Program Associate, Vera Louisiana

About the role:
The Program Associate will support local and state advocacy campaigns to build thriving communities and reduce incarceration, manage and execute a suite of programmatic tasks, and liaise between internal communications, local media, and our coalition-focused work. The Program Associate is expected to attend community meetings and maintain strong partnerships with local leaders. They will draft program materials, contribute to effective communications strategies, manage coalitions and collaborations with community partners, and advocate to elected and government officials in public meetings. Ideally, the Program Associate has experience with and a basic understanding of the criminal legal and/or immigration systems in Louisiana.
The Program Associate will work on Vera Louisiana priorities like the Big Easy Budget Coalition and Liberty and Dignity Coalition. They will also work closely with the Communications team on relevant workstreams.
1. Program & Coalition Support
Strengthen existing partnerships with local organizations, including those led by system-impacted people to assist coalition leadership in executing local and state campaigns for policy change
Foster relationships with external partners, including being the primary contact, developing agendas for coalition meetings, facilitating meetings, providing or designating notetaking, etc.
Draft memos, fact sheets, presentations, public comment/testimony and reports that focus on issues related to criminal legal system reform, decarceration, prosecution reform and investments in violence/crime prevention initiatives
Facilitate and manage working groups within our coalition-based work
Connect external partners to our resources and internal experts to support key campaigns
Speak at conferences regarding Institute and initiative work and related areas
2. Project Management
Drive several projects at once and be able to shift priorities, while maintaining timelines and meeting deadlines
Coordinate with Vera’s Communications, People, Place and Culture, Research, and VeraTech departments, and/or any other internal Vera teams to push projects forward
Assist in the review, editing, and development of other program materials, as necessary
Develop and update internal task management trackers and calendars
Take notes and track action items in internal and external meetings, helping to manage workflow and priorities
3. Communications and Outreach
Co-develop and co-execute communications and outreach strategy that connects our work with the public
Help draft talking points, op-eds or other communications materials from Vera Louisiana’s work and share them internally and with external partners as needed
Co-develop and draft quarterly newsletters to our email list highlighting our work
Support social media outreach strategies and uplift our traditional media presence
Submit any inquiries or future projects to the Communications team internal tracker
What qualifications are we looking for?
Required:
Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of relevant experience. In lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered
Demonstrated experience with the criminal legal system, public safety policies and practices and public health policies and practices
Preferred:
Policy and advocacy experience in advancing racial justice, building coalitions, allies, and state strategy
Deep understanding of the New Orleans and/or Louisiana political ecosystem
Experience with advocacy campaigns at multiple levels of government
Experience working in coalitions or organizing
Experience public speaking or facilitating meetings
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:
Excellent organizational skills
Flexibility and ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities in a fast-paced environment
Excellent writing and communication skills
Legislative and budget drafting, research, or tracking
Technical knowledge helpful for this role:
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; Zoom; Slack; Asana or other cloud-based project management program
Driver’s License
Location:
Please note this role will report to our New Orleans, LA office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.
Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation range for this position is $77,000 - $80,000.