Job Posting :: Advocacy Manager

Apply by Wednesday, January 8

Position Overview

The Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) is seeking a new Advocacy Manager to lead our advocacy program to create change for racial justice in Oregon.  As Advocacy Manager, your work will be dynamic and highly collaborative, crossing a wide range of issues and strategies, including coalition member engagement and capacity-building, policy analysis, legislative and electoral strategy, and partnerships with external coalitions, organizations, and political allies. 

CCC is an alliance of 18 culturally specific organizations dedicated to cross-cultural collective action for racial justice. We work to improve policies and investments for communities of color in the short term, while also building for lasting systemic change. 

CCC’s policy priorities include housing, environmental justice, economic justice, democracy reform, immigrant rights, and beyond. To achieve these priorities, we work with decision-makers, engage in electoral campaigns, build partnerships, and convene our coalition of 18 culturally specific community-based organizations. Our work occurs at both the state and local level. The Advocacy Manager will also manage our affiliate 501(c)(4) organization, Building Power for Communities of Color, and its lobbying and candidate-related activities. 

You will work closely with other CCC staff and external organizations to achieve these goals—we believe we are strongest together, and CCC’s work exists as part of an ecosystem for change. If you are committed to advancing racial equity in Oregon while working toward systemic change for justice, this is a unique and dynamic opportunity to lead in building our organization’s advocacy strategy and program.

About the Coalition of Communities of Color:

The Coalition of Communities of Color’s mission is to address the socioeconomic disparities, institutional racism, and inequity of services experienced by our families, children, and communities; and organize our communities for collective action resulting in social change to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice, and prosperity. Our work includes research and data justice, environmental justice policy development and implementation, and policy, electoral, and legislative advocacy. Learn more about the Coalition of Communities of Color here.

CORE AREAS OF WORK

Policy Advocacy (50%)

You will advance racial equity and justice in Oregon by working from the inception of policy concepts through to their successful implementation by:

  • Collaborating with member organizations and partners to develop racial equity policy priorities for CCC and coordinate integrated advocacy strategies to advance these agendas at the state and local levels

  • Representing CCC in policy, coalition, and advocacy spaces in both leadership and participatory roles, providing policy input and strategic direction

  • Leading and coordinating CCC’s lobbying at the Oregon State Legislature and in metro area governments, including meeting with elected officials and providing testimony

Political Advocacy (25%)

As part of your leadership role at our 501(c)(4) sister organization, Building Power for Communities of Color, you will identify and implement key strategies and processes to build political power, including:

  • Managing candidate endorsement process with board and staff

  • Providing in-kind staffing support to priority candidate and ballot measure campaigns

  • Developing communications strategies to build visibility and advance our endorsements

  • Ensuring organizational health through fundraising, tracking budgets, and compliance 

Coalition Building and Community Engagement (15%)

The Advocacy Manager will advance the strength of CCC’s coalition and community relationships by: 

  • Organizing at the grasstops level with CCC member organizations and values-aligned partners, supporting our members’ advocacy priorities

  • Serving as a resource to build capacity among CCC member organizations through training, technical assistance, connecting members and partners, and information-sharing

  • Engaging BIPOC community members by hosting and co-hosting advocacy events, including lobby days, workshops, listening sessions, and trainings 

  • Building opportunities for community-driven policy development through workshops, trainings, and engagement

Communications (10%)

In collaboration with CCC’s communications staff, you will ensure our work shifts public narratives and mobilizes support by:

  • Developing strategic communications and messaging in support of the organization’s advocacy strategy

  • Keeping members, partners, and supporters aware of action opportunities and updates

  • Incorporating advocacy materials into CCC’s communications channels

Qualifications

A successful candidate will have the following qualifications:

  • Two or more years’ experience in a related field required, including lobbying, campaigns, public policy development, community organizing, or similar experience

  • Ability to apply a robust racial justice analysis to policy issues and campaigns

  • Excellent writing and public speaking skills

  • Self-motivated, particularly for project management, outreach, and relationship building

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and political judgment

  • Understanding of organizing principles, particularly organizing coalitions and partners

The following experiences will contribute to the Advocacy Manager’s success but are not required:

  • Experience convening coalitions and building partnerships

  • Familiarity with local and state advocacy landscape, particularly the Oregon legislature and Portland metro area

  • Experience in lobbying or campaigns in Oregon 

  • Experience managing 501(c)(4)s and compliance

Compensation 

This is an exempt position with an annual salary range of $70,976–$90,691 at an estimated 40 hours per week, with increased hours during elections and legislative sessions. 

CCC works to provide our staff with support for their health and well-being and recognize the value of their work through robust paid vacation and sick leave, health and dental insurance for employees with 100 percent of premiums paid, and additional benefits, including:

  • Paid time off: 15 days paid vacation increasing with tenure at the organization; 10 days sick leave; 12 paid holidays; and one-week office closure in December.

  • Insurance: CCC pays 100% of premiums for medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance for the employee.

  • Additional benefits: Flexible Spending Account (health savings and daycare), Transportation Savings Account, Employee Assistance Program, monthly phone and transportation stipends, full reimbursements for the employee’s Paid Leave Oregon contributions, and mileage reimbursements

  • Retirement: Employees may enroll in a 401k retirement plan upon hiring and receive a matching contribution (currently 6%) after one year of employment.

  • Resources and paid time for training, skill-building, and professional development

Location: This is a hybrid position, with at least one day per week in the office located in Portland, and regular travel to Salem for legislative activities. The Advocacy Manager must live within commuting distance of Portland and be available for in-person meetings and events.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter (one page max) and resume (one page max) in one PDF to HR@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org, with the subject line “Advocacy Manager — [your name].”

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, January 8. You will be contacted if selected for an interview. 

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