Employment, Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
People For the American Way is a nationwide advocacy organization that mobilizes its members and activists to fight for public policies that reflect the values of freedom, fairness, and equal opportunity; to champion constitutional protections and civil rights; to hold public officials accountable to those standards; and to promote strong democratic institutions, including a federal judiciary that upholds individual rights.
The affiliated People For the American Way Foundation conducts research, legal, and education work on behalf of First Amendment freedoms and democratic values; monitors, exposes, and challenges the Religious Right movement and its political allies; identifies, trains, and supports the next generation of progressive leaders through its Young People For youth leadership programs and its Young Elected Officials Network; and carries out nonpartisan voter education, registration, civic participation, and election protection activities.
People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation have a national office in Washington, D.C. and program staff who work in Florida and New York. We have a variety of staff positions, including field organizers, legislative and media representatives, internet strategists, research analysts, writers and administrative positions. Some are suitable for entry-level applicants. We also have internship opportunities for college students in several areas.
Members of our staff work in a dynamic professional and collaborative environment. We are pleased to offer them excellent benefits, including medical and dental plans, life and disability insurance, 401k plan and generous holiday and leave benefits.
If you are interested in helping us defend the democratic institutions and freedoms that are every American's birthright, please consider the following positions.
Director of Federal Governmental Affairs
People For the American Way is a national organization dedicated to defending constitutional and civil rights and promoting the democratic values of citizen participation, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and equal opportunity for all. The Director of Federal Governmental Affairs assists in the development of People For the American Way's policy positions and lobbies Congress and the Executive branch to advance these policies at the federal level. This position is a senior position reporting to the Executive Vice President for Policy and Programs.
Responsibilities:
- Direct the representation of the organization's interests, and establish the organization's presence on Capitol Hill concerning federal legislation on issues including, but not limited to the Religious Right, civil rights, civil liberties, public education, First Amendment, immigration, church/state, electoral reform, budget/tax, and reproductive rights.
- Direct all federal legislative activity including drafting legislation, writing testimony, developing strategy, lobbying, and developing federal legislative advocacy materials.
- Assist in the development of official organizational policy statements.
- Speak on behalf of the organization at congressional hearings and briefings; serve as a media spokesperson; and serve as spokesperson at conferences and events.
- Oversee the work of staff and interns, providing guidance and management support on public policy activities
- Assist in coordinating federal advocacy activities with individuals in People For's African American faith and youth leadership program networks and with other departments.
- Ensure organizational compliance with lobby disclosure requirements.
- Assist as needed in the formulation of policy positions for affiliate People For the American Way Foundation
- Other duties as needed
Qualifications:
- Substantial experience and knowledge of Capitol Hill and the legislative process.
- Excellent strategic, analytical, research, editing, writing and public speaking skills required.
- Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with a variety of people
- Commitment to progressive values and interest in People For's issues and activities
- Public interest background and substantive expertise in constitutional law and civil rights issues preferred
- Law degree required.
To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Email hr@pfaw.org.
People For the American Way is an equal opportunity employer.
October 2009
Director of Field Mobilization
People For the American Way is a national organization dedicated to defending constitutional and civil rights and promoting the democratic values of citizen participation, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and equal opportunity for all. The Director of Field Mobilization assists in the development of People For the American Way's policy positions and is responsible for on-the-ground mobilization of People For the American Way activists and leadership network members in support of campaigns to affect public policy at the local, state, and national level. At times this position will be asked to help formulate affiliate People For the American Way Foundation's policy positions as well. This position is a senior position based in Washington, D.C. and reports to the Executive Vice President for Policy and Programs.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee the on-the-ground mobilization of activists and individual members of PFAW and PFAWF networks in support of campaigns to affect policy at the local, state and national level.
- In collaboration with other staff, create, develop, and implement action plans for field work in conjunction with organization-wide program priorities.
- Actively build and maintain PFAW's role in local and state level issue coalitions, working to reach new constituencies and providing leadership on progressive issues.
- Represent the organization in coalitions and at progressive conferences and events.
- Assist in the development of official organizational issue policy statements
- Oversee the work of staff and interns, providing guidance and management support with respect to local and state advocacy activities
- Any other duties and activities as needed
Qualifications:
- Substantial grassroots organizing experience
- Demonstrated success in issue advocacy
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking experience
- Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with a variety of people
- Experience with progressive issues and public interest commitment
- Experience in constituent development and organizing or campaign implementation at the local and/or state level
- Familiarity with the progressive community and local and state legislative process
- Commitment to progressive values and interest in People For's issues and activities
- Ability and willingness to travel
- College degree required
To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Email hr@pfaw.org.
People For the American Way is an equal opportunity employer.
October 2009
Director, African American Religious Affairs
People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF) is a national organization dedicated to defending constitutional and civil rights and promoting the democratic values of citizen participation, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and respect for diversity.
The Director of African American Religious Affairs is responsible for outreach efforts to build a stronger presence and institutional relationships with African American churches, organizations, leaders, and youth on the national, state and local levels. The Director will administer and staff the African American Ministers Leadership Council (AAMLC) and African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA) programs by coordinating grassroots activities, programs, and media outreach in order to increase the support and mobilization of the African American faith and surrounding communities around PFAWF issues. The director will focus on issue advocacy and leadership development around PFAWF issues. The position is based in Washington, DC.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of the African American Ministers Programs and the staff assigned to projects of the ministers programs.
