Equality Virginia: Director of Advocacy

LOCATION

Remote

SALARY

$60,000 - $70,000 / Yearly

COMPANY

Equality Virginia

DEPARTMENT

Other

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

Non-Profit

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Email jobs@equalityvirginia.org with a cover letter and resume in PDF format. Please be sure to put “Director of Advocacy” in the subject line of your email. Here’s what you can expect from our interview process: Application Review Panel Interview ~60 minutes Interview with Executive Director ~30 minutes Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, March 31st. We are looking to fill this position for a start date of Monday, April 28th.

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Position: Director of Advocacy

 

Salary: $60,000-$70,000

Reports to: Executive Director

 

Type: Exempt

 

Location: Remote

 

About Equality Virginia: Equality Virginia advocates and organizes across Virginia to build a future where all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and broader spectrum of people (LGBTQIA+) thrive.

 

Equality Virginia’s vision: At Equality Virginia, our values are the foundation of our work. They guide how we serve, advocate, and connect with LGBTQIA+ communities across the Commonwealth. As we pursue our strategic goals, we commit to upholding these core values in every initiative, relationship, and decision. Our commitments to Community, Equity, Perseverance, Impact, Empowerment, and Integrity reflect our dedication to creating a safer, more inclusive Virginia for all LGBTQIA+ individuals.

 

CommunityWe are dedicated to building a strong, interconnected LGBTQIA+ community across Virginia, fostering support, resilience, and a sense of belonging for all.

 

EquityWe prioritize inclusivity and work tirelessly to address the unique needs and challenges of marginalized groups, especially those within BIPOC, trans, and rural communities.

 

PerseveranceWe are resilient and committed to creating long-term change, advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and protections in all areas of Virginia, even when challenges arise.

 

ImpactWe strive to create meaningful, lasting change that improves the lives of LGBTQIA+ Virginians and strengthens the communities we serve.

 

EmpowermentWe believe in the power of LGBTQIA+ individuals to create change and are committed to providing resources, training, and opportunities that amplify their voices and build leadership capacity.

 

IntegrityWe hold ourselves accountable to our mission, values, and communities, conducting all actions with transparency, respect, and a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ Virginians.

 

About our team: The Equality Virginia team is made up of 5 full time staff and a rotating number of interns. We will be in a virtual office starting in March of 2025, and staff is based throughout Virginia. We engage in a robust schedule of legislative & community engagement programming. 2025 marks 36 official years of Equality Virginia as an organization.

 

About the Role: Equality Virginia seeks a Director of Advocacy who will lead statewide and local legislative advocacy campaigns on issues related to LGBTQIA+ rights by monitoring legislative activity, analyzing new and changing legislative language, convening and training community members to advocate directly to decision-makers, and educating community members about LGBTQIA+ related bills. This work requires close collaboration with Virginia’s community and civic leaders, social justice and LGBTQIA+ organizations, faith communities, unions, and businesses, as well as elected officials across the political spectrum.

The Director of Advocacy manages Equality Virginia’s legislative advocacy work, both at the local, state and federal level, by directly engaging with legislators, lobbyists, organizational partners, and other stakeholders. This role requires the ability to remain flexible and adaptable, yet decisive regarding work assignments.

The Director of Advocacy seeks to deepen Equality Virginia’s capacity to advocate for a broad range of issues impacting LGBTQIA+ Virginians by collaborating with staff members in various departments - particularly the communications and community engagement teams- to find viable policy solutions to the hurdles that LGBTQIA+ Virginians face on a regular basis.

Policy & State Advocacy Priorities & Activities

  • Build and strengthen LGBTQIA+ advocacy networks across Virginia

  • Advance legal and lived equality in Virginia by helping to pass positive legislation for LGBTQIA+ Virginians

  • Coordinate responses to attacks on legal and lived equality for LGBTQIA+ Virginians by monitoring state and federal legislation & executive action that would negatively impact LGBTQIA+ Virginians

  • Assist  in responding to events that may occur in the LGBTQIA+ policy sphere (e.g., a major court decision, executive order, or introduction of harmful legislation)

  • Educate local, state and federal legislators and members of their staffs on LGBTQIA+ issues

  • Develop strategic campaigns and strategies to advance the organization’s advocacy priorities at the state and local levels.

General Assembly & School Board Engagement

Track and monitor General Assembly and School Board activities, public statements, and political context that impacts LGBTQIA+ and intersectional policy issues, including but not limited to:

  • Elected officials' actions on various legislation in order to issue an accurate and fair Legislative Scorecard grade at least once per General Assembly session

  • Introduction of legislation and providing an initial assessment on the impact to LGBTQIA+ Virginians

  • Bill status changes and movement

  • Lawmaker, agency, and governmental social media accounts

  • Build relationships with legislative staff & lobbyists

  • Recruit and connect constituents with their state and federal elected officials through meetings, calls, and emails

  • Write and submit testimony on bills that impact LGBTQIA+ Virginians on behalf of Equality Virginia

  • Analyze legislation, administrative rules, and other policies and their potential impact on LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized communities

Convene Stakeholders

  • Launch a Statewide Advocacy Institute to equip new and existing leaders with tools and knowledge for effective advocacy in their local communities.

  • Connect and coordinate with community partners on intersectional advocacy, policy, and legislative work to advance social justice broadly within Virginia

  • Work alongside civic groups and community leaders to build support and foster positive dialogue on LGBTQIA+ issues.

