WOW's Elder Security Initiative Program Assistant Positon

Elder Economic Security Initiative™ Program Assistant

Overview:

Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) is a 43 year-old women’s employment organization that works nationally and in its home community of Washington, D.C. to achieve economic independence and equality of opportunity for women and girls at all stages of life. Recently, WOW has launched the national Elder Economic Security Initiative™ program, a conceptual framework that includes concrete tools to shape public policies and programs to promote the economic well being of older adults, whether or not they have the capacity to be fully self-reliant or are in need of certain public supports to age in place with dignity. The Elder Economic Security Initiative™ (EESI™) program combines coalition building, research, education, and advocacy at the community, state, and national level. WOW will partner with 20 states over the next five years to implement the EESI™ program on the national, state, and local level.

Undergirding the EESI™ program is the WOW-GI National Elder Economic Security Standard™ index developed by the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMASS) and WOW. The Elder Economic Security Standard™ (Elder Standard™) index is a new measure of the income that older adults require to maintain their independence in the community and meet their daily costs of living, including affordable and appropriate housing and health care. The Elder Standard™ index is calibrated to household size, geographic area, and life circumstances. The development and use of state specific Elder Standard™ indexes promote a measure of income that respects the autonomy goals of older adults, rather than a measure of what we all struggle to avoid – abject poverty.

EESI™ Program Assistant Role:

The Program Assistant will provide support to the EESI™ program staff and EESI™ state partners around the country on national and state policy and advocacy initiatives.

Reporting:

The Program Assistant is an employee of Wider Opportunities for Women and reports to the EESI™ Director. The Program Assistant will be a member of the EESI ™ team and the National Programs and Policy team at WOW.

Specific Responsibilities include:

· Providing administrative support to the EESI™ program including, but not limited to: formatting text and data; handling the logistics of monthly and quarterly conference calls; securing travel arrangements for staff; supporting meetings; collecting and archiving program records; drafting agendas; assisting with grant reports; compiling research, as needed, on federal policy with an emphasis on retirement security, aging, women, and low-income issues; etc.;
· Providing administrative support to the EESI™ Director;
· Regularly updating and maintaining content of WOW’s website including the EESI™ program page and the Elder Standard™ index database;
· Organizing, displaying, and formatting data in graphs, summary tables, charts, and printouts that are easily understood by various audiences such as researchers, policy makers, grassroots organizations, and elders;
· Attending selected meetings addressing federal policy and advocacy issues;
· Providing administrative support to the National Programs and Policy staff as needed;
· Participating in EESI™ program team meetings and activities; and
· Participating in WOW National Program and Policy team meetings and activities.

Qualifications:

The Program Assistant should be committed to the issues of guaranteeing economic security for women in their retirement years and should feel comfortable working with a diverse group of professionals.

Additional qualifications include:

Undergraduate degree;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to work independently;
Basic familiarity with issues affecting the aging population and low-income women (preferred);
Familiarity with back-end database and web application development processes;
Experience in and sensitivity to working in multicultural settings;
Organizational skills; and
Computer skills (Microsoft Office, including Excel and Publisher).

WOW offers excellent benefits. Compensation for this position will be in the low $30,000s depending upon the qualifications of the successful candidate. Qualified applicants for this position should send a cover letter and resume by September 15, 2007 by mail to Vivian Staples at WOW at 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 930, Washington, DC 20036, by fax to (202) 464-1660 or by email to vstaples@wowonline.org. Only applications with a cover letter will be accepted.

WOW is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.