This is an exciting opportunity to lead legislative and other advocacy on the most pressing social justice issues of the day, such as protecting the rights of immigrants, low-wage workers and tenants; ensuring access to healthcare and education; and ending mass incarceration. The California Policy Manager is a new position and the lead representative in Sacramento for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-California (Advancing Justice-California), a statewide partnership between two longstanding civil rights organizations.

About Us

Advancing Justice-California is a partnership between Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (in San Francisco) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, two independent civil rights organizations that focus on representing and empowering low-income and underserved Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. We work on a range of issues including: immigrant rights, national security, criminal justice reform, worker’s rights, health access, education access, language rights, and voting rights.

Some of our recent state legislative victories include passing the TRUST Act to keep families together and prevent the criminalization of immigrant communities and passing AB 817 and AB 554 which allow legal permanent residents to serve as bilingual pollworkers. Last year, we worked in coalition to help pass both SB 4, a bill that expanded access to healthcare for undocumented youth, and AB 953, a bill to collect, monitor and analyze data on police stops by race and ethnicity.

Duties and Responsibilities

The California Policy Manager will work in close coordination with relevant staff of both Advancing Justice-LA and Advancing Justice-ALC. Specific job responsibilities include:

Work closely with Advancing Justice-LA and Advancing Justice-ALC staff to set policy priorities, and develop and implement strategies that promote organizational goals for legislative, administrative, and budgetary policy advocacy.
Analyze legislation, administrative policy, and budgetary proposals that impact Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and immigrant communities.
Negotiate with legislators, the Governor’s office, administrative agency representatives, staff and other advocates on priority legislation and policy proposals.
Work in coalitions with other agencies and community advocates to advance shared legislation and interests.
Prepare and deliver testimony at legislative and administrative hearings.
Draft policy fact sheets and briefing papers on priority legislation and policy issues.
Write letters stating the position of Advancing Justice-California on legislation, administrative policies, and budgetary proposals.
Analyze the voting records of state legislators and action taken by the Governor on key legislation important to California’s diverse AANHPI communities and draft an annual legislative report card.
Coordinate legislative and community policy briefings on legislative, administrative, and budgetary issues.
Communicate with mainstream and ethnic media on legislation and state policy issues.
Draft periodic action alerts and informational updates for dissemination, on priority legislation and issues.
Work with Advancing Justice-LA and Advancing Justice-ALC staff to mobilize community-based organizations across the state.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of at least three years of experience in legislative advocacy or working on legislative matters, preferably on civil rights or immigrant rights issues.
Commitment to advancing racial, social and economic justice.
Strong analytical skills and ability to think strategically about public policy agendas.
Strong speaking and writing skills to present Advancing Justice-California’s policy priorities to government officials, community partners, the general public and the media.
Capacity to integrate diverse viewpoints and experiences in building coalitions across diverse communities.
Ability to work well both independently and in collaboration with diverse staff, organizational leaders, and community allies.
Ability and willingness to travel to occasional meetings, including in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Preferred Qualifications

Public Policy, Law, Political Science or other similar degree.
Experience working in Sacramento on policy issues
Familiarity with California political landscape and California community groups.
Experience working in partnerships and coalitions of social justice organizations.
Experience working with mainstream and/or ethnic media.
Experience with electronic communications such as managing email listserves, social media channels, etc.

How to apply

Application process: Send resume, cover letter, salary history, relevant writing sample, and three references (including at least one prior supervisor) via email to hr@advancingjustice-la.org. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Visit: advancingjustice-alc.org. and: advancingjustice-la.org.