Business Unit Description

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.
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 Metro Area 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 Metro Area audiences as part of the AARP social mission,
3. Works with Metro staff and volunteers to develop AARP's presence in communities through strengthening visibility and awareness of AARP's Brand, and
4. Leads a project team across the state to coordinate advocacy and outreach for a campaign, advance an initiative (e.g. age-friendly communities), or develop issue expertise of staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities

1. Executes relevant metro community-based experiences for members and 50+ that engage working, younger and diverse members, esp. Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans/Black, and Asian American Pacific Islanders.
2. Executes, leads and/or coordinates the metro team's campaign and advocacy efforts to influence local, state, and federal policy, leveraging volunteer teams and external partners.
3. Works with Metro 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 California's Hispanic/Latino, African American/Black, and Asian American/Pacific Islander populations in targeted communities.
6. Builds strong, collaborative working relationships with metro market team and Matrix leads for volunteer engagement, community outreach and MME. Participates as an active member of the Metro team with an eye to achieving metro-markets goals and vision, as part of the state plan. Responsible for regular reporting for progress and results, including recommended changes in environment or execution.

(additional responsibilities based on assignments may include)

Advocacy

1. Builds grassroots and grasstops capacities; and coordinate communications and engagements.
2. Develops, maintains and leverages relationships with elected and appointed officials, and other decision makers in his/her metro area. Contacts and confers with members of legislature and other public office holders to persuade them to favorable positions regarding AARP's priorities.
3. Develops issue briefings, materials, and resources, which prepares 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

1. Maintains knowledge and understanding of the California 50+ population, working with national office member value & experience functions to influence the creation of value and experiences.

Multicultural Markets

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 a minimum of 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, policymakers, volunteers and/or other external stakeholders
• Through cultural competence, able to build quick rapport for results-oriented relationships.
• 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.
• 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.

At AARP, the health and well-being of our candidates, employees, and members is a top priority. As a result of the COVID pandemic, all interviews will be held virtually and all non-essential employees will continue to work remotely until further notice. AARP has established social distancing policies to ensure the safety of our essential employees.
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.