Director of Policy and Advocacy
About Community Change and Community Change Action:
Community Change builds the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to lead powerful and dynamic movements for social change. With our community-based partner groups, we bridge the grassroots and the national, supporting outsider strategies to disrupt the status quo while also building pathways to influence the insider conversation.
Our vision of a better world centers the leadership of impacted people of color to move our work on immigrant rights, economic justice, and racial equity, including a focus on jobs and housing, early childhood care and education, income supports, and immigration reform.
This position also supports Community Change Action, an affiliated 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. While motivated by the same core values – equity, inclusion, and justice – Community Change and Community Change Action operate independently of one another and each organization has its own board of directors.
Position Description:
This position will work closely with senior management and grassroots organizations to maximize Community Change's and Community Change Action's presence and impact in moving our progressive governing agenda at the national and state levels.
The Director of Policy and Advocacy will lead a team of staff in strategic engagement with Congress, the Executive Branch, and national ally and elite circles in service of our agenda. The Director of Policy and Advocacy will lead this work in close collaboration with senior leadership of Community Change/Action, with our organizing and issue teams, and will work in coordination with grassroots partner organizations across the country.
Principal Responsibilities:
Advancing Community Change's and Community Change Action's federal policy priorities to key allies and decision makers in Washington, DC. Contributing to the development and execution of a strategy to build power for low income communities of color and to advance and win our public policy agenda. This includes:
- Providing leadership, along with other staff and partner organizations in the development and implementation of policy priorities and strategy;
- Leading Community Change/Action's work to position ourselves, our partners, and our agenda strategically and powerfully in Washington, DC with policymakers and influencers.
- Collaborating with Community Change/Action President and senior leadership in cultivating and building powerful relationships with key policymakers and influencers in Washington, DC, in service of our agenda and our partners
- Supervising at team of policy and advocacy staff
- Collaborating with Community Change's policy and advocacy staff in:
- Managing the Center's relationships with the Administration, Congress, and regulatory agencies;
- Participation in coalition building strategies at the national level, and maintaining key relationships with partner organizations;
- Providing reliable, timely analysis and strategic guidance on Community Change and partners' legislative activities at the national level;
- Developing and disseminating materials regarding legislative developments to national partners, policy makers and the media;
- Ensuring the involvement of grassroots leaders and partner organizations in promoting agreed upon priorities, and helping to organize opportunities to bring grassroots partners in contact with their member of Congress, the Administration and other policymakers;
- Conducting and/or commissioning research as necessary; and
- Taking other steps necessary to develop and advance Community Change's federal priorities.
Qualifications:
- Extensive experience in a leadership role in representing an organization on issues of importance to low-income communities of color.
- Extensive knowledge of legislative and administrative processes.
- Understanding of and commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of low-income people and people of color to change their communities and to participate directly in changing public policies.
- Demonstrated commitment to community organizing and ability to work constructively with grassroots partners.
- Excellent advocacy, consensus-building, coalition-building, and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with other staff and other organizations; demonstrated ability to work with groups and individuals across the political spectrum.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral; experience as a public spokesperson and advocate; ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues and to communicate them to a variety of audiences; a "quick study" on a dynamic array of issues.
- A broad understanding of federal policies that pertain to low-income families and communities of color is required; expertise in immigration issues is especially helpful.
- The ability to produce consistent, quality work in a fast-paced environment is essential.
- Experience effectively supervising and developing staff.
- Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and to adjust to frequently changing demands.
- Ability to build relationships with relevant policy partners (government, policy shops, academic institutions, etc).
- Experience analyzing and interpreting legislative and regulatory language.
- Commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of low-income people to change their communities and to participate directly in changing public policies.
- Commitment to advancing economic and race and gender justice.
This position reports to: Chief of Staff
Classification: Community Change recognizes a staff bargaining unit affiliated with IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is not included in Community Change's bargaining unit and therefore not covered under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
Travel Requirements: Moderate
Salary & benefits: Salary commensurate with experience. Community Change also offers an excellent benefits package, which includes 4 weeks of annual paid vacation; additional paid holiday leave between December 24 and January 1; 8% employer contribution to retirement account after six months of employment (and 3% employer contribution for the first 6 months); and a choice of generous health insurance plans.
This position is located in Washington, DC.
Closing Date of Position: Open Until Filled
How to apply: Please click here to submit a cover letter sharing your personal interest as well as salary expectations, a resume, and two writing samples.
Community Change is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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