Montgomery Advocacy Manager Job Description
Coalition for Smarter Growth

Title:                           Montgomery Advocacy Manager
Location:                   Currently remote (*see below for note about office location)
Job Classification:   Full Time – Non-Exempt
Supervisor:               Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director

Do you have a passion for advocacy, community organizing, and making a difference in your community? Do you love connecting with people and building relationships that can make change happen? Are you ready to use these skills to strengthen a movement for a more sustainable, equitable Montgomery County, Maryland, setting a model for other area jurisdictions? 

Our small but mighty team is looking for a Montgomery Advocacy Manager to achieve the following advocacy goals: walkable, inclusive transit-oriented development, more housing opportunities close to jobs and transit, strong affordable housing policies and investment, transit funding and better buses, and safer streets for walking and biking, while opposing highway expansion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We’re looking for an individual with skills in relationship-building, clear and effective writing, and advocacy and organizing. We seek passion and dedication to advancing sustainable, inclusive communities, an ability to manage multiple projects, creative thinking and open-mindedness, and who can be an integral part of our winning team.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as an ambassador for the Coalition for Smarter Growth with local officials, community and business leaders, residents, and activists
• Build alliances with environmental, social justice, labor, and forward-looking industry groups
• Continue to build our Montgomery for All group and nurture activists to take on leadership roles in advocating for more housing and affordable housing, better bus service, safer access to transit by walking and bicycling, and more walkable, equitable transit-oriented communities
• Cultivate a diversity of new supporters in Montgomery County through grassroots outreach and coalition building
• Organize educational and campaign events such as walking tours, educational forums, press conferences, decision-maker briefings, advocate meetings, and volunteer gatherings (virtual and in-person, depending on pandemic safety assessment)
• Track relevant transit, smart growth and transportation issues at the county and state level
• Research, develop, and execute campaign strategies
• Work with CSG staff to craft compelling testimony, email alerts, webpage updates and blog posts
• Communicate and build relationships with relevant local and regional press members to ensure coverage and incorporation of sustainable transportation and smart growth issues in news media
• Pitching in as needed: because we’re a small office, we all help with big events, administrative tasks, fundraising, and the random stuff that just comes up

Qualifications
This is a position that uses a wide range of skills, but candidates possessing 75% or more of the following qualifications should apply:

• Demonstrated and enthusiastic dedication to smart growth principles central to CSG’s mission, including expanding affordable housing, increasing transit access, and creating walkable, inclusive communities
• 2-3 years of experience in advocacy, community organizing, and/or political campaigns
• Experience building and maintaining broad coalitions and direct experience working with communities that have not always been engaged in local planning issues
• Knowledge of Maryland politics, with a particular focus on Montgomery County preferred
• Familiarity with the legislative process, particularly at the county level
• Experience and knowledge of housing policy, land use and transportation planning, bus transit, and streets designed for safe walking and bicycling
• Creative thinking and a pragmatic approach to organizing
• Ability to quickly digest and distill complicated information
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including comfort speaking in front of large groups and leading meetings
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and manage different personalities and backgrounds
• Ability to problem-solve and generate solutions with minimal supervision
• Spanish language proficiency or fluency is a plus

Working with the CSG team, we are looking for a team member with these qualities:

• Ability to engage with colleagues in a collaborative way.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to take direction from and work closely with supervisors and senior staff. This position reports to the Executive Director and will also work with CSG’s Maryland Transit Advocate.
• Ability to manage shifting priorities and an unpredictable legislative process in a very fast-paced office.
• Desire and ability to connect with our communities – members, donors, volunteers, expert guides/speakers, and event attendees.
• Willingness to work occasional weeknights and Saturdays.
• Commitment to service and community and a willingness to participate in practices of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI).

Compensation
This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position. Salary range is $27.50 to $33 per hour ($57,200-$68,640) and negotiable within the posted range, depending on qualifications and experience.

Employee Benefits:
CSG, through its parent organization The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

• Two health plan options, (PEC pays 83% of the premium under the employee-only plan and 73% of the premium for added dependents based on HAS plan rates)
• Dental and Vision insurance plans
• Short & Long-Term Disability, Group Term Life, Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances – all premiums 100% paid by PEC
• Health Savings Account (with employer match up to $750 per year) or Flexible Spending Accounts (health & dependent)
• 403(b) pension plan with up to 6% employer contribution (3% automatic and 3% match) after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
• 12 paid holidays
• Longevity-based paid leave (PTO) of 15-24 days per year, accrued by pay period
• 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer
• Longevity-based Salary Continuation
• Leave for employee or family illness, 2 to 8 weeks every 24 months
• Paid Bereavement, Jury Duty and Military Service Training leave
• Cell Phone Reimbursement up to $75 per month
• Travel Expense Reimbursement
• Hybrid work environment and Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development training and/or education support
• Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees

*Office Location
CSG has operated virtually since the pandemic, and is evaluating options for shared office space we could secure once we deem it appropriate. Due to the subject matter, is it important that the candidate lives in or is willing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. region. Reasonable proximity to the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland is advantageous. Periodic evening and weekend work is required and matched with reasonable flexibility during the week.

To Apply:
Submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@smartergrowth.net with “Montgomery Advocacy Manager” in the subject line. In your application materials, let us know where you learned about the position. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Applications are reviewed immediately upon receipt.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work. helps build the competencies and knowledge of our organization. Diversity of experience and skills, combined with passion, is key to our organizational identity.

In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable job accommodations may be requested.

Read our Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) statement.