Regional Policy Advocate (San Bernardino area)

JOB POSTING – Regional Policy Advocate (San Bernardino area)
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a nonprofit organization founded in
1986.CHIRLA is a California-based leader with national impact made of diverse immigrant families and
individuals who act as agents of social change to achieve a world with freedom of mobility, full human
rights, and true participatory democracy. CHIRLA organizes and serves individuals, institutions, and
coalitions to build power, transform public opinions, and change policies to achieve full human, civil and
labor rights. Guided by power, love, and vision of our community, CHIRLA embraces and drives
progressive social change.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is looking for a Regional Policy Advocate who
will work in the organization’s Policy and Advocacy team to protect and uplift the rights of immigrants
and refugees. The Policy Advocate will work towards promoting regional policies across the State of
California that advance immigrant integration and protect immigrant’s basic human and civil rights.
They will largely focus on working with agencies, Mayor(s), City Council and Board of Supervisors. The
Policy Advocate will work as a liaison to lawmakers, their staff, and partner organizations, as well as
provide briefings as needed on the status of immigrants and their families. The Policy Advocate will
work closely with CHIRLA’s Organizing Department to engage our staff and membership base in the
development and advancement of CHIRLA’s policy advocacy agenda.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
EXTERNAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Initiate and implement creative and responsive local policy and advocacy strategies.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with local and regional officials, including
regular meet-and-greet activities that serve as a foundation for more active local policy work.
• Develop relationships and work with local law enforcement agencies such as Police
Departments, County Sheriff’s Department, and other local law enforcement authorities.
• Represent CHIRLA’s position at committee hearings, press conferences, and/or legislative
meetings.
• Assist in creating and implementing pro-immigrant policies, which encompasses legislation and
budgetary investments, at the City, County level.
• Serve as primary day-to-day local policy representative by monitoring local legislation,
attending City Council, County board of supervisors, and committee meetings and hearings.
• Develop and maintain alliances with immigrant networks and to local government agencies
working on issues impacting immigrants.
• Develops and maintains alliances with immigrant networks and to advance CHIRLA’s policy
agenda.
• As appropriate, develop and implement advocacy strategies (to include legislative visits, letters,
and call-in campaigns, media relations, hearings, actions, etc.)
• Conduct legislative research and analysis in target regions on issues pertaining to immigrants’
rights, current socioeconomic status, and other issues pertaining to immigrant communities.
• Develop policy briefs and factsheets as needed.
• Assist policy staff in conducting legislative research, developing policy fact sheets, tracking
local and regional legislation, and attending hearings and briefings.
• Coordinate CHIRLA’s policy agenda at the local level as it relates to immigrant integration,
immigration enforcement policies, rules and or regulations that threaten the rights of
immigrants in the context of the local enforcement of immigration laws.
• Represent CHIRLA in coalitions as part of CHIRLA’s Policy Department
INTERNAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES
• Develop monthly content for CHIRLA’s Al Dìa policy newsletter.
• Provide regular updates on policy work by writing weekly progress reports and as needed
analysis updates.
• Create quarterly work plan and confer with the Policy and Advocacy Manager/Policy Director as
necessary.
• Contribute to other program projects as needed.
• Work cross-functionally with internal departments and external coalitions to accomplish
collective campaign goals.
• Provides strategic guidance to advance and implement CHIRLA goals and objectives.
• Responsible for securing regular meet-and-greet and providing policy analysis to lawmakers
and their staff.
• Provide policy updates and engagement opportunities to staff via email, monthly staff meetings,
and events.
• Meet fundraising and membership goals for CHIRLA’s membership drive and annual Gala.
• Contribute to other program projects as needed.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Undergraduate degree
• Demonstrated commitment to mission and goals of CHIRLA.
• Proven experience in a non-profit organization or policy firm.
• Excellent research and policy development skills.
• Minimum two to three years of legislative process experience at city and/or county level.
• Excellent and broad knowledge of immigration and migration.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Extremely well organized and proficient with computer systems.
• Must have the ability to plan, organize and with limited supervision, implement CHIRLA’s policy
plan.
• Must have initiative and the ability to exercise good judgment, and a deep understanding of
immigration issues.
• Strong commitment and passion to building immigrant power within a broader strategy toward
achieving social, economic, intersectional gender and racial justice.
• Strong knowledge of and experience with national, state and policy and advocacy players
engaged in immigrant rights and related issues.
• Broad strategic vision that encompasses public policy.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a must, with excellent oral communication, public speaking, and
writing skills.
• Ability to have positive working relationships with CHIRLA staff, members, and allies.
• Ability to travel throughout the State.
• Comfortable and experienced in a fast-paced environment and handling multiple deadlines.
• Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment.
• Must be flexible and willing to work early morning, evening, and weekend hours.
• Strong commitment to CHIRLA’s mission of empowering low-income community groups.
• Support CHIRLA’s fundraising goals including annual fundraising drive and GALA activities.
__________________________________________________________________________________
JOB TITLE: Regional Policy Advocate (San Bernardino)
Salary & Benefits: $67,600 – 73,116
CHIRLA offers a competitive salary based on qualifications and an excellent benefit package,
which includes generous time off benefits, 401K Plan, health, dental and vision plans.
FLSA Classification: Exempt/Hourly, full-time regular
Classification: CHIRLA recognizes a staff bargaining unit affiliated with AFSCME Local 4501. This
position is included in CHIRLA’s bargaining unit and covered under the terms of the collective
bargaining agreement.
REPORTS TO: Deputy Director of Southern Region & Bi-National Policy
CLOSING DATE OF THIS POSITION: Position will remain open until filled.
LOCATION: Los Angeles Area, San Bernardino County, Orange County, Central Valley
CHIRLA is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and
administers all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, appointment, promotion,
compensation, benefits, transfers, training and educational opportunities without regard to pregnancy,
childbirth or related medical conditions, genetic information as defined by the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender, gender identity or expression,
national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered
domestic partner status, age (40 or older), sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status, pregnancy or
pregnancy-related disability, military or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or
local law or ordinance or regulation. All such discrimination is unlawful. It also prohibits unlawful
discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated
with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is
unlawful.
To apply, email resume and cover letter to: [email protected]
Subject Line should read: Regional Policy Advocate