  • Provide planning and preparation support for town halls and other public events supporting policy priorities

Public Engagement

  • Speaking and presenting at conferences, coalition meetings, partner events, trainings, and more (average 2-4 per month)

  • Serving as an occasional media spokesperson in coordination with the Communications Team (during busy season the EQVA team may deploy multiple spokespeople to respond to media interview requests per week)

  • Fulfilling communications requests such as: filming TikToks, executing to provide social content (e.g. pictures, videos, etc.), and consulting on messaging to maximize political and narrative impact

Administrative Tasks

  • Manage Equality Virginia’s internal and external trackers- General Assembly Bill Tracker, and School Board Meeting & Policy Tracker.

  • Utilizing EQVA’s EveryAction database to ensure tracking of:

  • Relationships and engagement (i.e. coalition partners, lawmakers, etc.)

  • Grant deliverables (i.e. # of testimonies, constituent contacts generated, etc.)

  • Writing and editing handouts, issue one-pages, presentations, and other educational materials

  • Ensuring General Assembly tracking activities are documented appropriately and easily accessible internally

  • Shared Organization Responsibilities - Expectations for all EQVA Team Members

  • Upholding and advancing Equality Virginia’s vision, mission, and values.

  • Participation in internal staff meetings

  • Adapting to and utilizing internal communications and document retention protocols and platforms

  • Providing content and expertise to inform grant proposals and reports and funder communications as needed

Qualifications

Experience & Education

  • Minimum three (3) years of professional or volunteer experience in/in a combination of coalition work, legislative work, and/or civic engagement work

  • Demonstrated experience in grassroots and grasstops advocacy strategies

  • A strong understanding of Virginia state and local politics and its major players

  • Bachelor's degree in political science, public administration, or related field

  • Experience delivering training content, presentations, slide shows, etc

  • Awareness of the issue priorities, policy battles, and experiences of LGBTQIA+ Virginians

Skills

  • Comfortable communicating and collaborating with policymakers and staff of all political parties

  • Competency in working with diverse groups in an intersectional manner and across all levels of organizations with a commitment to building positive collaboration

  • Strong technical and persuasive writing skills

  • Able to digest and translate complicated and detailed policy analyses for multiple audiences

  • A collaborative team player with an appreciation for diverse approaches to the work

  • The flexibility, humor, and humility to thrive in a fast-paced hybrid remote and in-person environment

  • Resourceful, adaptable, patient, and flexible to navigate complex situations in real-time

  • Charismatic and diplomatic to cultivate, nurture, and maintain relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders and navigate coalition dynamics

  • Ability to track, lead, and/or implement multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, and re-prioritize as needed.

  • Have excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills, along with effective public speaking and presentation skills

  • Self-motivated and able to work independently without constant direct staff contact

We especially encourage applications from people who have any of these additional qualifications:

  • Direct experience working at an LGBTQIA+ or trans-focused movement organization

  • Proficiency with Google Suite

  • Ability to recite talking points and press materials

  • Familiarity with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system and experience with Every Action in particular

  • Facilitation skills

  • Experience leading and managing others

COMMITMENT

  • Unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ Virginians

  • Commitment to Equality Virginia's vision, mission, and values, with a particular focus on racial justice

  • Passionate about LGBTQIA+ equality broadly and public policy and advocacy work specifically

  • An understanding that the process of changing hearts and minds is not overnight or immediate, which is a core element of our theory of change

  • Willing and excited to work across the political spectrum

  • Willing to serve as a public face of Equality Virginia when needed, including in media interviews, as a social media influencer, and more

Physical Requirements

  • Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time

  • This position will require occasional travel

  • The person in this position may be required to sit or stand for extended periods, move objects up to 25 pounds, operate office equipment, open and close filing cabinets and boxes, observe visitors, and communicate messages by telephone.

Location Requirements

  • This position will require consistent presence at the General Assembly during the legislative session; the frequency varies based on the legislative and state advocacy work and could be as often as weekly from January-March.

  • Willingness and ability to travel in Virginia and flexibility to work weekend and evening hours when necessary.

 

Benefits

Equality Virginia is dedicated to providing all employees a competitive salary, 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off and holidays, 401k plan with 3% employer contribution, employee cell phone, paid parking, and a professional development stipend. The salary for this position is $60,000-$70,000 This is a full-time position.

 

You’re interested but not sure you tick every box: If you’re excited about this role but do not feel you meet every single criteria outlined above, we encourage you to apply anyway! Research tells us that individuals from historically excluded and marginalized groups tend to self-select out of opportunities at higher rates. We are interested in finding the best fit for this work, someone who is aligned with our mission, goals, and values, and while we have a good idea of how we want to do this work, it’s possible that in drafting this description, we didn’t realize YOU were actually the ideal candidate. Let us have the chance to see if this is the right fit for both of us. 

 

Equal Opportunity Statement: Equality Virginia is an equal opportunity employer to all regardless of gender identity, gender presentation, sex, sexual orientation, race, national origin, immigration status, parental status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, veteran status, or history of arrest or conviction. We encourage LGBTQIA+ folks to apply. 

 

Next Steps

Email jobs@equalityvirginia.org with a cover letter and resume in PDF format. Please be sure to put “Director of Advocacy” in the subject line of your email.

Here’s what you can expect from our interview process:

  • Application Review

  • Panel Interview ~60 minutes

  • Interview with Executive Director ~30 minutes

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, March 31st. We are looking to fill this position for a start date of Monday, April 28th.