Policy Advocate Associate, Position Description
Summary
The mission of the Southwest Women’s Law Center is to create the opportunity for women+ to realize their full economic and personal potential by eliminating gender bias, discrimination and harassment; lifting women+ and their families out of poverty; and ensuring that all women+ have full control over their reproductive lives through access to comprehensive reproductive health services and information.
Under the direction of the Executive Director with the support of the Policy Director, the Policy Advocate Associate supports SWLC’s various initiatives to support and promote legislation that expands economic and personal opportunities for women. The Policy Advocate Associate provides expertise on policies and issues and assists with various projects and initiatives.
This position is a salary and full-time position (40 hours per week) with health care and leave benefits. The Policy Advocate Associate will report to the Executive Director, with work direction from the Policy Director.
Principal Roles and Responsibilities
- Works in coordination with the Executive Director and Policy Director on strategies to promote legislation in New Mexico that supports the mission and objectives of SWLC.
- Participates in all aspects of public policy initiatives, such as meeting coordination, community education, listening tours, tabling, workshops, and research.
- Supports timely and comprehensive communication between internal team members and external parties regarding public policy projects and initiatives.
- Monitors emerging topics and legislative activity and provides input on strategies related to pending legislation affecting SWLC initiatives.
- Conducts research and analysis of legislative proposals and presents summaries, fact sheets, talking points, proposed responses, and related information to the Executive Director and Policy Director.
- Assists in planning events and other activities to support SWLC policy objectives.
- Interacts with legislators, regulators and other policymakers and constituents, under the direction of the Executive Director and Policy Director.
- Assists with follow through on grant deliverables.
- May participate in drafting grant proposals and reports for submission for funding or continued funding.
- May assist the Policy Director in preparing to testify on SWLC’s legislative bills and other partners’ legislative bills during the NM legislative session.
- Maintains availability on some evenings and weekend hours, on an as needed basis.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications Requirement
Bachelor’s degree in political science, business, public administration or another related field. Minimum of one (1) year of job-related experience is required.
Requisite Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Working knowledge of various public policies related to the missions and objectives of the SWLC.
- Ability to work in diverse communities.
- Strong communication and analytic skills (both written and oral), including the ability to explain complex policy issues to lay audiences and diverse communities.
- Strong computer skills (including Microsoft Office and videoconferencing platforms).
- Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to work well with a wide variety of people
and communities and public officials. - Ability to present complex information to small and large groups.
- Attention to detail.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Flexible and able to identify important opportunities for the Center to advance its mission and program.
- Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to represent the Center and its mission professionally and appropriately to the community and to public officials.
- Ability to work collaboratively and with individuals with diverse work styles.
Salary and Benefits
Salary Range: $55,000-$67,0000
In addition to salary, the SWLC provides the following benefits:
- Health and dental benefits, currently at 80% employer premium contribution for employees and 80% employer premium contribution for spouse and dependents.
- Vision insurance
- 401 K program (SWLC matches at 3%)
- a flexible work schedule, including 2 days per week work from home
- 80 hours of Paid Time Off which increases with years of service
- An additional 96 hours of annual paid sick leave
- Holidays including Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday following Thanksgiving, the days between Christmas Eve and New Years (December 24-January 1)
How to Apply
If you are interested in the position, please send a cover letter, a resume, a 1-page writing sample, and a minimum of 3 professional references to Terrelene Massey at tmassey@swwomenslaw.org.
In your writing sample, please describe the policy you worked on, what did it consist of, how did you approach it, was it successful in your opinion and your learning experiences.