Remote Michigan State Director, Special Advisor

Summary

Join our team as the Michigan State Director & Special Advisor, leading the development and growth of GIFFORDS' state-based strategy across every facet of the organization's work. The successful candidate will have experience in Michigan politics, policy, or business communities, be flexible, and have an entrepreneurial orientation.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of Michigan politics and ability to navigate and advise GIFFORDS on Michigan-specific dynamics, communities, and regions
• Minimum of 10 years of full or part-time work experience in related fields such as organizing, politics, government, or other areas of advocacy
• Outstanding judgment and solutions-oriented approach with demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to be flexible
• Strong existing professional network and relationships in the state of Michigan
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to build and maintain relationships effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing internal and external reports, delivering presentations, and effectively communicating with diverse audiences
• Experience in strategic planning
• Experience responding to media requests and being interviewed for TV, radio, and/or print media
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• A strong commitment to and fluency with inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism
• Interest in strategic mission-based advocacy

Responsibilities

• Work with the Vice President of State Initiatives to develop and inform ambitious immediate and long-term strategic plans for GIFFORDS work in Michigan through expertise of the landscape across the state, including staying up to date on Michigan events and news
• Execute the organizational mission to build out and maintain an on-the-ground presence in Michigan to establish a powerful GIFFORDS influence, local sophistication, and power the organization’s legal, political, legislative, and communications goals
• Serve as GIFFORDS’ primary spokesperson in Michigan, representing the organization with the press and media, at in-state events, and with donors
• Identify opportunities to engage core constituencies (communities most impacted by gun violence, voters, gun owners) on the issue of gun safety
• Coordinate and work closely with GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention to engage leaders and communities in Michigan that are most impacted by gun violence in an effort to provide resources for community violence intervention
• Identify and cultivate relationships with other organizations, leaders, and stakeholders to help elevate the issue of gun safety in Michigan
• Create opportunities for GIFFORDS to engage and build a more robust presence throughout Michigan
• Serve as spokesperson for GIFFORDS in Michigan for external meetings, events, media, and other speaking engagements
• Participate in media interviews and speaking engagements on behalf of GIFFORDS in Michigan
• Manage rapid response communications on behalf of GIFFORDS as relevant to our work in Michigan
• Create own content and talking points for public speaking engagements, in coordination with GIFFORDS’ communications team and VP of State Initiatives
• Attend and/or speak at meetings with political candidates, Michigan public officials, and Congress members representing Michigan
• Attend in-person and virtual fundraising meetings, donor interactives, and events in Michigan
• Provide strategic insight into GIFFORDS’ Michigan fundraising strategy
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key organization donors in Michigan, working closely with the development team

Benefits

• Employer-funded health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health, transit, and parking flexible spending accounts
• 401k plan with 4% employer match
• 25 days of paid time off (PTO) annually plus a paid week vacation at the end of the year
• Ten paid federal holidays