Volunteer Network Manager

Job Summary 

The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers promotes the health, strength, and resilience of caregivers through gathering, analyzing, and sharing data, partnering with others, and promoting evidence-based programs. In November 2020, RCI’s Recalibrating for Caregivers: Recognizing the Public Health Challenge made the case for a fundamentally different approach to designing a system of support for caregivers, describing a future with high-quality, effective supports along the trajectory of a caregiver’s experience. At present, there is a lack of public awareness about the physical, emotional, financial, and social toll of caregiving. 

Since caregiving impacts physical and mental health, RCI advances support for caregivers through a public health lens similar to how other health risks such as smoking are addressed, including: 

• Gathering stakeholders to build community, listen for changing needs and perceptions, and educate participants about research, promising new programs, and policy issues 
• Sharing stories and research findings to build a common understanding of and empathy for caregivers  
• Driving awareness and attitudinal change among influencers and policymakers 
• Engaging stakeholders through social media to reinforce awareness and build support for policy change; and 
• Building a cadre of advocates who can effectively make the case for caregivers at the regional and Federal level. RCI will initially focus network building on Georgia, Michigan, and New York, working with groups already organizing caregiver advocates on the ground 

RCI is in the process of building the 4Kinds Network, a national network of volunteer advocates to support caregivers. Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Volunteer Network Manager (VNM) has primary responsibility for the development and execution of outreach, organizing and leadership development strategies that support the 4Kinds Network. The ideal candidate will be experienced in community organizing and program development with the ability to work nationally on multiple priorities, communicate effectively with various stakeholders, and foster trusting relationships. 

As part of this position the candidate will have responsibility for supporting awareness-building and policy advocacy strategies that enhance the environment for unpaid caregivers. These strategies include building a community of support among caregivers (and former caregivers); encouraging peer support; planning and executing networking events (in person or online); gathering and documenting powerful caregiving stories; training volunteers to be effective advocates; and identifying meaningful and potentially impactful policy advocacy opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels. 

This will require being highly visible: serving as a spokesperson among RCI stakeholder groups, attending events and conferences, and meeting with people of a variety of experiences and backgrounds. This is a remote position, and a successful candidate will be self-motivated and resourceful. Someone successful in this position will be collaborative and work well in partnership with others. Travel will be required. 

The position will serve as a strategic advisor to organization leaders, develop timely tools for advocacy activities, and match volunteer advocates to advocacy opportunities. 

Responsibilities: 

This position will work closely with the Communications Director to build an effective Network. The VNM will also work with RCI’s policy leads to coordinate advocacy opportunities and provide the necessary tools to support caregiver champions in adding their voices to public policy campaigns. Key responsibilities include: 

• Continually gathering information about caregiver needs, preferences, and concerns. 
• Developing a marketing and outreach plan for the network based on the information gathered from caregivers. 
• Engaging and organizing volunteer advocates as peer supporters and public policy champions. 
• Providing training and coaching to caregivers within the network to be effective policy advocates. 
• Collaborating with other RCI leaders in developing advocacy strategies and identifying advocacy opportunities. 
• Supporting efforts to position RCI and its policy priorities strategically in Washington, D.C. and at the state level. 
• Supporting cultivation of relationships with policymakers and influencers in service of RCI’s policy priorities. 
• Participating in coalition-building activities. 
• Maintaining a working knowledge of public policy issues and initiatives that impact caregivers. 
• Ensuring involvement of key caregiver champions and partner organizations in promoting shared priorities. 
• Supporting Chief, Government Affairs in cultivating partner advocacy organizations.
• Serving as RCI representative with other caregiver support networks.
• Making regional and national presentations to increase awareness. 
• Maintaining and sharing consistent documentation of interactions on behalf of RCI, as well as providing regular reports and updates on these to drive organizational strategy. 
• Performing other related duties and assignments as directed by the Director of Communications. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a non-profit community organizing, volunteer management, grassroots advocacy or comparable roles. 
• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills. 
• Proven interpersonal skills and a demonstrated capacity to build and sustain relationships based on a shared goal. 
• Superior project management and organizational skills. 
• Ability to work creatively within a team environment. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, political science, or other relevant field of study. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities 

• Marketing skills, including the capacity for promoting new programs and ventures. 
• Creativity in proposing and implementing programs, projects, and/or initiatives. 
• Experience with the collective impact model. 
• Ability to strategically connect initiatives to RCI’s mission. 
• Ability to integrate duties with other department programs to maximize impact and create efficiencies. 
• Skill in coordinating activities with a wide variety of stakeholders. 
• Experience recruiting, organizing, and supervising volunteers. 
• Ability to productively impact both strategic and tactical initiatives.  
• Unimpeachable ethical standards, confidentiality, and personal integrity.  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, project management software, and network management systems.  
• Alignment with the mission of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers; and 
• Commitment to and promotion of RCI’s values (empathy, advocacy, equity, collaboration, community, knowledge).