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Deputy Director of Policy

About State Voices

State Voices is a national network – built from the states up – that helps grassroots organizations win civic engagement victories and build long-term political power. Since 2008, we’ve been employing the principles of collective impact, building the capacity of partners with data analysis and shared resources, and strengthening our democracy by amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

State Voices sustains a dynamic ecosystem of 24 state tables and organizations in every state, comprising over 1,200 partner organizations. We provide the organizations in our network with the data, tools, and support they need to help create a healthy and thriving democracy through a racial equity lens. We advance this work through three national programs: Civic Engagement (voter education, registration and turnout, issue advocacy, and constituency engagement), Civic Access (voting rights and election administration), and Civic Representation (census and redistricting).

It’s our collective duty to end the systemic, relentless disenfranchisement targeting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, AAPI, and all communities of color, young adults, LGBTQ people, women, low-income, and all oppressed people. That’s why State Voices works year-round to create a more accessible, inclusive, and representative democracy.

Details

Full-Time

Washington D.C. or Remote

Position Overview

State Voices seeks an energetic and talented policy advocate with a record of success providing support and leadership to issue campaigns to serve as the Deputy Director of Policy (DDP). This role will report to the Director of Policy and is one of two deputy positions in the policy department. The DDP will focus primarily on voting rights, including legislative advocacy. The DDP will work closely with other policy team members, State Voices staff, and state tables to build program plans and offer direct support. This role will also have an assigned number of states to provide direct support on a range of democracy and other advocacy-related issues. The DDP will assist the Director of Policy and co- Deputy Director of policy to help oversee the work of department members to ensure the department is meeting goals. This position will require building strong relationships and working closely with other national civil rights, legal, and funder organizations.

Primary Functions

The Deputy Director of Policy will:

  • Serve as national staff contact for Voting Rights work in State Voices states, in collaboration with the Director of Policy and the Senior Policy Attorney
  • Help plan, execute, and support work around voting rights advocacy, voter registration verification, jail-based voting/rights restoration, and legislative tracking work
  • Stay abreast of legal and legislative developments and their impact on state plans and programs; help summarize and explain legislation and legal cases to state staff
  • Serve as the policy department point of contact for an assigned number of states and develop strong relationships with state staff
  • Supervise and conduct research on existing and proposed statutes, legislation, constitutional provisions, administrative rules, legal cases, and policies and practices to support states advocacy; provide other coordination, technical support, strategic advice, and other resources as needed
  • Draft toolkits and materials like fact sheets, talking points, testimony, and correspondence for officials for advocacy, as well as general network-wide guidance documents on policy and program execution
  • In collaboration with the Director of Policy, develop the overall civic access proactive and defensive strategies for State Voices
  • Lead and participate in national meetings related to civic access and voting rights work, in collaboration with the Director of Policy
  • Work with the Director of Policy and other departments (e.g., Development, Data, Communications, State Capacity Building, Issue and Electoral Organizing) on program planning and execution
  • Help plan and manage the department, programmatic, and individual goals as well as project budgets
  • Manage direct reports in the Policy Department, including the Senior Policy attorney; monitor progress towards goals and work to inspire cooperation and progress within the department
  • Engage in other policy areas as they are developed by and as directed by the Director of Policy

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will possess many, if not all, of the following qualifications:

  • A Juris Doctorate degree is preferred; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered
  • Six to eight years of experience in policy and legal work, including both direct advocacy to advance progressive policies; preference for experience working at the local or state level and/or specific experience in voting rights and democracy work
  • Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and social justice
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex legal and legislative issues to broad audiences
  • Experience drafting and tracking legislation
  • Demonstrated success working with diverse stakeholders including supporting grassroots organizations engaged in policy work
  • Experience leading and working in coalitions and planning and facilitating meetings, workgroups, and presentations
  • Experience organizing in state/national non-partisan, issue-based, or political, candidate campaigns, coalition building or civic engagement work is preferred, but not required
  • Possess a strong commitment to team environment dynamics with the ability to contribute expertise and follow leadership directives. Must excel at accepting and offering team direction at appropriate times
  • Must be organized, flexible, and able to travel occasionally (when safe to do so)
  • Familiarity with the National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and Voting Rights Act
  • Familiarity and experience with the State Voices network
  • A good sense of humor and a sense of perspective

To Apply

Please submit your resume, and cover letter using our application portal.

Location: Washington D.C. or Remote

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $85,000- $105,000 and includes a full benefits package.

State Voices is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.