Job Title: Policy Associate
Reports to: Senior Policy Advisor and Political Director
Job Status: Full-time
Who We Are:
Arizona Center for Empowerment (ACE), is a community-led and driven organization committed to raising new leadership in Arizona through confronting the most pressing needs of its often-under- served communities. Its sister organization, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), is an organization led by changemakers fighting for social, racial, and economic transformation.
At ACE, we seek to create a more inclusive and just standard of equality in the state of Arizona through civic engagement and strategic efforts regarding issues such as immigration, democracy and voting rights, living wages, and education. By increasing opportunities for education, leadership development, technical assistance and training, ACE supports the work of community organizations and leaders who are transforming their communities to create a more sustainable future for all Arizona families.
At LUCHA, we organize low- and moderate-income and minority families to take action on the issues most important to them and advance the cause of social and economic justice for all.
Why you'll love this job:
The Policy Department represents LUCHA’s membership at the Arizona Legislature and works alongside elected officials, local and national partner organizations, and community members to advocate for public policies created by and for Arizona’s working families.
The Policy Associate will work with the Policy Department to create tactics and strategies that will advance ACE and LUCHA’s state, local, and national policy priorities. The Policy Associate will also work with Communications, Base-Building, Data, and Digital Organizing staff to create opportunities for community engagement around ACE and LUCHA’s issue advocacy campaigns.
This role will allow you to be active on the policy-making and writing level as well as within Arizona’s communities, and it will provide you an opportunity to be a direct advocate, organizer, and strategist for policy change around:
Economic and tax justice;
Access to affordable housing and tenant’s rights;
Fair wages and paid family leave for all;
Climate and water protections;
Democracy, amongst others.
There is no typical day for a policy associate - every day will be different. But as is noted in the job title, this position will entail doing credible research, writing and direct advocacy on behalf of our members, however that manifests itself in the day-to-day work.
What You'll Do:
Work with ACE/LUCHA leadership and allies to develop and execute strategies to advance its policy priorities
Create policy one-pagers, fact sheets, and reports on ACE/LUCHA’s policy priorities
Conduct quantitative and qualitative research around ACE/LUCHA’s priority issue areas
Prepare testimony, talking points, and other policy advocacy materials
Attend and assist in executing lobbying, stakeholder, and coalition meetings
Work with the Policy Department to develop education and training that grows the grassroots policy knowledge and leadership of ACE/LUCHA core leaders on key issues
Work to expand the participation and leadership of ACE/LUCHA’s membership and communities of color in state and local advocacy efforts to advance proactive criminal justice reforms
Assist in the planning and execution of political community engagement events at the Capitol and in community spaces
Compose correspondence, prepare presentations, reports, and other ad-hoc assignments, such as Google Slide presentations, collection, analysis, and summary of information using Google Sheets or other Google Suite programs.
Timely distributes business communications.
Protect the integrity of confidential information in all matters.
Other duties as assigned.
To succeed in this role, you need:
Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience of at least 2 years’ experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired as necessary.
Ability to take on projects related to organization with minimal oversight.
Ability to have a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail, clearly communicating status updates.
Skilled in reviewing, screening, and prioritizing mail, email, and telephone calls.
Must be highly proficient in the English language for both grammar and composition purposes and spelling to communicate effectively, to prepare reports, record minutes of meetings, and to compose routine correspondence and other directives.
Experience working with all levels within an organization is preferred.
Ability to work with and adapt to various personalities and all levels of personnel within the organization.
Proficient secretarial and analytical skills to include typing, filing, dictation, proofreading and editing correspondence, duplication equipment, and standard computer software programs, and electronic mail.
Advanced proficiency in Google email and its applications, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint with intermediate Excel skills. Experience using a Mac or other Apple products is preferred, but not required
Working understanding of Community Organizing and the principles by which ACE and LUCHA base themselves.
Detailed Writing Sample will be requested
Your earnings and other perks:
Salary Range $60,000-$70,000 Annually DOE
Wellness stipend
Company Sponsored Phone Line
25K life insurance
100% employer paid Health, vision, dental
Complimentary access to therapy and counseling with EAP (Jorgensen Brooks Group)
Company paid Holidays
Generous paid time off, including a paid winter break.
Hybrid workplace- must be based in Arizona and available for in-person events.
A team with diverse experiences
After one year of employment, we offer a generous paternity and maternity leave
Passionate, fun, creative and innovative team