Senior Grassroots Organizer

Strengthen HIAS’ state and local advocacy capacity by building and mobilizing grassroots support for immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and other forcibly displaced people in the United States. This role manages a portfolio of 3-4 priority states, advancing campaigns aligned with HIAS’ national policy priorities and local advocacy opportunities. The position is grant-funded through September 30, 2028, with a possible one-year extension based on funding and organizational need.

About the Role

Based at HIAS headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, or the New York, New York office, with remote options for applicants outside commuting distance in registered states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia). The role focuses on developing state-specific organizing strategies, cultivating partnerships, and increasing community participation in advocacy efforts related to immigration enforcement, detention, and immigrant rights protection.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage HIAS’ state/local grassroots advocacy strategy for an assigned portfolio of priority states, ensuring alignment with national policy priorities and grant outcomes.
• Identify state and local policy opportunities related to immigrant rights, immigration enforcement, and detention, translating them into actionable grassroots campaign strategies.
• Build, strengthen, and sustain partnerships with Jewish community institutions, multi-faith partners, immigrant-rights coalitions, and local/state advocacy networks.
• Mobilize HIAS’ community base and partner networks to participate in local and state advocacy campaigns, including education, outreach, and in-district advocacy.
• Design and deliver advocacy trainings, briefings, campaign tools, and educational resources for partners and stakeholders.
• Serve as a HIAS representative in local, state, faith-based, and coalition spaces, ensuring alignment with HIAS’ mission and values.
• Collaborate with Advocacy, Communications, Revenue, and Community Engagement teams to develop campaign messaging, action alerts, toolkits, and funder-facing materials.
• Track campaign progress, partner engagement, and grant-related metrics; use data to inform strategy adjustments and donor reports.
• Monitor developments in assigned states and provide timely analysis to inform HIAS’ broader advocacy strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in grassroots/grasstops organizing, advocacy campaigns, coalition-building, or community engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement advocacy or organizing strategies with clear goals, timelines, and metrics.
• Experience building trusted relationships with diverse partners, including advocacy coalitions, faith communities, and immigrant-rights organizations.
• Experience working with Jewish communities, synagogues, or Jewish social justice organizations strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of immigration, refugee, asylum, detention, or immigration enforcement policy issues preferred.
• Experience working at the state or local level, particularly in priority states (California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas).
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and public communication skills, including translating complex policy issues into accessible advocacy materials.
• Analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize learning and recommend campaign adjustments.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and self-directed, with cultural humility and discretion in complex coalition dynamics.
• Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends and travel domestically as needed.

Pay

Salary range: $80,000–$90,000.