• Job Description

  Req#: 165015

  Job Details

  Job Location: Washington DC Location - Washington DC, DC

  Position Type: Full Time

  Salary Range: $74573.00 - $82000.00 Salary/year

  Description

  NATURE OF WORK:

  Coordinate grassroots outreach, engagement, and training of volunteers as force multipliers in the VFW’s national legislative efforts. Develop and implement VFW grassroots campaigns, advocacy strategies, and trainings focused on local-level engagement on primarily federal-level legislative priorities. Engage with VFW Action Corps (AC) members and VFW/Auxiliary national grassroots advocacy networks to educate on VFW legislative goals. Promote involvement by VFW/Auxiliary membership in advocacy efforts. Manage the grassroots database; generate calls to action email campaigns targeting specific pieces of legislation as needed; monitor and compile statistics to track the effectiveness of grassroots communications; and take steps to promote increases in AC subscribers and participation rates. Attend meetings, press events, legislative hearings, and conferences as needed.

  TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  Serves as the primary point of contact to the VFW National Legislative Committee. Sends the committee NLS communications, legislative products, updates, and details on conferences and training.

  In coordination with the NLS director, establishes and executes a training program for the VFW National Legislative Committee on legislative advocacy specific to the VFW. This includes, but is not limited to, providing information to new committee members, training all members for Congressional visits locally and for VFW conferences in Washington, DC., and information and training for state-level priorities as determined by the Director.

  Reviews the reporting of the VFW National Legislative Committee members on their activities and responsibilities.

  At the direction of the NLS director, periodically drafts and distributes calls to action (Action Alerts) to our grassroots advocacy network. Compiles information, reviews, fact checks, edits, and formats accordingly.

  Responds to inquiries, comments, and complaints about VFW legislative questions received by email, phone, and letter. Distribute to members of the team or other VFW departments as necessary and ensure completion.

  Assists in the formulation of VFW legislative priorities and goals to most effectively address veterans' needs.

  Promotes advocacy awareness and education. Suggests ways to increase involvement of VFW/Auxiliary membership, including increased participation rates in VFW Action Alerts; growth of the VFW Action Corps; participation in town hall meetings; and achieving greater VFW visibility in the grassroots process.

  Manages the grassroots database and advocacy platform. Conducts regular uploads of new contacts to the grassroots database. Monitors and compiles statistics to track number of subscribers, and effectiveness of grassroots communications. Conducts periodic database clean-up.

  Participates in ongoing training for any changes to the functionality of our advocacy platform. Stays up to date on industry trends to maximize our effective usage of products and services.

  Assists with other department members in the administration of the VFW/SVA Fellowship program.

  Qualifications

  
  

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  Advanced skills in human relations and customer service, as well as legislative and political processes to achieve a strong, directed, and cohesive advocacy effort.

  Understanding and familiarity with the VFW’s organizational structure, bylaws, resolutions, and history.

  Thorough knowledge of veterans' programs and services. Requires some public speaking on veteran-related subjects.

  Advanced writing and analytical skills to carry out responsibilities and provide accurate, concise, and readily understandable renderings of complex legislative language and/or objectives to membership.

  Bachelor’s degree and/or experience in related field.

  SCOPE OF POSITION:

  Position is FLSA exempt.

  Reports to the National Legislative Service Director and is responsible for managing all aspects of the NLS grassroots network training, education, and engagement in support of the VFW’s legislative priorities. Decisions will significantly impact how the entire organization is perceived by members and other organizations. Discerns and recommends alternatives to the Director, NLS as appropriate; pursues the advancement of VFW legislative goals.

  Oversees and coordinates workload distribution, sets priorities, and conducts tactical planning to ensure realization of VFW priority goals. Position requires critical thinking and advanced ability to analyze and immediately respond to complex legislative advocacy requirements along with providing responses to VFW/Auxiliary membership.

  WORKING CONDITIONS:

  In the course of advancing VFW priority goals, typical contacts are with VFW/Auxiliary staff; VFW/Auxiliary membership; general public, staff from other veterans and military organizations, and other professional contacts.

  Conducts activities in support of the VFW’s priority goals by researching issues and providing oral and written responses to VFW/Auxiliary queries. This position functions within a normal office environment 90 percent of time and involves travel 10 percent of the time for VFW functions. Travel to NLS conferences, VFW National Convention, and other events as required.

  MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  Effectively fulfills responsibilities and duties as assigned by Director, NLS.

  Advance the VFW’s legislative priority goals by promoting goals through grassroots advocacy.

  Serve as the main liaison to the VFW National Legislative Committee members – organize and conduct training and meetings (in person and virtual), promote goals and objectives for grassroots advocacy.

  Prepare department communications and assists in the formulation of VFW legislative priority goals so they most effectively address veterans' needs.

  Ensure that VFW membership is informed of congressional activity and VFW positions on key issues.

  Compile accomplishments and legislative victories for publication and distribution to membership.

  The above duties are general in nature and they are not intended to reflect all of the duties, which may be required of the Associate Director.

  Candidates will be subject to background checks covering criminal and employment.

  *This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.

  **If not already listed as a requirement for the position, all employees (if eligible) are encouraged to become members of the VFW. If ineligible for VFW membership, employees (if eligible) are encouraged to join the VFW Auxiliary. Additionally, all employees are encouraged to actively promote the benefits of membership into the VFW and VFW Auxiliary to others that qualify.

  The VFW offers a comprehensive benefits package to include, but not limited to, health, dental, vision, life, LTD, EAP, PTO, and tuition reimbursement benefits.

• About the company

  The Veterans of Foreign Wars, formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of US war veterans, who, as military service members fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters, or airspace.

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