Disability Rights Advocate Jobs in Rochester, NY

DRNY seeks a Voting Rights Advocate. This position will be a key member of the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program. The Voting Rights Advocate will be responsible for supporting engagement and mobilization of voters with and without disabilities through virtual and in-person outreach and trainings, emails, website content, written copy, and related digital programs.

This position requires an individual with a passion for civil rights to work to make the state’s voting programs accessible to all qualified New Yorkers. The ideal candidate is eager to work in a fast-paced environment. The position will require working irregular hours and a flexible schedule, with some weekend and evening hours required to achieve the goals of the PAVA program. The ability to balance and prioritize competing priorities, to create written and verbal content in plain language, and a knowledge of voting and civil rights laws are essential. The Advocate is expected to report to the PAVA program initially and different programs thereafter as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Register people to vote in NYS and train voters on NYS’s voting program;
• Design accessible content about voting and civil rights in NYS;
• Establish and maintain meaningful relationships with community partners and organizations to further programmatic goals and outreach efforts to better serve voters with disabilities;
• Educate policymakers about accessibility issues in NYS’s voting program;
• Draft written resources and related web content, including social media postings, about voting laws and updates;
• Research new laws and regulations that impact NYS’s voting programs;
• Contribute to the creation and execution of programmatic goals and projects;
• File administrative complaints on behalf of voters with disabilities;
• Regularly communicate with the local and State Board of Elections offices and other agencies responsible for enforcing the civil rights of voters with disabilities;
• Collaborate in cross-program projects and outreach efforts to further organizational advocacy goals;
• Keep up-to-date about voting and civil rights issues that impact people with disabilities during elections;
• Engage with elected officials and candidates to raise awareness about disability issues;
• Collaborate with DRNY’s Marketing Program on the development of visual and audio content;
• Organize files, update existing online content and voting rights resources, and research changes in local, NYS, and Federal election systems, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Participate in committees, task forces, and other organization-wide groups;
• May be asked to provide multilingual client support; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or five+ years of advocacy experience in a professional setting;
• Civil rights or disability advocacy experience;
• NYS driver’s license;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write quality advocacy resources in plain language;
• Availability to work irregular hours and occasionally work on evenings or weekends;
• Ability to balance and prioritize competing priorities;
• Comfortable presenting to large and small groups, virtually and in-person;
• Demonstrated attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy;
• Strong time management skills, including the ability to balance competing priorities;
• Ability to work under deadlines and stick to project plans;
• Ability to follow direction from management, follow company procedures, and be part of a team;
• Comprehensive knowledge of standard virtual meeting spaces, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meeting platforms;
• Passion to further civil rights for people with disabilities;
• Multilingual skills preferred;
• Personal internet access; and
• Must be a New York State resident; and
• Work and reside in New York State consistent with DRNY’s policies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Federal and NYS voting laws and election administration;
• Experience working at nonprofits and with people with disabilities;
• Experience working with elected officials;
• Portfolio of written, audio, and/or design content;
• Experience in disability rights policy and/or advocacy;
• Strong research navigation skills;
• Experience developing accessible web-based content and resources;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom, Adobe Pro, Adobe Suite, and/or Dropbox;
• Master’s degree in relevant field of study.

Working Conditions:

An Advocate in the PAVA Program usually performs work remotely and will be required to report occasionally to a DRNY office or travel to non-standard workplaces. The Advocate will be expected to travel inside NYS and occasionally travel outside the state as necessary.

The annualized salary range for Advocate PAVA is between $52,000 and $80,000.

DRNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees. This includes employer-paid premiums for health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Full-time employees also receive generous paid time off benefits and are eligible for our SEP IRA and 403 (b) retirement plans.

To view more about our organization, check out our YouTube videos highlighting DRNY’s mission in advocating for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Please visit our DRNY YouTube Channel and review our DRNY Press Releases.