SENIOR POLICY ADVOCATE

ABOUT CAUSE:

CAUSE is a base-building organization committed to social, economic, and environmental justice for working-class and immigrant communities in California’s Central Coast.  We build grassroots power through community organizing, leadership development, coalition building, civic engagement, policy research, and advocacy.  CAUSE envisions a thriving Central Coast that provides a sustainable and just economy created by and for workers, immigrants, and communities of color.

POSITION OVERVIEW

CAUSE is currently seeking a Senior Policy Advocate responsible for analyzing and advocating for local, state, and federal policies and programs and communicating messages using traditional and digital media.  The Senior Policy Advocate will primarily focus on farmworker rights issues and be based in the city of Santa Maria. The Senior Policy Advocate will work closely with CAUSE’s organizing team in Santa Maria to provide them with policy analysis and communications support for organizing campaigns around local social, economic, and environmental justice issues in the city of Santa Maria.  The Senior Policy Advocate will also act as a regional lead within the CAUSE policy team in developing policy expertise on labor issues impacting immigrant workers, particularly farmworkers across the Central Coast.  Senior Policy Advocates supervise one Santa Maria Policy Advocate in addition to their policy and communications campaign work.  The position will be supervised by one of CAUSE’s Co-Executive Directors.

The Senior Policy Advocate position responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

• Policy analysis and advocacy, local coalition building, and digital and news media communications for the Santa Maria city team and as the regional lead for farmworker rights issues:
  • Providing research and policy support for CAUSE organizers’ campaign needs
  • Analyzing policy issues and working with policymakers, reporters, and community allies to advance social, economic, and environmental justice in government programs and legislation
  • Building relationships with local elected officials, state legislative offices, and public agency staff to influence policymaking
  • Producing written and multimedia content for CAUSE’s online presence including mass emails, webpages, social media posts, etc.
  • Graphic design of flyers, posters, infographics, fact sheets, etc. to support CAUSE organizers
  • Writing press advisories, press releases, and op-eds; organizing press conferences and working with local reporters to increase regional media coverage of social, economic, and environmental justice issues
  • Participating in some meetings with CAUSE’s grassroots base and supporting organizing events in Santa Maria
  • Assisting CAUSE staff and grassroots leaders with preparation for media interviews and speaking in public forums
  • Translating complex policy documents into accessible presentations, fact sheets, and trainings for CAUSE grassroots leaders and community members
  • Accessing data and producing research reports on policy issues
  • Working with local partner organizations and state and national coalitions on behalf of CAUSE
  • Participating in some grassroots fundraising and occasional grant writing and reporting
• Supervising one Policy Advocate:
  • Membership in weekly Senior Staff Team meetings to coordinate plans for the upcoming week with other supervisors and ensure strong collaboration between Policy Team and Organizing Team
  • Meeting with the Policy Advocate(s) they supervise on a weekly basis to assign work, set priorities, their workplan for the week and report back on progress from the previous week
  • Giving regular direction and feedback on the Policy Advocate’s work and conducting the annual formal performance evaluation
  • Providing training, guidance, and support for the Policy Advocate(s) as needed on their work priorities and job skills

JOB REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Spanish fluency strongly preferred
• Bachelors Degree or equivalent required
• 2+ years experience in policy analysis and advocacy around social, economic, and environmental justice issues
• Some experience with supervision a plus, including supervision of interns, temporary or part-time staff, and informal mentorship
• Demonstrated commitment and passion for social, economic and/or environmental justice
• Strong written and verbal communications skills including large-group public speaking and formal writing for publication
• Experience with using Microsoft Office computer programs (Word, Powerpoint, and Excel) as well as web-based Google applications (Gmail, Google Docs)
• Multimedia skills including graphic design and video production
• Familiarity with accessing public databases such as Census data
• Familiarity with managing and editing basic websites
• Experience with and desire to work with diverse cultures and the ability to engage people from a variety of backgrounds
• Ability to interact professionally with elected officials, donors, board members, leaders of ally organizations, and news reporters
• Strategic and analytical approach to political issues
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to set own work priorities, manage responsibilities and time
• Flexibility and willingness to sometimes work evenings and weekends, and be able to travel throughout region, state and nation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Valid drivers’ license and dependable access to a car to drive for work required.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position has flexible hours and may include evening and weekend work.  CAUSE has a hybrid remote/office work arrangement (3 days in office, 2 from home).

COMPENSATION

Starting salary for this full-time exempt position is $64,480 per year. Benefits include 100% paid medical and dental coverage including dependents, paid sick and mental health days, holidays and flexible paid vacation days in addition to typical two week paid annual holiday shutdown, paid family leave, annual retirement contribution, monthly stipend for use of cellphone and travel, and professional development opportunities.

To ensure pay equity across our team, salaries at CAUSE follow a formula based on position and tenure and are non-negotiable for individual candidates.  However, we have a fixed salary scale providing additional pay for candidates with years of relevant job experience significantly beyond the minimum qualifications listed in this job description.

APPLYING

CAUSE will be accepting resumes through Friday, June 30th.  Please e-mail resumes with cover letter to Lucas Zucker at lucas@causenow.org.

CAUSE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER. WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.