- Build a diverse coalition of churches and organizations designed to ensure coordinated grassroots efforts around issues facing African American communities; mobilize members of the African American clergy to launch effective programs in their cities.
- Train, educate and empower local ministers on First Amendment issues as it relates to People For’s program agenda.
- Serve as one of the organization’s spokespersons on African American and related issues.
- Oversee development and management of campaigns and volunteers among the African American faith community.
- Develop and implement community, state and national level programs designed to engage the African American faith community in PFAWF initiatives.
- In consultation with the public policy department will maintain communication and develop outreach opportunities around faith messaging with local, state, and national elected and appointed leaders.
- Ensure that ministers programs actively engage ministers in public policy discussions related to PFAWF issues.
- Develop and maintain contacts with and lists of public officials, organizational leaders, and activists in assigned states.
- Maintain a high degree of knowledge of the political and issue concerns related to People For’s goals and projects.
- Oversee the writing of reports, letters, and action alerts; brief staff about programs and strategic partnerships.
Qualifications:
- Strategic thinker with rigorous intellect, creativity and entrepreneurial approach.
- Ability to develop plans and respond to new opportunities.
- Passionate interest in issues relating to the intersections of race, religion, values, and public policy.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage staff and programs.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work with wide variety of people and develop collaborative relationships.
- Familiarity with the elements of the Religious Right’s tactics and strategies.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently, to organize and manage a variety of projects and priorities simultaneously and effectively.
- Substantial experience working in African American communities with clergy, statewide and local organizations.
- Advocacy and social justice experience highly desirable.
- Ability and willingness to travel frequently and extensively.
- Degree in theology preferred.
- Strong commitment to People For the American Way Foundation’s issues agenda.
To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way Foundation, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Email hr@pfaw.org.
People For the American Way Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.
September 2009
People For the American Way Foundation conducts research, legal, and education work on behalf of First Amendment freedoms and democratic values; monitors, exposes, and challenges the Religious Right movement and its political allies; identifies, trains, and supports the next generation of progressive leaders through its Young People For youth leadership programs and its Young Elected Officials Network; and carries out nonpartisan voter education, registration, civic participation, and election protection activities.
Young People For (YP4) is a progressive leadership development program focused on identifying, engaging, and empowering the next generation of progressive leaders. YP4 is dedicated to identifying young campus and community leaders, engaging them, and supporting them with the skills and resources they need to create change. Together, People For and YP4 are building a long-term network of emerging leaders committed to protecting our nation's fundamental rights and freedoms.
YP4 has three overarching priorities: 1) to diversity leadership in the progressive movement; 2) to support young leaders to effect change in their communities now; and 3) to ensure that young leaders are sustained in their leadership over the long term. The core of YP4 is our one-year fellowship for progressive college students, which supports and empowers them to create change now on their campuses and in their communities. The 2009 fellowship class is comprised of 150 fellows from 86 campuses in 29 states and is the next generation of YP4's growing network of over 650 alumni across the nation.
The position is located in Washington, DC and reports to the Fellowship Program Manager.
Responsibilities:
- In collaboration with the Fellowship Manager, develop quarterly, annual, and individual goals to ensure that deliverables are met.
- Manage Fellowship interns.
- Work closely with Fellowship staff to coordinate day-to-day communication with fellows.
- Support and maintain substantive relationships with fellows through regular communication including in-person meetings, phone calls, and e-mail exchanges and provide support and coaching for fellows as they engage in individualized leadership development activities, short- and long-term planning, and goal-setting.
- Support fellows’ social justice work on their campuses or in their communities and work with them to plan and execute sustainable, community-driven projects.
- Develop and manage strong relationships with professors, administrators and campus activists at state universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s), Tribal Colleges, liberal arts universities and community colleges.
- Support the Young People For team at local, state, regional, and national conferences and events.
- Support the development of relationships with local, state, regional, and national progressive organizations.
- Participate in annual Fellowship recruitment and selection process by creating and implementing innovative outreach strategies including phone, e-mail, and social media, reviewing fellowship applications, and interviewing candidates.
- In collaboration with the Young People For team, plan and execute regional trainings and the annual National Summit.
Qualifications:
- 1-3 years related experience including grassroots, political, student or youth organizing and/or leadership development work.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment; must be well organized, detail-oriented and able to effectively manage competing priorities and frequent deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to work effectively with a variety of people.
- Strong commitment to professional development.
- Excellent written communications skills.
- Previous experience in staff recruitment and/or job placement desirable.
- Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information and present in a usable format.
- Ability to work independently, with supervision, and as part as a team.
- Ability and willingness to travel occasionally and to work additional hours when needed.
- Familiarity with MS Office applications; experience with online communities and interest in web-based tools to advance progressive causes.
- Familiarity with the progressive community and a commitment to the issues of Young People For (campus diversity, civic engagement, civil rights, economic justice, education, environmental conservation and justice, healthcare, immigration, international human rights, worker’s right, Native American issues, traditions, and empowerment, and progressive coalition and alliance building).
To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way Foundation, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Email hr@pfaw.org
People For the American Way Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer
November 2009
If you live in the Washington DC area, become a Capital Volunteer and start working directly to combat intolerance and preserve constitutional freedoms! We are currently looking for individuals for the following volunteer position(s).
Please contact the volunteer coordinator at 202-467-2457, or by e-mail at volunteer@pfaw.org, for more information on time and place.
