Position: Policy Director
Location: Hiring in greater Los Angeles and Sacramento Areas
Work Setting: In-person and Remote Required
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ABOUT US
The California Native Vote Project (CNVP) is the first-of-its-kind statewide effort to engage Native American communities across dozens of counties to build political power through an integrated voter engagement strategy. We launched three months prior to the 2016 presidential election to educate Native American voters. CNVP has expanded its integrated voter engagement strategy to incorporate census advocacy and community outreach. California Native Vote Project has deep partnerships with California Indian Tribes and Native-led nonprofits throughout California and is a member of national Native American groups: Native Voice Network, the Native American Voting Rights Coalition, and Advance Native Political Leadership. It is also a part of several statewide multi-racial, multi-issue tables, including Youth Organize California, Power California and California Calls.
POSITION OVERVIEW
CNVP’s Policy Director will play a critical role advancing American Indian Alaskan Native (AIAN) policy issues in Sacramento and work closely with the Executive Director and Organizing Director to ensure CNVP’s policy/political agenda is being advanced with legislators in Sacramento. The Policy Director will serve as an ambassador in Sacramento to other BIPOC organizations representing CNVP in coalitions that align with the overall organizational position, priorities, and legislative agenda.
Responsibilities:
- Establish and develop relationships with state legislators and staff in Sacramento to advance CNVP’s statewide policy agenda
- Work closely with other team members from CNVP who are leading local grassroots organizing campaigns
- Monitor ongoing policy and political developments to inform organizational advocacy
- Serve as a coalition representative of CNVP with relevant coalitions as it relates to advancing the organizational agenda
- Lead and plan CNVP lobby days throughout the legislative calendar year
- Attend regular legislative hearings, coordinate testimony, and report back to CNVP organizing and senior leadership team
- File regular lobby reports as required by the California Secretary of State and other related agencies
- Develop policy briefs and other education materials for grassroots base and state legislators as necessary
- Help coordinate the authoring of policy and legislation according to CNVP priorities
Qualifications/Skills:
- Passion and excitement for social justice and AIAN issues
- An appetite to create change through grassroots organizing utilizing policy making as a tool for that change
- A 4-year bachelor’s degree in a related field or 5+ years experience working in policy making
- Attention to detail and ability to build relationships across the spectrum
- Preference for someone with a community organizing background and has worked with elected officials
Other
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Desired skills and proficiencies
- Proficient in IOS Mac operating systems
- Proficient working knowledge of Google suite
In order to prioritize the health and safety of our employees, all California Native Vote Project employees are required to provide proof of COVID vaccination.
Work Environment
- Hybrid in person and virtual, with some evenings and weekends required. Some travel is also required.
Physical Demands
- Able to work on a computer, including sitting at a desk, for extended periods of time. Able to read a computer screen. Manual dexterity to operate a keyboard.
- Able to stand and walk for long periods of time.
- Able to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds.
Compensation commensurate with experience.