to incarceration for non-violent drug offenders; reduce drug addiction, drug overdoses and the spread of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis; and cut wasteful drug war spending. (For more information on the Drug Policy Alliance, visit http://www.drugpolicy.org.)

DPA is headquartered in New York City and maintains seven other offices in four states and the District of Columbia. DPA retains 46 staff, and is supported by 26,000 dues-paying members and 107,000 online members.

Drug Policy Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

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