EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Posted: June 04, 2008

Administrative Coordinator

Job description
POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a creative, committed and disciplined individual with superb administrative, computer, writing and communications skills to support the growth of a national advocacy organization located in mid-town Manhattan.

Job responsibilities include general administration, writing, and communications strategies (i.e., website and database development, event planning and public relations). The ideal candidate will work closely with Executive Director in managing the office and synthesizing communication activities.

The Direct Care Alliance is a national and state-based advocacy organization committed to creating economic justice for low income long-term care workers and quality care for elders and people with disabilities who receive services.

This is a full-time position with excellent salary and benefits.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has a broad range of responsibilities that involve working directly with the Executive and the National Advocacy Directors of the Direct Care Alliance. Key responsibilities include:

• Working with the Executive Director on setting priorities and executing key management activities
• Developing and implementing communications strategies and creating materials using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and other graphics software
• Authoring public relations documents including press releases, newsletters, blogs and brochures
• Working with the Executive Director to manage the funder outreach and the individual donor program including setting and managing a database
• Executing mailings for the Board of Directors and workshop attendees;
• Event planning, including hotel and travel arrangements and handling expense reports;
• Coordinating with the Direct Care Alliance web development firm the update and maintenance of the Direct Care Alliance’s new website
• Working with the Direct Care Alliance staff to implement communications systems with a growing network of states and supporters from around the country including direct care workers, consumers, elders and people with disabilities
• Other administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations of the Direct Care Alliance.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least two years executive administrative experience with excellent computer and software skills
• A College degree in communications, public relations or marketing or demonstrated writing and public relations experience
• Self-starter with ability to work in a small office on own
• Extreme attention to detail and follow-through
• Excellent, friendly inter-personal skills and ability to communicate with people with diverse backgrounds from all parts of the United States

Introduction to the DCA

The Direct Care Alliance is a national coalition of state-based workers, consumers, and providers joining together to build a stable, valued direct-care workforce. We advocate for changes in public policy and long-term care practice, so that America’s long-term care system will:

• Provide quality care and support for direct-care consumers—elders, and individuals who are chronically ill or living with disabilities—by
• Creating quality jobs for direct-care staff—nursing home aides, home health aides, and personal care attendants—recognizing these workers as the foundation of long-term care.

We apply our mission within a three-part theory of change:

• Reform of public policy and healthcare industry practice is more likely to benefit direct-care workers, consumers, and concerned providers—when they engage together in multi-stakeholder advocacy initiatives;
• The knowledge, hands-on perspective, and life experiences of direct-care workers are essential to these initiatives—yet rarely are they provided the support and tools necessary to participate as equal stakeholders; and
• Workers can more powerfully articulate their positions within multi-stakeholder initiatives—when acknowledged, trained, and supported as leaders in their own right.

We call this advocacy framework Quality Care through Quality Jobs. A central objective of the DCA’s immediate work is to build structures for direct care workers to have a voice in our long-term care system by establishing and nurturing a network of direct-care worker associations.

In working to fulfill our mission, the DCA takes special care to convene all long-term care stakeholders—workers, consumers, employers, and others—believing that understanding and collaboration between them is essential if we are to achieving lasting change. While achieving consensus between the at-times opposing viewpoints of these stakeholders can be challenging, we have seen that it can establish incredible momentum toward reform, and we base our work around this potential.

With the help of an Administrative Coordinator, we seek to obtain the expert support for our Executive and National Directors as we implement our activities. The Administrative and Communications Coordinator will be a key part of the Direct Care Alliance team as we develop a national movement that improves working conditions for millions of low income direct care workers who are primarily women.

Application Process

After reviewing our website www.directcarealliance.org, blog at www.directcarealliance.blogspot.com and newsletter archive at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs044/1101517943367/archive/1101847154973.html write a letter describing why you are the right person for this job, including a resume and a writing sample. Send this, together with your resume to directcarealliance@gmail.com. Please note the position in the subject line.

Direct Care Alliance, Inc.
4 West 43rd Street, 5th Floor, Room 505-507
New York, NY 10036
E-mail: directcarealliance@gmail.com

Applications will be reviewed starting 6/15/08 and the position will be filled when a suitable candidate is selected.

~ DCA is committed to ensuring a diverse staff. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, or disability. ~