Program Associate, Vera Louisiana

<h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About the role:</strong></span></h3> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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. </span> <span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">1. Program & Coalition Support</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">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</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Foster relationships with external partners, including being the primary contact, developing agendas for coalition meetings, facilitating meetings, providing or designating notetaking, etc.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">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</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Facilitate and manage working groups within our coalition-based work</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Connect external partners to our resources and internal experts to support key campaigns</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Speak at conferences regarding Institute and initiative work and related areas</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-ccp-props="{}">2. </span><span data-contrast="auto">Project Management</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Drive several projects at once and be able to shift priorities, while maintaining timelines and meeting deadlines  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Coordinate with Vera’s Communications, People, Place and Culture, Research, and VeraTech departments, and/or any other internal Vera teams to push projects forward </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Assist in the review, editing, and development of other program materials, as necessary </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Develop and update internal task management trackers and calendars  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Take notes and track action items in internal and external meetings, helping to manage workflow and priorities </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> </ul> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">3. Communications and Outreach </span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <ul> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Co-develop and co-execute communications and outreach strategy that connects our work with the public  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">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 </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Co-develop and draft quarterly newsletters to our email list highlighting our work  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Support social media outreach strategies and uplift our traditional media presence</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> <li><span data-contrast="auto">Submit any inquiries or future projects to the Communications team internal tracker  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What qualifications are we looking for?</strong></span></h3> <p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Required</span></strong><sp