Policy Manager, Economic Justice

Title: Policy Manager, Economic Justice 

Reports to: Senior Policy Manager 

Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 annually

Job Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Washington, DC

Date Posted: April 15, 2024

Deadline to apply: Rolling until filled

MISSION

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is the only organization focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect our lives, our families and our communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, we elevate AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States. 

NAPAWF was founded in 1996 to realize the vision of 100 AAPI women who recognized the need for an organization that would amplify AAPI women’s stories and experiences. Being seen and heard in the public narrative gives us the power to shape the policy and cultural change needed to gain agency over our lives, families, and communities.

Today, we are mobilizing and building power in cities across the United States to create social, political, and economic change for AAPI women and girls. Five of those cities have local staff on the ground. We also show up in solidarity for other women of color who are experiencing injustice and harms of oppression and marginalization.

We use a Reproductive Justice lens to intersectionally address three core issues:

• Reproductive Rights and Health
• Economic Justice and Gender Equity
• Immigration and Racial Justice

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Economic Justice Policy Manager will coordinate and organize NAPAWF’s federal policy work in economic justice. This is a great opportunity to be part of a high profile, fun, and dynamic team at a critical juncture of the work! 

This individual will serve as a thoughtful partner to the Senior Reproductive Justice Policy Manager and Chief Policy Officer, and drive NAPAWF’s economic justice advocacy goals on national, state, and local levels. This position entails supporting NAPAWF's policy initiatives by tracking legislation, providing timely and accurate analysis, managing partnerships, and cultivating key relationships with stakeholders. This role involves coordinating cross-team collaboration, overseeing one junior associate, and driving impactful policy outcomes aligned with the organization's mission. This is a high-exposure position for someone who is passionate about movement building and advocacy to advance social justice for AAPI women and girls. 

POSITION DETAILS

The Economic Justice Policy Manager will report to the Senior Reproductive Justice Policy Manager and will be based out of Washington, DC. 

POSITION DUTIES

Policy, Government Affairs, and External Relationships

• Spearhead the development and implementation of economic justice-focused policy initiatives, expanding NAPAWF’s policy portfolio and integrating reproductive justice principles into policy analysis and advocacy efforts.
• Champion intersectional approaches to economic justice policy formulation, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to address the unique needs and challenges faced by marginalized communities.
• Support and supervise a policy associate, in drafting written analysis and developing educational materials on economic justice. 
• In collaboration with the policy team, track and monitor key regulations, administration actions, and legislation; provide rigorous analysis and provide recommendations on key policy priorities. 
• Manage and speak at conferences, events, and meetings, in collaboration with the policy team. 
• Support management of partnerships relating to key legislative and policy priorities, including identifying legislative targets, arranging meetings with Members and staff, and building productive relationships with Capitol Hill staff. 
• Manage coalition and working group policy work, collaboration with other organizations, and joint projects with other counterpart organizations. 
• Cultivate and identify opportunities to grow NAPAWF’s relationships with members of Congress, executive branch officials, and movement partners to advance NAPAWF’s policy priorities; and manage, support, and draft external-facing policy documents. 

Cross-team Collaboration

• Closely coordinate with NAPAWF communications and field departments on policy priorities and joint work products. 
• Develop productive and robust cross department collaborative opportunities and projects. 

Staff Management and Leadership

• Manage, coach, and supervise one to two full-time staff and interns. 
• Develop work plans for management of work and for policy associate. 
• Lead utilization and scheduling of workflow, project management tools, and stakeholder management tools for the policy team. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: High School diploma or equivalent (GED)
• Required: At least 3-5 years of relevant experience in policy advocacy, Congress, or administration, with understanding of the federal legislative process, how Congress interacts with the executive branch, and executive branch advocacy vehicles.
• Required: At least one year of experience overseeing a project with team members or supervising a junior associate. 
• Preferred: 1-2 years of experience in economic policy or adjacent policy fields such as community development, labor policy, or other rights-based or equity-based policy. 
• Preferred: Some experience volunteering or working in communities of color or indigent communities. 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with a wide variety of audiences through strong written and verbal communication.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including drafting and analyzing legislative language.
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple overlapping projects.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and pivot quickly.

The ideal candidate should embody the following:

• Strong values: Embodies NAPAWF’s values as an organizational leader: Center Racial and Gender Justice, Leadership, Boldness, Co-Creation, Movement Builder, and Responsive and Adaptive Learning.
• Strong equity thinker and leader: Possesses strong equity and economic justice lens on the work and will prioritize this lens in crafting policy solutions and in making decisions. 
• Thoughtful manager: Leads with care and planfulness, knows how to guide, coach, mentor, and co-create team and individual work plans to align with the organization’s strategic plan. 
• Strategic problem solver: Is methodical, thinks many steps ahead, anticipates problems and offers solutions, and approaches hurdles as learning opportunities.
• Highly-organized, self-driven and resilient: Is able to juggle a high-volume of competing demands through prioritizing and maintaining systems. Exhibits ownership over goals and projects. Takes initiative and is a self-starter.
• Detail-oriented: Pays attention to details, notices and fixes errors that others might overlook.  
• Works independently and manages up effectively: Capable of managing up and bringing key issues to direct supervisor’s attention. 

• Effective team player: Welcomes viewpoints of others and enjoys finding opportunities to build authentic relationships with colleagues through collaboration. 

SALARY & BENEFITS

The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 - $100,000 - commensurate with experience. 

A highly competitive benefits package includes a 401(k) plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance. NAPAWF's medical plan is covered by NAPAWF at 100% for employees and dependents with no out of pocket costs, including prescription drugs costs. Qualified dependents may also be covered. 

NAPAWF also offers full-time employees 15 days of vacation in the first year, sick leave, flexible spending program options and personal/family leave, as well as paid vacation between December 25 and January 1 of each year. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

NAPAWF is a proud union organization. We also value empathy, creativity, and collaboration. This position is based in an office setting, with some virtual work and some occasional travel. Policy Department employees are required to be in the office at least 8 days a month and to prioritize team and organizational objectives in the setting of schedule. They will be occasionally asked to travel up to 10% and to work evening hours and/or weekends as required, since some government affairs functions occur in the evening.

NAPAWF is committed to public health, and to the safety and well being of our colleagues and visitors.  As such we have adopted a policy requiring all employees to receive all recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters or to apply for and receive an exemption. 

NAPAWF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition (cancer-related) or conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions (ARC). Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.