External Relations Officer

The Center for Victims of Torture is hiring a External Relations (ER) Officer who will help the Head of External Relations of CVT Georgia build constituencies of support for refugees, immigrants, and human rights in the State of Georgia.  The ER Officer will provide support in four key areas: communications, public policy advocacy, community engagement, and donor relations.

More specifically, the ER Officer’s work for CVT Georgia will include, among other things:

• Supporting CVT Georgia’s advocacy to advance fair and inclusive immigration policies; ensure equitable access to mental health care; and strengthen respect for human and civil rights in Georgia
• Managing three social media platforms to engage a diverse local audience
• Facilitating a wide range of coalition meetings and community events
• Assisting with CVT Georgia donor relations and other development work
• Liaising with CVT Georgia’s clinical team at the CVT’s clinic in Clarkston, Georgi

Reports to: Head of External Relations, Georgia      

Location: Clarkston, Georgia

Remote status: 100% to start, with plans to return to 50% to the office and WFH Flexibility                

Organization:

The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to healing survivors of torture. We offer rehabilitation services to those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture, and advocate for human rights and an end to torture. We are headquartered in Minnesota, and we have US offices in Georgia and DC, as well as offices in Africa and the Middle East.

Responsibilities:

• Public Policy Advocacy: Track legislation, monitor legislative hearings, and conduct policy research and analysis. Draft advocacy materials, such as fact sheets, legislative updates, advocacy alerts, sign-on letters and blog posts. Help manage CVT Georgia’s coalition work, including by coordinating meetings, maintaining communications, and helping to recruit new members, organize events and complete coalition tasks and projects.

• Communications: Manage CVT Georgia’s social media presence, currently on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Create original content with appropriate text and design and curate other content suitable for each of the platforms. Coordinate with CVT Communications team in Minnesota.

• Community Engagement: Build relationships in the refugee and immigrant communities that CVT serves and participate in relevant community meetings, events and communications. Help plan annual meeting of the Georgia Advisory Council and update members throughout the year.

• Fundraising:  Help develop CVT Georgia’s relationships with local donors; coordinate and collaborate with CVT’s Development team in Minnesota to expand support.

• Clinical Liaison:  Liaise with the Georgia clinical team to ensure ER work is informed by clients’ and clinicians’ experiences and identify ways that ER can support the clinical work.

• Other Duties: Participate in other department and organization-wide activities, meetings and trainings. Complete administrative responsibilities. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required education, experience, certificates, licenses or registrations

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience in public policy, communications, or a related field.
• At least one year of experience managing social media platforms and growing a social media audience for an organization or company (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in diverse community partnerships or coalitions

Preferred

• J.D., other relevant graduate degree, or equivalent experience.
• Three years of experience working in public policy advocacy or communications for a nonprofit organization
• Lived or work experience with Georgia’s refugee and immigrant communities
• Experience with Georgia federal, state or local government

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including the ability to write in a clear and compelling way for different audiences and purposes
• Excellent skills in organization, attention to detail and time management
• Ability to develop and maintain professional, collaborative relationships in a multicultural environment
• Adept at working independently in a remote setting while maintaining effective working relationships with supervisors and colleagues
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic knowledge of  design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva
• Commitment to engaging in human rights work, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the organization

Supervisory Responsibilities: This is a non-supervisory position

Work Environment (subject to change):

• Typical office environment: Work will be 100% remote to start, with in-person meetings in and around Atlanta.  There are currently plans to work in-person at least 2-3 days per week in an office environment in Clarkston, Georgia.
• Time spent on the computer is approximately 75%
• Time spent in virtual meetings is approximately 20-25%
• Possibility of some weekend and evening meetings and events

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, of up to 5 pounds.

Travel:

Ability to travel up to 10-15% of the time to a variety of locations in metro Atlanta, as well as limited national travel.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and physical demands.      

To Apply:  Submit resume, cover letter and salary expectations by September 20, 2021 to http://cvt.simplicant.com/