Language Justice Specialist

ABOUT VIOLENCE FREE COLORADO

Violence Free Colorado is the federally recognized anti-domestic violence coalition for the state of Colorado. Our mission is “advancing the well-being of all Coloradans through relationships free from abuse and oppression.”  We work at the local, state, and national levels to create system-wide change by influencing policy and supporting direct service organizations with resources, training, and technical assistance. We are committed to working in partnership with survivors and other anti-oppression movements to address the root causes and overlapping dynamics of violence. Violence Free Colorado is a progressive organization fostering a workplace culture rooted in equity, transparency, liberation, and care.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Language Justice Specialist (LJS) provides training, technical assistance, and systems advocacy on the intersections of anti-oppression work, language justice, and domestic violence. The LJS will work with bilingual anti-domestic violence advocates state-wide to expand programming, resources, and accessibility to survivors who are often marginalized or ignored in primarily English-speaking programs.  They will also work with anti-domestic violence programs to create policies and protocols that foster safer, more supportive, and more equitable working environments for bilingual advocates. The LJS works closely with the Culturally Responsive Training Manager, Economic Justice Specialist, and Training and Technical Assistance Specialist to help member organizations create programming that is inclusive, accessible, and seeks to address historical trauma, oppression, and disenfranchisement.  Violence Free Colorado believes that education is social change and access is equity, interested candidates should be as excited about teaching as they are about lifelong learning. In keeping with our organizational core values, the successful candidate will engage their work in trauma-informed, culturally responsive ways that center accessibility, equity, and inclusion.  Like all coalition staff, the LJS will work to center the experience of survivors and to identify ways that domestic violence intersects with experiences of oppression based on identity and access to power.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Training & Technical Assistance

• Provide technical assistance to members and community partners on issues of language justice, anti-oppression, and domestic violence.
• Provide online and in-person training to members and community partners on issues of anti-oppression, language justice, and domestic violence.
• Build and maintain a Bilingual Advocate Cohort including regular online meetings and management of online platform for cohort members to communicate, collaborate and learn from one another.
• Support the development of new Online Learning Center courses.
• Support internal language access in our training and technical assistance.
• Coordinate with the Public Policy Team on systems interventions and public policy development that provide language justice for survivors and advocates.
• With training staff, collect, track, and analyze technical assistance and training data for equity, growth, effectiveness, reporting, and professional development.
• Provide staff support and leadership during Coalition events such as the Colorado Advocacy in Action Conference.

Communications and Outreach

• Build new partnerships with organizations whose work supports language justice and culturally responsive care and are committed to anti-oppression and anti-violence.
• Produce regular content for newsletters, social media, and website on issues relating to our internal language justice work as well as to local and national trends.
• Coordinate with supervisor to respond to media inquiries.
• Manage online platforms (including document sharing, message boards, policy updates, and calendars) for bilingual advocates working in member programs.
• With staff, build and maintain strong relationships with member programs.
• With staff and leadership team, expand and diversify membership.

Organizational Leadership 

• Participate in internal vision work, including theory of change, strategic planning, and culture building.
• Participate in various boards, task forces, and committees that impact domestic violence-related policy work.
• Support internal equity (ACRTI) work.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s level degree in human services, public health, critical theories, or related field; OR 5-8 years equivalent experience.
• Bilingual/Multi-lingual
• Direct-service experience as an advocate, counselor, or community organizer working with populations whose preferred language/primary language is other than English.
• High level of understanding of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and the ways these intersect with issues of identity and oppression.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression work.
• Ability to communicate information to small and large groups, to domestic violence experts and the public.
• Experience with Zoom and other online communication platforms, Microsoft Office programs and databases.
• Due to our funding sources, all staff must submit an I-9 at time of hire.
• Due to our funding sources, a background check and fingerprinting are required.

Additional Requirements:

• While we work primarily remotely, all staff must live in Colorado at time of employment.
• Ability to travel statewide for training and technical assistance.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Note to potential applicants: The final candidate must have the ability to perform the majority of duties in this role. Having said that, we acknowledge that individuals who have experienced systemic oppression tend to undervalue what they can contribute to an organization. We encourage you to apply for this job if it sounds like a good fit for you, even if you aren’t confident that you meet every single one of the requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

Send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references, in a single PDF attachment with the subject line “(your last name) Language Justice Specialist” to jobs@violencefreeco.org Speak to how your experience and qualifications match what we are looking for in this role in your cover letter. We invite candidates to include chosen names and pronouns on documents. Include in your application what reasonable accommodation(s) you need to apply. Application review starts immediately and will be open until filled.