Arizona State Director

Location: Arizona

Division: State Advocacy

Reports to:  Chief of State Advocacy    

Position type: Full time, exempt

Who We Are

Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) is a multi-state organization that aims to replace ineffective criminal justice system policies with what works to keep people safe. We are organizers, policy advocates and experts, research and communications specialists, and grassroots mobilizers. We represent diverse crime survivors as well as people living with old records as key public safety stakeholders. We organize people most harmed by violence and incarceration, and through nonpartisan coalition building and strategic campaigning, we change laws in the large states to transform the nation. For more information, visit: https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org.

Who You Are

The  Arizona State Director is passionate about advocacy, able to build strong relationships to advance a reform agenda, and a driver with a do-whatever-it-takes-to-win change work ethic. This is an exciting position in an important state. You will advance legislative, budgetary and administrative reforms and grow the visible influence of ASJ. You are as comfortable in the halls of the State Capitol as you are in community meetings, and you’re able to see both the big picture and know what matters most to move a reform agenda forward. You’re a reliable leader with a wide range of collaborators.    

What You’ll Do

Advocacy Leadership and Execution (80%)

• Ensure that ASJ is able to win policy and budgetary reforms at the state level that reduce incarceration and expand access to stability for victims and people with records 
• Lead and direct state legislative campaigns, including planning and strategizing legislative and policy advocacy at the state, and ensuring effective implementation of policy and budget wins, in collaboration with ASJ departments and consultants
• Develop and maintain a working understanding of the political, policy and public safety landscapes in Arizona, including but not limited to: legislative activities, grassroots organizations and activities, government and program innovations, criminal justice, public safety and victims rights leaders, state influencers, politics, and more    
• Cultivate and maintain strong partnerships and relationships with allies and key stakeholders in law enforcement, community, and government, as well as building bipartisan coalitions
• Ensure that ASJ is relevant, connected, and influential in statewide debates about crime and criminal justice policy 
• Ensure that ASJ has a reputation as a problem solving, pragmatic, expert collaborative partner that can work well with many types of stakeholders to advance reform 

Relationship and Information Sharing (20%)

• Work closely with ASJ’s key organizing arm, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice to engage in-state members with ASJ advocacy efforts
• Develop and manage coalitions and coalition partners, as needed
• Assist with managing the lobbying team and overseeing the execution of lobbying strategy; writing lobbying reports and tracking lobbying activities with respect to implementation and legislative advocacy work plans
• Represent ASJ in the media and among decision-makers as needed and assigned, with support from Communications staff 

Key Skills and Abilities 

• Knowledge of legislative processes and public safety reforms
• Strong emotional intelligence, including excellent management of self, others and networks (internal and external) and the ability to work effectively in teams
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including strong public speaking and persuasive communication skills with great attention to detail, and the ability to explain complex ideas in a simple way
• Strategic and critical thinker with the ability to focus on diverse internal and external stakeholders, including people from all political parties
• Dynamic comprehension skills with a keen ability to analyze, summarize, draw conclusions, and problem solve
• Empathy and ability to work sensitively with crime survivors and people who were formerly incarcerated or under some form of community control

Qualifications

• At least 5 years experience and expertise reforming state public safety systems and policies through insider/outsider campaigns and advocacy
• Demonstrated command of the Arizona legislative and budgetary processes, the bill-making timeline, and the legislative and administrative procedures that govern the policy-making process
• Prior experience working directly with government officials to advance policy reform
• Strong community ties within Arizona
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across organizational ASJ divisions and in collaboration with other teams in ASJ.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Some travel required
• Requires routine physical movements with limited physical exertion
• Ability to communicate, receive and understand information through oral and written communication and proofread and check documents for accuracy
• Requires communicating information with co-workers, stakeholders and/or the public; reading correspondence, instructions and/or technical documents; writing correspondence and/or reports and filling in forms

Compensation and Benefits

We care deeply about our staff wellness. ASJ offers a competitive benefits package including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, a robust 403(b) retirement match, generous paid time off, a professional development allowance, and more. The salary range for this role is $120,000-$125,000, and will be offered commensurate with experience. 

To Apply 

Applications should be submitted via the posting link on ASJ’s jobs page. Please submit a cover letter indicating your interest in ASJ, the role, and your related experience, your resume, and 3-4 professional references.

The Alliance for Safety and Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people who are systems impacted, women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.