About the position

Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates (NOVA) is a 14-year-old non-partisan, non-profit organization that is committed to increasing voter turnout in Cleveland’s underserved communities.

NOVA’s jail voting initiative is one of the organization’s flagship initiatives. NOVA is currently the only organization that sends volunteers into the Cuyahoga County Jail to register voters and help them request ballots. In recent years, NOVA has expanded its jail voting initiative to include Geauga and Lorain counties.

The jail voter program is currently led by the volunteer president of NOVA’s board of directors. This staff member will work closely with the board president to take over essential tasks and develop expertise in this subject area. This staff member will also be responsible for producing a program guide that will share lessons learned from NOVA’s initiative with organizations across the state interested in launching similar programs. Ultimately, this staff member will be responsible for expanding the program to new facilities and building a statewide alliance.

Maintaining this program requires extensive coordination with jail personnel, community service providers, advocacy groups, and NOVA volunteers. The advocate will also build on NOVA’s existing relationships with other organizations and activists working on incarcerated voter issues, and build new connections.

Qualifications:

We are seeking applicants who share our passion for voting and rights for justice-impacted citizens, have had direct experience in:

training and organizing volunteers
building and maintaining productive partnerships with nonprofits, grassroots community groups and government organizations
navigating complex government bureaucracies

The ideal candidate must work with diverse colleagues in partner and stakeholder organizations, including government and grassroots programs in health, food aid, housing, job training, and educational organizations, as well as carceral settings. Applicants should have experience in projects that have made measurable improvements in low-income or disenfranchised communities. Existing connections with community organizations and leaders in Cleveland’s underserved neighborhoods are valued.

We encourage applications from all interested candidates, including those with personal ties to or lived experience in any of the underrepresented voter communities we serve, including:

Formerly incarcerated voters
Low-income voters
Unhoused or unstably housed voters
Multilingual voters
Voters in Cleveland’s wards 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Incarcerated Voters Advocate Responsibilities:

Coordinate opportunities for volunteers to enter the jail and register voters
Design and lead volunteer training on incarcerated voters’ rights and how to register incarcerated voters.
Attend online meetings with organizers from across the state and country working on related projects
Identify barriers to voting faced by people in Ohio detention facilities
Work with experts, activists and government officials to reduce barriers to voting in Ohio detention facilities
Train other organizations’ staff to register people in jails and navigate carceral bureaucracies.
Expand NOVA’s work with the formerly incarcerated by creating partnerships and registration opportunities for people who have been formerly incarcerated

Qualifications:

Two to three years of organizational experience is preferred with a non-profit, advocacy, or civic organization.
Proficiency with Google Suite, Zoom, and additional digital communication programs as needed.
Lived or professional experience with the carceral and/or reentry system

Reporting Relationships:

The incarcerated voters advocate will report to the NOVA assistant director.

Position Location and Timing:

This position is hybrid. NOVA has an office at Fairhill Center. Many tasks can be done remotely from a home office. Various community locations in Cleveland and adjacent suburbs have been used for meetings, training, and other purposes.
This is a full-time position. Days worked are typically Monday to Friday. In months prior to elections, Saturday and evening hours may be expected. Hours per week will fluctuate depending on peak and off season responsibilities.
Funding support for this position is secured for at least 6 months. NOVA is actively looking for funding sources to extend the position beyond six months.

Compensation:

The salary range for the position is $50,000 to $55,000, depending on qualifications. Healthcare benefits and paid vacation are included. Mileage between sites will be reimbursed. Employees are paid twice a month.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and references to NOVA’s Board President, Meredith Hellmer at president@nova-ohio.org.

Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates

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