Texas State Manager

Title: Texas State Manager

Reports to: Vice President of State Initiatives

Hours: Full-time, exempt

Location: in or around Austin, Texas

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.

Giffords is seeking a Texas State Manager to join our team. The Texas State Manager will be an integral part of Giffords, responsible for supporting the development and execution of Giffords’ state-based strategy that organizes key stakeholders across priority states and involves almost every facet of the organization’s work, including policy, engagement, community violence intervention, political, government affairs, research, implementation and litigation programs. The Texas State Manager will collaborate with multiple teams at Giffords to help build sustainable organizational infrastructure for Giffords in Texas, including networks of grasstops and grassroots supporters, greater engagement with allied candidates and elected officials, and more.

The successful candidate for this role has a deep understanding of Texas’ dynamics, local communities, and politics. We’re seeking a candidate who has experience in organizing, legislative affairs, or local politics, is flexible, and has a collaborative orientation.

This is a full-time remote work position based in Texas. This position requires the ability and willingness to travel within Texas up to 60% of the time, as well as interest in staffing occasional weekend and evening events. As the safety and wellbeing of our team is of utmost importance, Giffords requires all staff members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exemptions as required by federal and state law.

Applications will be 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

1. Work with the State Initiatives team to execute ambitious immediate and long-term strategic plans for Giffords work in Texas.
2. Support the organizational mission to build out and maintain an on-the-ground presence in Texas to establish a powerful Giffords presence, influence, local sophistication, brand identity, fundraising base, and more.
3. Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with other organizations, leaders, and stakeholders to help elevate the issue of gun safety in Texas.
4. Represent Giffords as a member of the Texas Gun Safety Coalition.
5. Coordinate calls and maintain regular communication with Texas partners, as well as elected officials and consultants as needed.
6. Plan and coordinate Giffords-sponsored events across Texas, as well as attend and speak at internal and external meetings and events on behalf of Giffords.
7. Assist engagement, development, communications, and government affairs departments in their work in Texas.
8. Liaise with core constituencies (communities most impacted by gun violence, Latino voters, gun owners) on the issue of gun safety.
9. Create opportunities for Giffords to engage and build a more robust presence throughout Texas.
10. Stay up to date on Texas current events and news.
11. Other duties as assigned.

Required knowledge, skills + experience

• Strong knowledge of Texas politics and ability to navigate and advise Giffords on Texas-specific dynamics, communities, and regions.
• 3-5 years of full or part-time work experience in related fields such as organizing, politics, government, or other areas of advocacy.
• Outstanding judgment and solutions-oriented with demonstrated problem-solving skills and ability to be flexible.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to build and maintain relationships effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare internal and external reports, deliver presentations, and effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• A strong commitment to and fluency with inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism.
• Interest in strategic mission-based advocacy.

Valued non-essential knowledge, skills, + experience

• Strong ties in major metro areas of Texas.
• Experience with project management and/or other management skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Salary + benefits

The salary range for this position is $60,000 – $75,000 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; 25 days of PTO annually plus paid week vacation between Christmas and New Year’s; 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. Our interview process for this position consists of a phone interview, a panel interview, a final interview, and reference checks.

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.