Policy Communications & Advocacy Specialist

POLICY COMMUNICATIONS & ADVOCACY SPECIALIST

Location: Washington, D.C.

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Hybrid – 2 days a week required in office

WHO WE ARE

For 40 years, Futures Without Violence (FUTURES) has worked to prevent violence against women and children, and help all those harmed by violence to heal and thrive. We work to increase access to health care, economic opportunity and justice for survivors and all communities. We are a social change organization known for our ground-breaking public communication campaigns, training and education programs, community mobilization, policy advocacy and leadership development for survivors of violence and those marginalized communities disproportionately affected by violence.

Please consider joining our effort!

DEPARTMENT AND POSITION

The Policy and Advocacy team is responsible for advancing policies and funding that prevent gender-based violence and violence against children and help all people who have been harmed by violence to heal. This includes economic opportunity for women and families, access to health care and mental health supports, investments in community supports to heal children and adults impacted by violence, and protecting older adults from abuse and exploitation.

Reporting to the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, the Specialist will help advance policies at the state and national level, grow the number of people who are aware of take action on our priorities, and ensure all of our content and materials of our high quality and in line with the organization’s brand and standards. The Specialist will write and design materials, publications and occasional social media content, support the work of advocacy coalitions and help manage online and in person events to support policy and advocacy goals of Futures Without Violence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Writing and Content:

• Write, design, and launch Washington Update policy newsletter to funders and other stakeholders
• Design and produce policy documents, including briefs, fact sheets, and presentations, typically via Word, PowerPoint and/or Canva
• Draft action alerts/e-blasts/petitions, utilizing advocacy tools to reach constituencies and policymakers
• Develop materials and content for Twitter/X
• Serve as internal liaison between Policy and Communications team, coordinating materials and events while aligning policy communications with broader organizational goals, messaging, and branding

Coalition, Partnerships, and Advocacy:

• Support coalition meetings by drafting and circulating sign-on letters, managing scheduling, note‑taking and follow‑up, and maintain coalition contact list and communications, including listserv updates, meeting invitations, and mailings
• Regularly update FUTURES website with new written and visual content to educate the public about opportunities to advance the prevention of violence
• Monitor emerging news relevant to FUTURES’ work and support the development of rapid-response campaigns by gathering data and contributing to coordinated communications and advocacy efforts

Events and Logistics

• As a key member of the Policy and Advocacy team, support with planning and executing virtual and in‑person events on Capitol Hill and in Washington, DC, including securing venues, building an audience, coordinating programmatic objectives, managing and supporting speakers, overseeing technical requirements, and liaising with Hill offices and coalition partners as needed
• Coordinate meetings and events when activists and survivors are in DC for policy-related trainings and events
• Develop and maintain expertise on technology in conference facility and be able to troubleshoot technological needs during events/webinar
• Assist with contract management as it relates to events

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

The successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years’ experience working as a writer, communications professional, congressional press secretary, digital organizer, non-profit communications advocate or designer;
• Superior writing skills for multiple types of formats
• Excellent design skills for written and online materials
• Knowledge of federal policy advocacy; experience working on Capitol Hill strongly preferred
• Ability to design compelling infographics and basic data visualization preferred
• Superior attention to detail and command of contemporary computer skills, office hardware, PC software (Windows environment).
• Experience working with diverse audiences
• Knowledge of html, online collaboration platforms (i.e., Google calendar, Zoom, etc.), advocacy database, and WordPress content management system a plus.
• Must be willing and available to occasionally work outside traditional work hours when breaking news or legislative advocacy requires it
• Commitment to social justice and ending violence against women, children and youth and helping families and communities affected by violence heal and thrive.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

This is a full-time, non-exempt position. The pay rate is $77,500/annually. This salary is based on a standardized compensation structure that is transparent across the organization. Please note that the salary is non-negotiable and, like all positions at FUTURES, is eligible for step increases as part of our commitment to thriving wages for all staff. FUTURES offers excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus tax-advantaged Flexible Spending Arrangements for Health Care and Dependent Care. FUTURES employees can take advantage of generous sick and vacation benefits, including 13 paid holidays, 3 weeks of vacation and higher accruals after 3 years, 12 days of sick and safe leave per year, and an employer-contributed 401 (k) retirement plan.

FUTURES maintains a diverse and dynamic workforce and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and promotions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, age, national origin, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. FUTURES is committed to strong child safeguarding principles, policies, and actions in response to any violation of its Child Safeguarding Policy.

FUTURES offers excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus tax-advantaged Flexible Spending Arrangements for Health Care and Dependent Care. FUTURES employees can take advantage of generous sick and vacation benefits, including 13 paid holidays, 3 weeks of vacation and higher accruals after 3 years, 12 days of sick and safe leave per year, and an employer-contributed 401 (k) retirement plan.