Policy Associate

Civil Rights Corps seeks an experienced and passionate Policy Associate to support the Policy Department, which leads Civil Rights Corps’ efforts to design—and bring to fruition—cutting-edge policies that decarcerate the U.S. criminal-legal system, deconstruct systemic racism, and support movement organizers. The Policy Associate will report to the Policy Director.

The Policy Associate will:

• Devise model local, state, and federal policies and pilot projects;

• Conduct policy research to support new proposals, bills, and advocacy materials;

• Draft policy and advocacy materials, including briefs, reports, memos, and toolkits;

• Build and participating in advocacy coalitions seeking local, state, or federal policy change;

• Provide policy-focused technical assistance to grassroots community-based organizations and advocates;

• Conduct interviews and making site visits to observe innovative programs, see specific policies in action, or meet local stakeholders; and

• Work with other CRC departments in creating advocacy campaigns that integrate policy with litigation, organizing, public education, and strategic communications.

Qualifications

The ideal applicant is passionate about justice, a team leader, proactive, thoughtful, able to juggle multiple tasks, and able to work well in a collaborative environment. Specific qualifications we are looking for include:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in law and/or policy work in non-profit organizations or government;

• Innovative thinking, an unwillingness to accept things as they are, and a smart work ethic;

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, purpose, and values of CRC, as well as a collaborative, team-oriented, and positive approach;

• Experience developing, creating, and implementing new policy proposals, platforms, and interventions, including as part of multi-organization or multi-stakeholder teams;

• Strong foundation in policy research and analysis;

• Exceptionally strong writing skills, including some background in legislative drafting;

• Proven ability to learn quickly, stay flexible, take initiative, establish priorities, work independently, and self-motivate; and

• The capacity for out-of-the-box, creative, dream-big-or-go-home thinking that brings a get-to-yes mentality to all policy projects; and

• An advanced degree may be useful, but is not required.