Equality Illinois (EQIL), the state’s oldest and largest organization advocating for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, seeks a full-time Field Fellow for a one year paid fellowship. The Field Fellow is dedicated to advancing equal treatment for the LGBT community through education and advocacy in Illinois. The focus of the position is to build relationships with groups and individuals, train and motivate activists, and increase our membership base statewide. The Field Fellow reports directly to the Director of Field Operations. The position will be a twelve-month appointment (with the possibility of renewal) and will be based in central Illinois.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build a strong statewide network, providing professionally-developed materials, training, and support to local volunteer leaders, with a primary focus in city centers in Illinois outside of the Chicagoland area
• Maintain regular contact and coordination with coalition organizations, serving as convener when needed
• Organize targeted community meetings and events, recruit hosts and participants, and prepare and facilitate programming
• Develop advocates’ skills and leadership through personal and group trainings
• Recruit new members for EQIL’s work towards full LGBT equality and engage existing membership
• Recruit volunteers to participate and staff community events, festivals, and fairs, as needed
• Utilize public gatherings and events to garner support for any issue of LGBT equality
• Phone bank and canvass in targeted communities
• Maintain database and data entry as needed
• Perform other duties as directed by the Director of Field Operations

Requirements:

• Commitment to justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons
• Demonstrated experience in working with grassroots, political, or organizing programs
• Commitment to achieve mutually agreed upon goals
  Commitment to building a diverse, multi-cultural organization
• Ability to listen and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to communicate well orally and in writing
• An outgoing, assertive personality with a willingness to “work the room”
• Leadership qualities and the ability to mobilize others to action
• Ability to work with and build a team
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with regard to the handling of confidential information -and maintain professional standards of conduct
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends
• Must be able to work independently with direction
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized
• Travel: 50 to 75% – valid driver’s license and access to a car required (all pre-approved business expenses will be reimbursed)

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Background using membership management database (Salsa, VAN)
• Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish (and/or other languages)

Compensation:

• $28,000 per annum**
• Comprehensive benefits package

Hiring Process:

• Position will be open until filled.
• Interviews will be held by invitation only. No telephone inquiries, please.

Send cover letter and resume BY EMAIL ONLY to:
Patty Dillon, Director of Field Operations (info@eqil.org). Please use “Field Fellowship” in your subject line.

**This fellowship is funded in part through the generosity of the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation.