Try This Deputy Director – JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Try This WV and WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition
Try This West Virginia is astatewide movement of West Virginians who are determined tohelp knock our state off the top of the worst health lists by working in their own communities.The movement includes local people plus statewide partners who want to help them change their communities. Statewide partners include groups ranging from the West Virginia Council of Churches and Bureau for Public Health to West Virginia University Extension Service and the WV Association of Counties. See for full list and more information.
Try This is building a statewide network of local health activists who help each other. Since 2014, we have awarded more than $280,000 to 155 community-based teams (See for lists of projects). We bring more than 500 people together each year for a robust annual conference, andwe maintain a top-flight “how-to” website, to help people create projects in their communities.We help community teams do long-range planning and have started exciting new work with congregations, parents and other groups.
We are looking for a Deputy Director who can contribute substantially to all aspects of Try This, someone who is comfortable working in a team and is interested in and capable of someday becoming Director.
Qualifications. This is a dream job for the right person, with possibility of advancement. The ideal candidate:
- isa detail-oriented hardworking person who can think outside the box
- can think strategically about ways to expand the impact of the movement
- has experience with – and enjoys - community organizing
- knows his or her way around online media and can help us expand and maintain our online presence
- is widely acquainted with West Virginians who are currently involved with healthy lifestyles work
- is widely acquainted with West Virginia programs designed to reduce our chronic disease rate
- has solid experience and knowledge of healthy lifestyles
- is passionate about chronic disease prevention
- is comfortable and skilled at making group presentations
- is comfortable face to face with people from all walks of life: parents, kids, pastors, doctors, policymakers.
- is a good narrative writer
Responsibilities.The Try This Deputy Director will work closely with the Try This co-directors to carry out Try This events and programs. He or she will learn how to organize and take primary responsibility for our annual conference, with 40 breakout sessions, over a hundred presenters and 500 participants. He or she will overseeour mini-grant and second-stage grant programs, coordinating minigrant helpers for more than 50 community teams, to help make sure projects succeed. He or she will help recruit and supervise Try This VISTA workers and, like everyone else on our team,help raise a significant portion of their salary through grantwriting, sponsorships, etc.
We plan to tailor this position to fit the strengths and experience of the successful applicant.
Details. We will wait till we find the right person, but a successful candidate could start as soon as March 1. This is a full-time position, with health benefits, and a starting salary between $32,000 and $50,000, depending on experience. This person should be based in Charleston or able to work in Charleston at least3-4full days/week.
How to apply. By Feb. 1st, send a detailed cover letter, resume, and two references to Kate Long with the subject heading “Try This Deputy Director.” The cover letter should address the entire list of qualifications and include reasons why you want the position. Answer basic logistical questions (when you could start, address, education, etc.). In a separate attachment, list the skills and experience you would bring to the job, including skills not listed in the qualifications. Tell us why your skills make you a strong candidate to carry out the list of job responsibilities. Please include three references with contact information.
We strongly encourage interested candidatesto spend time on the Try This website ( and Facebook page ( and plan to attend the Try This Conference, June 2-3 at WV Wesleyan (