Arena Careers

Title: Coalition Manager, Gun Owners for Safety

Reports to: Political Director

Hours: Full-time, exempt

Location: Preference for DC Metro Area but open to fully remote within the contiguous United States

Direct Reports: Part-time Regional Coordinator

Led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, GIFFORDS is a nonprofit organization whose team is on a mission to save lives from gun violence. GIFFORDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an environment that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion. People of color, trans individuals, gender non-conforming individuals, women, people with differing abilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Coalition Manager, Gun Owners for Safety (GOS) will lead efforts to expand and mobilize our national network of responsible gun owners who support common sense gun safety policies. This position will focus on developing and executing strategies to increase and strengthen volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management of volunteer leaders, and work with state partners to build out a GOS footprint in key states. The ideal candidate will bring strong organizing and volunteer management experience, a sense of political acuity, and an ability to manage data and track metrics for engagement and growth. They will be a collaborative and creative team player who works across departments to elevate gun owner voices and help shift the culture around guns and safety. Candidates should have a deep background and knowledge of guns and be comfortable interacting directly with people of varying political views in diverse environments with the goal of gun violence prevention.

This is a full-time position based in the contiguous United States. This position requires the ability and willingness to travel at least 30% of the time, as well as attend evening and weekend events as needed.

GIFFORDS employees are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus with limited exemptions as required by federal and state law. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants, no phone calls or emails, please.

Duties + Responsibilities:

• Develops strategy to grow and strengthen the Gun Owners for Safety coalition nationwide, with a focus on recruiting and training volunteers in strategic states to further gun violence prevention efforts at the national, state and local levels.
• Coordinates and manages the Senior Ambassador program (volunteer leaders) by conducting monthly calls, check-ins, field activity planning, stipend disbursements, and data tracking.
• Manages and tracks volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement to ensure steady growth and retention measurable by established metrics.
• Collaborates closely with teams across the organization – including Communications, Research, Government Affairs, State Affairs and Policy, and Litigation to build events such as lobby days, trainings, message guidance and talking points, testimony, and other coalition materials to be used by advocates in the field and while representing GIFFORDS and GOS publicly.
• Oversees the development and leads volunteer training, peer-to-peer organizing, and storytelling efforts; supporting volunteers in sharing their personal stories to advocate for change in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops and organizes campaigns, expands programs and initiatives, coordinates events and meetings with the GOS coalition, grassroots and grass-tops partners to maintain and expand the GOS footprint.
• Identifies opportunities and coordinates gun owners to speak to external audiences, including media, on behalf of Giffords; with support for preparation, messaging, and logistics.
• Manages the database tools for volunteer activities, growth, events, actions, and progression along the ladder of engagement.
• Oversees communications platform to external audiences.
• Continues efforts to expand and broaden Giffords’ engagement to include a diverse and inclusive group of gun owners working on the issue.
• Serves as a spokesperson for Gun Owners for Safety.
• Supervises the part-time GOS Regional Coordinator.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required knowledge, skills + experience:

• Minimum two to four years of relevant work experience in coalition building, community and field organizing, issue campaigns or grassroots legislative advocacy.
• Proven experience managing volunteers and tracking metrics of engagement.
• Deep knowledge of and experience with firearms.
• A record of being a collaborative teammate, capable of building and managing relationships internally and externally.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively with allied organizations, build new relationships and create partnerships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to convey complex issues in clear and simple terms.
• Comfort and experience with gun owners and gun owner culture.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to be flexible.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, sense of humor and ability to work well on a team.
• Commitment to ending America’s gun violence epidemic through effective engagement of gun owners.
• Comfort working in a moderate political environment with bi-partisan and centrist constituencies.

Valued non-essential knowledge, skills + experience:

• Experience working with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organizations.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Salary + benefits

The salary range for this position is $69,000 - $77,000 annually, with the exact salary depending on experience. Competitive benefits include employer-funded health, dental, and vision insurance; health, transit, and parking flexible spending accounts; 401k plan with 4% employer match; reimbursement for cell phone and monthly wifi stipend, 25 days of PTO annually plus paid week closure at the end of the calendar year; and ten paid federal holidays.

Applying + the interview process

Submit your resume and a brief cover letter (400 words maximum) that outlines three specific ways that you would be a good fit for this position and your experience/comfort level with firearms. Our interview process for this position consists of a phone interview, a Zoom panel interview, a final interview, reference checks, and a background check.

GIFFORDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an environment that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion. People of color, trans individuals, gender non-conforming individuals, women, people with differing abilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.