Associate State Director- Outreach & Community Engagement

Job Description

Overview

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin.

 

AARP’s Community, State and National Affairs (CSN) Group includes Government Relations, Programs, Volunteer Engagement, Community Outreach and Advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. It delivers on AARP’s social mission by educating and engaging people 50-plus and their families, strengthening communities, and championing issues that help give people financial and health security.

 

As the Associate State Director for Community Engagement and Outreach for the Georgia State Office in the greater Atlanta metro area, you will play a key role in building and strengthening strategic community partnerships to advance the organization’s engagement goals at the state and local levels within the greater metro Atlanta area. You will design and lead community activities, grassroots outreach, and mobilization efforts that align with the organization's strategic objectives while ensuring alignment and consistency. Serving as the voice of the organization in the region, you will represent our interests, helping to amplify our impact. Additionally, you will recruit, train, and empower volunteer teams, fostering collaboration to achieve our impactful mission. You’ll lead the development and execution of projects and events tailored to the specific needs of the surrounding areas, ensuring they resonate with target audiences. Collaborating with management, you will identify opportunities to streamline processes and implement new procedures that support organizational goals.  Additionally, you will work as a part of the Georgia State Office team, working collaboratively with other team members, supporting team goals and objectives. If you are passionate about building connections, leading impactful initiatives, creating lasting change, and working as a part of an impactful team, this is the role for you. Together, we can amplify our mission and make a real difference in the lives of others.


Responsibilities

  • Provides advice and counsel to cross-functional teams in the implementation of the organization's state and community strategy initiatives including local advocacy, member/public engagement, volunteer management, and communications priorities.
  • Evaluates and adjusts strategy implementation to achieve the organization's local goals nationwide. Assesses state and regional needs and develops and implements training programs as needed.
  • Works with staff, volunteers, members, and other cross-organization teams to achieve the organization’s community engagement goals at the state and local levels. Establishes a presence for the organization in targeted communities by engaging multicultural audiences, developing community partnerships, building volunteer capacity, and designing and executing engaging community programs and events.
  • Resolves systemic issues across functions and ensures strong communication within a matrixed business environment.
  • Develops and implements community engagement and communication strategies tailored to target audiences in statewide and local communities. Establishes strategic community partnerships and leverages internal and/or external resources to raise the visibility of the organization within communities.
  • Recruits, trains, develops, and deploys volunteers in accordance with organizational goals. Aligns volunteers’ interests with organizational priorities. Supports volunteer needs and designs opportunities to maximize volunteer engagement. Ensures inclusion of volunteer perspectives in strategic planning.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree with 5+ years of experience in community engagement, grassroots organizing, and coalition building.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and execute nonpartisan strategies aligned with AARP’s social mission.
  • Proven success in recruiting, training, and leading volunteer activists.
  • Skilled in managing multiple projects simultaneously, with a track record of developing both short- and long-term tactical plans.
  • Adept at leveraging data analytics, digital systems, and emerging technologies to inform strategy.
  • Collaborative team player who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced, changing and often ambiguous environments.
  • Solid interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a highly matrixed work environment with many key stakeholders.
  • Willingness to travel up to 50%, with flexibility for evening and weekend engagements to support initiatives in the metro Atlanta area. 

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position at this time.


Additional Requirements 

  • Regular and reliable job attendance.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
  • Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions.
  • In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise.
  • Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. 

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

 

Compensation and Benefits

AARP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including a 401(k); 100% company-funded pension plan; health, dental, and vision plans; life insurance; paid time off to include company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave; performance-based and peer-based recognition and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.