Policy & Advocacy Manager

NC Counts Coalition is seeking a full-time Policy & Advocacy Manager to join our team. This position is based in a home office anywhere in North Carolina. Up to 40 percent (40%) of travel within North Carolina is required.

ABOUT NC COUNTS COALITION:

NC Counts Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to building a healthy, just, and equitable North Carolina through cross-sector partnerships that advance systemic solutions for communities facing systemic barriers, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, low-wealth, immigrant, and other communities.

ROLE OVERVIEW:

The Policy & Advocacy Manager plays a leading role in coordinating and advancing NC Counts’ policy and advocacy efforts across Civic Engagement, Census, and Recovery & Resiliency. This role supports people power by connecting the work of Coalition members and partners to policy opportunities and organizational strategy. The role centers on policy research, translating complex issues into clear and actionable information, and strengthening advocacy efforts across the Coalition network. They also support internal systems to ensure advocacy efforts remain compliant with 501(c)(3) guidelines.

This is a growth-oriented role designed for an emerging leader who brings a strong foundation in community engagement and is ready to deepen their experience in policy, advocacy, and cross-functional leadership within a statewide coalition.

The ideal candidate brings a solid foundation in community engagement and experience engaging in policy or advocacy work, including through community engagement, education, or organizing. They are curious and proactive, with the ability to connect the dots between priorities identified through Coalition members, policy developments, and organizational strategy. They can take complex information and make it clear and useful for different audiences, and are comfortable facilitating trainings, building relationships, and working across teams. They are able to move quickly, adapt as priorities shift, and stay effective in moments of uncertainty and ambiguity. They build and manage relationships across staff, members, and partners, take in and apply feedback, and navigate challenges and differing perspectives in a thoughtful and constructive way. They are organized, reliable, and follow through, with a commitment to equity and a desire to support communities in shaping the systems that impact their lives.

The candidate must be able to travel regionally and nationally and work extended hours (including weekends) as needed. This position will report directly to the Deputy Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the leadership and direction of the Deputy Director, the Policy & Advocacy Manager will focus on the following:

Policy & Advocacy Support

• Lead coordination of policy and advocacy efforts across Civic Engagement, Census, and Recovery & Resiliency, building and deepening knowledge across key policy areas relevant to NC Counts’ work
• Monitor and analyze relevant local, state, and federal policy developments, track legislative and administrative activity, attend hearings and relevant convenings, and translate updates into clear and timely next steps for staff, Coalition members, and partners
• Identify and elevate opportunities for NC Counts and Coalition members to engage in advocacy, including public comment, administrative advocacy, and community education
• Conduct policy and issue-based research and synthesize research, data, and community input into clear, easy-to-understand information that staff, Coalition members, and partners can use to inform advocacy, trainings, and organizational priorities
• Keep Coalition members informed of key policy issues and opportunities to support ongoing engagement in advocacy
• Lead the planning and implementation of state and federal legislative engagement efforts, including organizing legislative days and coordinating NC Counts’ engagement with elected officials
• Support the development and implementation of strategies for engaging elected officials, in partnership with leadership and program staff
• Lead the drafting and coordination of public comments, including responses to Federal Register Notices (FRNs) and other administrative opportunities

Relationship Building

• Build and maintain relationships with Coalition members, community leaders, partners, and stakeholders to support aligned advocacy efforts
• Support relationship-building with policymakers and partners in coordination with leadership and program staff
• Represent NC Counts in partner meetings, coalitions, and public spaces, as appropriate

Advocacy Training & Capacity Building

• Partner with the regional team and programmatic teams to identify, develop, and implement advocacy training opportunities across the Coalition network
• Co-develop advocacy training curriculum with the Assistant Director of Civic Engagement
• Lead the facilitation of advocacy trainings for NC Counts members
• Co-develop toolkits, guides, and resources to strengthen member engagement in advocacy with the communications team
• Support coordination and alignment across the NC Counts’ network to strengthen collective advocacy efforts
• Support Coalition tables, working groups, and partner and member spaces related to policy and advocacy

Compliance & Internal Coordination

• Support organizational compliance with 501(c)(3) advocacy guidelines, including tracking, documentation, and internal processes
• Support the development and maintenance of internal guidance and tools to support compliant advocacy practices across teams
• Serve as the central point of coordination across programs to ensure alignment on advocacy efforts
• Work in partnership with leadership to ensure advocacy activities align with organizational strategy and compliance requirements

Strategic Communications Support

• Partner with the communications team to align policy priorities with messaging, narrative, and public engagement strategies
• Lead content development of policy materials, including briefs, talking points, reports, and public comment letters
• Contribute to op-eds and external communications as needed
• Help ensure communications reflect community voice and are grounded in policy context

Learning, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Track and assess engagement in advocacy trainings, resources, and policy updates to understand what is most useful to staff and Coalition members
• Gather feedback from Coalition members and partners to improve advocacy trainings, tools, and policy support
• Monitor how policy updates and advocacy efforts are being used across programs and the Coalition network
• Work with leadership to identify simple measures of success for policy and advocacy efforts across program areas
• Use feedback and data to refine training, tools, and approaches over time

Grants & Organizational Support

• Partner with leadership and program staff to support policy-related components of grant proposals, deliverables, and reporting
• Contribute policy insight and content to strengthen funding opportunities aligned with NC Counts’ priorities

Management reserves the right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities as organizational priorities evolve.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred
• 3–5 years of experience in community engagement, civic engagement, advocacy, or related work
• Experience engaging in policy or advocacy efforts, including through community engagement, education, or organizing
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, concise materials and facilitate presentations or trainings
• Ability to understand and explain policy issues in a way that is clear and accessible to different audiences
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to manage work independently, prioritize effectively, and consistently follow through on commitments
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships across diverse stakeholders, including staff, Coalition members, and partners
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, adapt to shifting priorities, and navigate ambiguity
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with external partners
• Strong digital and technology skills, including experience using Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive) and CRM systems to manage information, track work, and support collaboration, with the ability to quickly learn new tools
• A commitment to equity and alignment with NC Counts Coalition’s mission and values
• Must have a valid driver’s license with proof of automobile insurance coverage.
• Lived experience in or a deep, demonstrated connection to the communities we serve, and the ability to bring that perspective into the work
• Conversational Spanish is a plus, but not required

PAY & BENEFITS:

• The compensation for this position is $65,000 - $75,000 per year.
• We offer a benefits package with health, dental, vision, 401(k) benefits and more!

We offer a benefits package with health, dental, vision, 401(k) benefits and more!

Conversational Spanish is a plus, but not required.