City Year was founded in 1988 on the belief that young people can change the world. The organization recruits 17-24 year olds of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors, and role models, these idealistic leaders make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 20 U.S. locations, in London and in South Africa. This coming year, more than 1,700 City Year corps members will be serving on diverse teams in schools and communities. City Year received more than 7,000 applications for 1,550 corps member positions for the 2009-2010 program year.

City Year is committed to engaging community members, corporate partners, and civic leaders in this work, and together we're building a citizen service movement that is larger than our organization, our lifetime, and ourselves. City Year's vision is that one day the most commonly asked question of a young person will be, "Where are you going to do your service year?"

Through our "In School and On Track" strategy, and our "Whole School, Whole Child" service model, City Year is focused on significantly reducing the high school dropout rate in each of our target cities. We have the aggressive goal of expanding to 6,000 corps members over the next several years, to get 50% of off-track public school students in each of our target cities back on track to graduate from high school.

Position Overview

We are seeking an energetic, articulate, campaign-oriented National Mobilization Manager to develop and implement City Year's strategies to advance, improve, and expand national service opportunities in the United States and abroad. This is the perfect position for someone interested in government relations, policy, and national service. This position provides an opportunity to use grassroots-mobilization skills, event planning skills, research and writing skills, and interpersonal and media relations skills to help shape the future of the national service movement.

Although City Year Headquarters is based in Boston, MA, the National Mobilization Manager works from Washington, DC, where the Public Policy Department is located.

Responsibilities

The National Mobilization Manager will work full-time on coalition-building, grassroots-engagement initiatives, and research and writing projects. City Year's Public Policy Department provides primary operational support for Voices for National Service, a respected advocacy coalition made of national service programs, state commissions, and individual champions committed to expanding opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve and volunteer. In this capacity, the National Mobilization Manager is responsible for developing and implementing a plan to ensure regular, ongoing communications with the national service field. This includes the creation and distribution of a regular e-newsletter as well as Web site content, maintenance, and upkeep (in conjunction with a contractor). This individual will be responsible for mobilizing the City Year community and the service field at large in an ongoing campaign to increase support and growth of national service, including AmeriCorps, the Senior Corps programs, and Learn and Serve America initiatives.

Voices for National Service is a dues-based coalition, and the National Mobilization Manager oversees the annual membership campaign and dues-collection process, as well as provides administrative support to the coalition's Steering Committee, Co-Chairs, and staff leadership. The position requires coordination and communication with a diverse membership - in terms of size, program, legislative priorities, and geography - to find common ground and meet the goals of the coalition.

The National Mobilization Manager will also support City Year's Public Policy Department and Executive Office with related activities including, but not limited to, conducting legislative research, data management and analysis, preparing briefing materials, drafting materials for funders and trustees, and planning events. This individual will serve as the event producer for several annual events, including national service policy forums, a congressional awards reception, a congressional staff service day, and a legislative Capitol Hill Day. Responsibilities include establishing the event's message, producing event materials, drafting invitations, maintaining guest lists, ordering food, and managing vendor relationships.

Qualifications

Successful candidates should have the following qualifications:

College degree (required)
4-5 years project/administrative experience
Excellent writing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
Interest in public policy and national service; legislative (especially Capitol Hill) or national service experience a plus
Event planning and coordination skills
Grassroots issue-campaign and field-operation experience
Experience working with advocacy coalitions a plus
Demonstrated ability to organize time and priorities, both independently and as part of a team, in order to meet concurrent deadlines
Resiliency and flexibility in a fast-paced and at times demanding work environment
Terrific work ethic accompanied by an ever-positive, get-it-done attitude
Demonstrated passion for work that directly benefits communities
Sense of humor!
Command of all Microsoft Office programs, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
Experience with government-relations, e-advocacy software (e.g., Vocus, Capwiz with Knowlegis) a plus

Competitive salary and benefits

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter, résumé, and references to Elaine Mak, Director of Talent Management at cyjobs@cityyear.org.