Director of Policy or Associate Director of Policy

Rising Sun is Hiring a Director of Policy

Rising Sun is hiring a Director of Policy to lead its growing policy advocacy work. This position leads Rising Sun’s High Road initiatives and develops and advances Rising Sun’s policy advocacy platform and strategies at the intersection of our areas of work: equity, climate, and quality, accessible jobs. The Director of Policy’s approach is bidirectional, grounded in and supporting Rising Sun’s employment and training program participants while advancing systems-level change in furtherance of our vision of a just and sustainable future for all people and our planet.

The Director of Policy will build on Rising Sun’s early policy success through the Bay Area’s High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) for Residential Building Decarbonization, including the Partnership’s recommended labor standards for residential building decarbonization programs, which have already influenced over $1B in public funding and the jobs they support. The Director of Policy will continue to lead the Partnership in its next iteration, focusing on continued labor standards advocacy, technical assistance for labor standard implementation, contractor supports, and consideration of new industries.

In addition, the Director of Policy will help shape Rising Sun’s policy work in the years to come, maintaining a close connection to Rising Sun’s programs and the needs of our participants and graduates. The position supervises a Policy Associate and works closely with Rising Sun’s HRTP consultant, Good Green Work, as well as with HRTP members and other external stakeholders and partners. This position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Rising Sun may choose to hire an Associate Director of Policy depending on organizational needs and applicant qualifications.

For more information about Rising Sun, please visit www.risingsunopp.org.

A Successful Director of Policy…

• Is passionate about Rising Sun’s intersectional mission and excited to actively advance it.
• Understands existing power structures and how to work within them while actively building new, more equitable structures for racial equity, self-determination, and liberation.
• Understands that Rising Sun provides services that address the symptoms of racism and systemic oppression and views policy advocacy work as a mechanism for systems-level change to address these issues.
• Comfortably navigates nuance and ambiguity and easily translates complex concepts for understanding.
• Thinks creatively, analytically, tactically, and expansively, always listening for new opportunities.
• Enjoys working collaboratively and meeting new people; has strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills and is equally comfortable building relationships virtually and in-person.
• Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing; develops trust and builds consensus with a diverse range of individuals; makes space for others and uplifts diverse perspectives.
• Handles challenging situations with professionalism, compassion, and integrity; is energized by creating solutions to complex problems and building bridges.
• Has an appetite for both detail and strategy and knows when each is needed.
• Values learning and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates self-awareness in terms of understanding their own culture, identity, biases, prejudices, power, privilege, and stereotypes.
• Demonstrates willingness to challenge and change institutional practices that present barriers to different groups.

The Director of Policy is Responsible for…

Policy Initiatives, Department, and Strategy

• Building Rising Sun’s policy advocacy capacity in collaboration with the CEO, informed by on-the-ground program work/needs/expertise and our organization’s intersectional mission, vision, and values.
• Collaborating to design and grow Rising Sun’s Policy Department, developing policy priorities and the staffing and resources to implement them.
• Actively advocating for Rising Sun’s policy priorities; submitting comments, representing Rising Sun at key public events and forums, leading persuasive presentations, and serving as an expert resource.
• Leading department funding proposals and new opportunity prospecting in partnership with the Development team.
• Developing and tracking metrics to evaluate effectiveness and impact.
• Exploring opportunities to engage staff, program participants, Board members, and alumni in advocacy work.
• Identifying and nurturing relationships with key partners, including advocacy groups, grassroots organizers, and community-based organizations.
• Maintaining familiarity and connections with Rising Sun’s programs to remain aware of participant and community needs.
• Tracking and reporting on Rising Sun’s policy advocacy engagement and success.
• Working with finance/admin to maintain all requirements for policy department grants and allowable 501c3 advocacy.
• Hiring, onboarding, supervising, and coaching department staff.
• Developing and tracking the Policy Department budget.
• Collaborating with the Communications team on messaging and visibility.

High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) for Residential Building Decarbonization

• Leading the Bay Area High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) for Residential Building Decarbonization.
• Collaborating with all project stakeholders to maintain and sustain the partnership in alignment with its principles.
• Managing strategy and scope with Good Green Work; overseeing grant administration, contracting, and compliance.
• Holding primary relationships with all HRTP partners and stakeholders.
• Leading policy advocacy efforts related to HRTP objectives and strategies.
• Developing and implementing the HRTP workplan.

Leadership

• Collaborating as a member of Rising Sun’s Director Team to bear the leadership standard for the organization.
• Educating and informing Director Team members, Board members, staff, and program participants about Rising Sun’s policy advocacy work and priorities.
• Other duties as required.

To Be Considered for This Position, You Must…

• Have 4+ years of experience working in the policy advocacy space in California.
• Have experience managing and leading multi-stakeholder groups and projects.
• Have experience with High Road workforce development frameworks.
• Demonstrate advanced public speaking, facilitation, and coalition-building skills.
• Have a passion for a just, equitable climate future for all.
• Be able to work some flexible hours (e.g., occasional evenings and weekends).
• Have residency in California (preferably in the Bay Area or San Joaquin Valley) or the ability to move.
• Provide proof of completion of the primary series of an approved COVID-19 vaccination.

It’s a Big Plus If You…

• Have experience collaborating with labor unions or the labor movement.
• Have experience with climate, sustainability, and/or environmental justice work.
• Have expertise in building electrification and decarbonization.
• Have a track record of leading or co-leading strategy and culture.
• Have experience with regulatory and/or legislative policy and process in California.

About Rising Sun…

Rising Sun is a premier nonprofit organization operating in the San Francisco Bay Area and Stockton, expanding into Central California. Our mission is to build career pathways for economic equity and climate resilience. Since 1994, Rising Sun has trained and employed more than 3,000 youth and adults while helping over 53,000 households reduce their carbon footprint.

Salary and Benefits

Benefits Include:

• 100% coverage of Medical, Vision, Dental insurance for employees (50% for dependents).
• 403b contribution option with 3% matching after the first year.
• 17 PTO days/year (increases annually).
• Hybrid remote work options.
• Paid parental leave, paid sabbatical after 7 years, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rising Sun is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to apply.

Learn more here