SENATOR SONIA CHANG-DÍAZ

Intern: Community Affairs & Legislation

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OVERVIEW

Interns in Senator Chang-Díaz's office are integral members of the team and work closely with staff to support the Senator’s goals across legislation, constituent services, and communications. Interns primarily assist staff in managing correspondence with constituents. Each intern receives training and hands-on experience responding to constituent concerns across numerous issue areas. This internship is the perfect primer for anyone looking to learn about the legislative process, constituent services, or communication.

Each day in the office is different, but one might include:

• Office reception – Serving as the first face & voice people experience when they enter the office. This includes answering phones, greeting visitors, and ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and valued.
• Constituent assistance – Responding to constituent needs, drafting letters, making contact with local service providers, and performing community outreach regarding upcoming legislation.
• Data management – Tracking constituent requests, recording inquiries, updating the office mailing list, and tracking press hits.
• Legislative training & support – Attending and assisting staff at Senate sessions, legislative briefings, and bill hearings.
• Scheduling Inquiries – Assisting the Bilingual Senior Assistant to adjust the Senator’s schedule and prioritize various event invitations.

In addition, interns are asked to assist with daily issues that arise in the office. Depending on staff needs and each intern's interests and skills, they may also assist staff with communications and press objectives (e.g. social media, press, and data analytics), bill filing, deliveries, and researching issues. All internships are unpaid.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Internships are writing intensive and require high level communication skills. In general, interns must demonstrate the following:

• Strong written and oral communication skills (experience answering phones is helpful)
• Attention to detail
• Responsibility and an ability to be self-directed
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft office programs
• Courteous and professional demeanor
• Commitment to community and public service

ABOUT THE OFFICE

State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz is a thoughtful, honest, and tenacious champion for the voiceless. She serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and is widely recognized as a strong advocate for public education, criminal justice reform, and access and opportunities for low-income and immigrant communities. She is also a proponent of sound fiscal reform and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Currently serving her fifth term on behalf of the Second Suffolk District, which is comprised of all or part of the Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Mission Hill, Roslindale, Roxbury, and South End neighborhoods in Boston. Senator Chang-Díaz is the first Latina ever elected to the Massachusetts State Senate, and is one of only five women of color currently serving in the state legislature.

TO APPLY

Interns are hired on a semester/summer basis. Priority is given to candidates who are able to commit to 2 full days (9AM-5PM) per week. If interested in interviewing, please send a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample (3 pages max) on a subject of your choice to the Senator’s Bilingual Senior Assistant, Escarolyn Garcia at Escarolyn.garcia@masenate.gov or 617-722-1673.

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Legislative Aide

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Reports to: Chief of Staff (CoS)

The Legislative Aide (LA) is integrally involved in the three priority functions of the Senator’s office: constituent casework services; district liaising; and policy and budget matters. The LA will serve as the point person on a set of specific issue areas and will be responsible for constituent casework and policy work in those areas. The LA will also serve as a liaison to one or more neighborhoods in the Senator’s district.

Responsibilities:

• Liaising with state, local, and federal offices to provide assistance to constituents in the delivery of state and community services
• Maintaining knowledge of key local issues and stakeholders in assigned neighborhoods, and working with neighborhood organizations, groups, and residents on such issues
• Coordination of district outreach events undertaken by Senate office (e.g., town hall meetings)
• Research, tracking, and analysis of key legislation in assigned policy areas
• Achieving legislative/budget goals, managing constituent correspondence/casework, and representing the Senator at meetings/events, in assigned policy areas and neighborhoods
• Assisting the Communications Manager with media inquiries and other press work relative to assigned issue areas and neighborhoods
• Building coalitions of support in and out of district and within the State House
• Assisting Senator’s preparation for events, interviews, and hearings related to policy areas

Required Qualifications:

• Strong familiarity with Second Suffolk district, especially the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and Hyde Park
• Strong work ethic & healthy sense of humor; desire to be a part of a fun, driven, loyal team
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Superb written and oral communication skills
• Commitment to promotion of Progressive values
• Willingness to work long hours, including some evening and weekend availability
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and problem solve in high-pressure environments
• Ability to work well with people of diverse economic, ethnic, and philosophical backgrounds
• Comfort with taking initiative and working independently, and with working as part of a team
• Willingness to commit to the position for at least 2-3 years

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-3 years political, State House, or community-organizing experience
• Fluency in Spanish, Haitian, or Cape Verdean Creole a plus

Compensation commensurate with experience. 75% health, dental, and vision coverage.

To apply, please send resume, cover letter, relevant writing sample (3 pages maximum), and contact information for three professional references to Nathanael.Shea@masenate.gov by Sept 20, 2017. Equal opportunity employer—candidates of diverse backgrounds strongly encouraged to apply.

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