General Description

Catholic Mobilizing Network is a national organization working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice through education, advocacy, and prayer. The Director of Death Penalty Abolition Program oversees CMN’s programmatic efforts to end the death penalty and advocate for principles of restorative justice. The Director of Death Penalty Abolition Program leads relationship building with national and state partners and Church leadership, especially state Catholic conferences, to assess opportunities for collaboration in state and federal death penalty repeal campaigns and efforts to stop executions. 

This position is a full-time salaried position, based in Washington, DC and may require travel, approximately 6-8 times per year. The Director of Death Penalty Abolition Program is supervised by CMN’s Executive Director.

Responsibilities

State and Federal Campaigns

  • Assess opportunities for collaboration on state and federal campaigns to end the death penalty and oppose executions, and oversee the development of partnered projects

  • Activate parish, diocesan, and national initiatives, including social media campaigns, speaker tours, and presentations

  • Cultivate opportunities where CMN resources can be used at the parish, diocesan, and national levels

  • Promote and proactively encourage Catholic voices — including bishops, Catholic lay organizations, and women religious — to speak out against the death penalty

  • Build, maintain, and nurture relationships with CMN’s national partners

  • Identify and engage diverse Catholic constituencies, networks, and channels to partner with in order to increase repeal impact 

  • Represent CMN in ongoing strategy meetings within the national abolition movement

  • Pursue opportunities for strategic outreach between CMN supporters and members of Congress regarding federal abolition legislation

Public Education and Advocacy 

  • Assist with drafting press releases, preparing death penalty research briefs for interviews, and writing articles for CMN’s website 

  • Provide updated state campaign information for CMN supporters

  • Create action alerts related to executions and timely legislative efforts

  • Curate content ideas for social media campaigns and live-tweet updates during executions 

  • Develop programmatic materials such as one-pagers, backgrounders, and presentations in collaboration with CMN’s communication team

  • Monitor the status of all state and federal executions and related legislation

  • Lead the logistical coordination of CMN’s presence at national conferences

  • Represent CMN at select conferences and collaborative webinars

Administrative

  • Supervise death penalty-specific fellows, interns, and volunteers

  • Collaborate closely with CMN’s Religious Engagement Associate on local engagement with religious communities

  • Articulate CMN’s death penalty program work in grant processes

  • Establish markers for ongoing monitoring and evaluation in program area

  • Assist in identifying foundation support for death penalty portfolio 

Position strongly encourages:

  • 5-10 years experience working with Church leadership, Catholic lay organizations, or faith-based advocacy 

  • 5-10 years experience in program management, campaign management, and/or grassroots organizing  

  • Commitment to the mission and guiding principles of Catholic Mobilizing Network, including a commitment to racial equity

  • Excellent project management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, implement goals, and keep things moving while maintaining a high attention to accuracy and detail 

  • Facility with interfacing with Church hierarchy, activists, Church mid-management, community advocates, and persons directly impacted by the criminal legal system  

  • Highly organized and able to multitask

  • Comfortable working in a collaborative work environment and independently

  • Excellent written and interpersonal communication and stellar public speaking skills

  • Command of SalsaLabs, Google Suite, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is helpful

  • Familiarity with databases for engagement and constituency management

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary range is $50K-$65K, based on experience  

  • CMN provides excellent individual health insurance

  • Generous vacation policies

  • Employees have access to a 403B plan with employer match.  

Application Process

Deadline to apply is January 15, 2023. Interested applicants may send cover letter and resume to: apply@catholicsmobilizing.org

Catholic Mobilizing Network is an equal opportunity employer. CMN is committed to recruiting and retaining a just and representative work and volunteer force, we encourage people of color and individuals with disabilities to apply.