Project director

Description

This individual will be responsible for: 1) increasing Red Cross organizational capacity to effectively communicate with New Jersey policymakers about disaster preparedness and response needs and 2) improving state and local policymaker understanding of disaster preparedness and response issues affecting their communities.

Key Responsibilities:

- Establish an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from the Red Cross, other non-governmental organizations, municipal, county and state governmental representatives, foundations and other community partners. The Project Director will convene and facilitate bi-monthly Advisory Committee meetings, disseminate meeting minutes and ensure follow-up on Advisory Committee recommendations.

- Conduct research and develop a policy paper on issues related to disaster preparedness and response, including an analysis of the political context and policy environment for disaster preparedness and response activities in NJ. The Project Director will be responsible for conducting the analysis. Data sources for the research may include on-line resources, interviews with representatives from governmental agencies and review of other relevant documentation.

- Analyze and develop a database on Red Cross organizational resources, including Red Cross staff, Board member, volunteer and community networks.

- Train and engage Red Cross Board members, volunteers, partners and other community leaders to become involved in improving policymaker understanding of disaster preparedness and response issues affecting their communities. The Project Director will organize at least two training sessions of between 10-15 Red Cross staff, volunteers, Board members or other related community leaders each.

- Identify strategic opportunities for Red Cross CEOs, Board Members, staff, volunteers, partners and other community leadership to educate policymaking audiences (i.e., committees, task forces, town hall meetings, community meetings) in issues related to disaster preparedness and response.

- Develop tools and resources to assist chapters to reach out and establish/strengthen relationships with local and state policymakers. These tools include: general suggestions for building relationships with policymakers, sample thank you notes for meetings, sample talking points and sample meeting summary formats.

- Develop an inventory of formal media outlets such as TV and radio stations as well as informal media such as local organizational newsletters and websites.

- Work with Red Cross Public Relations staff to formulate consistent messages and develop outreach strategies for policymaking audiences on disaster preparedness and response. The Project Director will develop fact sheets with key messages. The Project Director will ensure that the messaging is consistent with National Red Cross, other government and other partner messaging.

- Engage in media outreach on disaster preparedness and response, building on existing Red Cross media ties. The Project Director will identify strategic opportunities for Red Cross CEOs, key volunteers, Board Members and other affiliated leadership to place op eds and do newspaper, radio and television interviews.

- Hold at least two community education events on disaster preparedness and response. The events will be coordinated by the Project Director. The purpose of the events will be to engage businesses and the general public and provide them with important information on how to prepare and protect their employees and families when disasters occur.

- Coordinate activities with the Red Cross-funded contract lobbyist.

Working Relationships:

NJ Chapter Executives and Directors, ARC Board members and community partners, State Relations Committee, State Relations Disaster Liaison representative, Public Relations staff

Additional Qualifications:

College degree or the equivalent work related experience required. Extensive experience in New Jersey government relations and politics a must. The individual must have excellent facilitation, writing, organizational skills.