Business Unit Description

State & Community Engagement (SCE) is part of Community, State and National Affairs (CSN). The SCE team includes: 53 states and territories across 6 regions with regional management, the Office of Volunteer Engagement, the Office of Community Engagement (including the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA): AARP's Educator Community), and the Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE).

SCE Vision:
-State & Community Engagement (SCE) enables AARP to be a nationwide organization, which strengthens our capacity to carry out our mission.
-SCE brings AARP closer to our members, people 50+, and their families, which allows us to listen - and respond - to their wants and needs that align with our mission.
-We drive an impact agenda, deepen relationships with key audiences & stakeholders, and build AARP's relevance at the community and state levels.
Summary

The AARP Associate State Director (ASD) for Community is a frontline voice and presence with the 50+ public, AARP members and volunteers, targeted audiences including multicultural audiences, stakeholders and partners who:

1. Works in a designated State Region (Wards 2, 3 6 & 8, plus covers two At-Large Seats) and conducts advocacy, multicultural market engagement, community outreach & volunteer engagement,

2. Executes a variety of strategies and tactics for public facing initiatives and events that build AARP's relevance and contributes to delivering positive impact for State Area audiences as part of the AARP social mission,

3. Works with State staff and volunteers to develop AARP's presence in neighborhoods across region through strengthening visibility and awareness of AARP's Brand, and

4. Leads a project team across the designated State area to coordinate advocacy and outreach for a campaign, advance an initiative (e.g. age-friendly communities), or develop issue expertise of staff and volunteers. Does this in close collaboration with State staff
Responsibilities

1. Executes relevant State area community-based experiences for members and 50+ that engage working, younger and diverse members, especially African Americans/Black, Caucasians, Asian American, and LGBT members. Collaborates with State staff lead on engagement of Latino/Hispanic communities.

2. Plans, executes, leads and/or coordinates the designated State region team's campaign and advocacy efforts to influence local, state, and federal policy, leveraging volunteer teams and external partners.

3. Works with State Team and volunteer's leaders for successful recruitment, orientation, training, and engagement of volunteers, including advocacy volunteer, Chapters and community groups, to deliver results.

4. Cultivates and maintains strategic relationships with third parties in the metro market, with services, community, advocacy, and volunteer organizations, across public, private and social/non-profit sectors.

5. Maximizes reciprocal relationships with multicultural organizations, leaders and validators, to deliver relevance and impact of AARP priorities, with an emphasis on the District of Columbia's African American/Black, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and LGBT populations in designated State area communities.

6. Builds strong, collaborative working relationships with State team and leads for communications, volunteer recruitment, support and engagement, community outreach and multicultural audiences. Participates as an active member of the State team with an eye to achieving State vision and goals, as part of the State plan. Responsible for regular reporting for progress and results, including recommended changes in environment or execution.

Advocacy
7. Builds grassroots and grasstops capacities; and coordinates communications and engagements with State team.

8. Develops, maintains and leverages relationships with elected and appointed officials, and other decision makers in his/her State area. Contacts and confers with members of legislature and other public office holders to persuade them to favorable positions regarding AARP's priorities.

9. Develops issue briefings for all public policy issues inside her/his portfolio, materials, and resources, which prepares State staff, volunteers and partners for communicating policy, including with policy and law- makers. Prepares written communications such as letters of support/opposition, speeches and testimony.

Membership
10. Maintains knowledge and understanding of the District of Columbia's 50+ population, working with National Office member value & experience functions to influence the creation of value and experiences.

Multicultural Markets
11. Communicates and performs outreach to targeted multicultural audiences in relevant tone and language, including non-English, bilingual or other formats, to targeted audiences in the metro region(s), as needed.
Requirements

Completion of a Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration, political science, public policy, sociology, or related discipline and 5 years of experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience related to the duties of the position.

• Communicates effectively with different audiences, as the context may vary to the media, policy-makers, volunteers and/or other external stakeholders.

• Through cultural competence, able to build quick rapport for results-oriented relationships.

• Solid understanding of public policy issues facing the State and AARP membership in particular, and social change dynamics.

• Demonstrates a high level of competence with oral and written communication, computer literacy, social media, strategic thinking, and relationship management skills.

• Knowledge of common approaches for marketing research and marketing data analysis

• Must have an understanding of, and relationships among, the state's political and community service and engagement environments.

• Previous government relations and grassroots organizing experience desired.

• Experience working with volunteer structures and related dynamics including working with volunteers at the executive and grassroots level.

• Experience implementing programs for multicultural audiences preferred.

• Experience working with volunteer structures, with multicultural audiences preferred.

• Superb writing skills required.

• Bilingual skills preferred.

Travel required up to 50% of the time.
Benefits Offered

AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.