State Policy Advocate

### JOB POSTING – State Policy Advocate

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986. CHIRLA is a California-based leader with national impact, composed 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 the 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 State Policy Advocate who is charged with managing the day-to-day state policy agenda in collaboration with the Deputy Director of State Policy and Advocacy. The Advocate will collaborate and assist in leading the future and projects to expand and support the work being done across the state. The State Policy Advocate will also work towards promoting policies and state investments that advance immigrant integration and protect immigrants’ basic human and civil rights. This position will serve as a liaison to Members of State Legislature, State Agencies, and the Administration and will be responsible for briefing elected officials and their staff on the status of immigrants and their families. The ideal candidate will work successfully with CHIRLA’s California-based staff to engage our membership base in the development and advancement of CHIRLA’s policy advocacy agenda.

### DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

**EXTERNAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES**

– Work with the Deputy Director of State Policy and Advocacy to lead CHIRLA’s state policy agenda.
– Advance and implement CHIRLA goals and objectives as they are determined by the organization.
– Assist in developing legislative/regulatory/budget proposals to advance CHIRLA’s agenda.
– Manage, under the supervision of the Deputy Director of State Policy and Advocacy, CHIRLA’s support/oppose/neutral positions to legislative/regulatory/budget proposals.
– Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with Members of State Legislature, Constitutional Offices, Agencies, and the Governor’s office.
– Secure regular meet-and-greets and provide policy analysis to lawmakers and their staff.
– Represent CHIRLA’s position at committee hearings, press conferences, and/or legislative meetings.
– Develop and maintain alliances with immigrant networks to advance CHIRLA’s policy agenda.
– Serve as a media spokesperson in Sacramento.
– Develop and implement advocacy strategies and events (to include legislative visits, advocacy days, letters, and call-in campaigns, media relations, hearings, actions, etc.) in collaboration with the supervisor.
– Develop updates, talking points, action alerts, sample letters, etc., as part of advocacy strategies.
– Support staff by providing research and analysis on issues pertaining to immigrant communities.

**INTERNAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES**

– Produce state legislative research, develop policy fact sheets, and talking points.
– Monitor, manage, analyze, and summarize proposed and/or new laws and regulations negatively/positively impacting immigrants.
– Monitor and analyze state trends and issues related to immigration and ensure a proactive focus on pro-immigrant policies.
– Research, analyze, and write policy reports and briefing documents on diverse immigrant and immigration issues.
– Provide regular updates on policy work through progress reports and analysis.
– Create a work plan and confer with the supervisor as necessary.
– Contribute to other program projects as needed.

### SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

**Required:**

– Undergraduate degree
– Minimum three years of legislative experience within the State Capitol
– Broad knowledge of and strong interest in immigration and migration
– Excellent research and policy development skills

**Preferred:**

– Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred, with excellent oral communication, public speaking, and writing skills
– Proven experience in a non-profit organization or policy firm
– Engaged in immigrant rights and related issues
– Strong knowledge of and experience with national, state, and federal policy advocacy stakeholders

### DESIRED TRAITS OR CHARACTERISTICS

– Broad knowledge of and strong interest in immigration and migration
– Ability to plan, organize, and with limited supervision, implement CHIRLA’s policy
– Initiative and ability to exercise good judgment, and a deep understanding of immigration issues
– Strong commitment and passion for building immigrant power within a broader strategy toward achieving social, economic, and racial justice
– Ability to have positive working relationships with CHIRLA staff, members, and allies
– Comfortable and experienced in a fast-paced environment and handling multiple deadlines
– Commitment to working in a diverse professional environment
– 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

Policy Advocate (Sacramento)

**Salary & Benefits:** $67,600 – 73,116

CHIRLA offers a competitive salary based on qualifications and an excellent benefits 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 State Policy & Advocacy

**CLOSING DATE OF THIS POSITION:** Position will remain open until filled.

**LOCATION:** Sacramento, CA

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:** State Policy Advocate