Policy Director

Our mission is to mobilize our over 70 member programs and allies to end gender violence through advocacy and action for social change. We improve how communities respond to domestic and sexual violence, create social intolerance for abuse, support our member programs, and inform the public. Guided by our Theory of Change, we work to undo the root causes of violence, building racial equity, economic justice, and gender and reproductive liberation to create a world where all people can live and love freely without fear. WSCADV’s team approach facilitates the sharing of power and responsibility across positions.

This position focuses on public policy, funding advocacy, stakeholder relationship building, training, and technical assistance for membership on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The position is part of a policy team and will be supervised by the current policy director who is taking on a larger role within the organization.

This position is a great opportunity for someone who is enthusiastic about leading public policy advocacy in collaboration with our growing statewide membership and allies, and who is also energized about creative ways to improve survivor safety, justice, and options at the policy level and address root causes of violence. The ideal candidate will have direct experience in policy advocacy, an ability to balance idealism with statewide and federal political realities, a strategic mindset, and familiarity with the legal and social service systems that survivors frequently navigate.

WSCADV has a 25-year track record of securing state and federal protections for survivors and their children, funding for community-based survivor services and prevention, and public policies that increase survivor safety, justice, and options.

Valid driver’s license and/or ability to travel (e.g., for meetings) locally and out of area, as well as proof of COVID vaccination, are required.

Responsibilities:

Provide leadership to engage member programs on public policy and funding advocacy, including:

1. Develop the Coalition’s state legislative agenda, federal priorities, and policy positions with input from the policy team, staff, and membership.
2. Provide public policy leadership and strategies to advance the Coalition’s mission and Theory of Change on behalf of survivors and membership.
3. Coordinate the policy team (including lobbyists) and staff subject matter experts to: track, read, and provide comments on draft legislation; write and provide testimony; and support survivors and membership to give input or testify, all on a timely basis, particularly during the fast-paced legislative session.
4. Analyze and advocate for stable, equitable funding (e.g., government streams, VOCA state plan) for community-based survivor services and prevention.
5. Engage and work strategically with policymakers, ally organizations, and state agencies. Engage and mobilize survivors and membership via meetings, training/TA, digital content, action alerts, etc.
6. Research, analyze, monitor, and coordinate policy work with other organizations, on issues that affect survivors and their children such as: legal protections and the criminal and civil legal systems, housing and tenants’ rights, people who cause harm, public benefits, family law, custody, child welfare, victim-defendants, reproductive justice, immigration status and immigrant rights, and issues affecting Tribal programs and Indigenous survivors.
7. Advance the Coalition’s priorities in state/federal legislative cycles, administrative codes, and rulemaking, for example, updates to the Washington Administrative Code.
8. Work with supervisor to monitor, analyze, and communicate with the field about changes in federal policy and practices, and to coordinate and implement rapid responses and other strategic initiatives such as re-thinking the field’s services structure.
9. Represent or coordinate the Coalition’s representation, as needed, in educational briefings, media relations, statewide partner work, and statewide and national task forces, workgroups, or committees.
10. Lead successful delivery of Advocacy Days during state legislative session.
11. Coordinate relevant grant and contract funds. Ensure timely completion of activities and compliance with requirements. Prepare and submit financial, data, and narrative reports.
12. Supervise administrative staff for policy related work including lobbyists, contractors, and/or interns.
13. Perform other general staff duties and other duties as assigned. Participate in domestic violence, sexual assault, multicultural, and anti-oppression activities and trainings, and perform all work in a culturally responsive manner consistent with our mission, Principles of Unity, and Theory of Change.
14. Lead or collaborate with coworkers to provide membership training and technical assistance.
15. Participate in trainings, gatherings, and strategic planning to further capacity of WSCADV’s work in policy matters.
16. Engage in relationship building and nurturing with member programs and key stakeholders that intersect with policy work and efforts.

Qualifications

Required Experience: At least 2+ years of experience in leadership roles in at least one of the following: public policy, funding, or legal advocacy; or coalition-building; or gender-based violence or related social justice issues.

Preferred Experience: Strong familiarity with the movement to end domestic violence/sexual assault, survivor advocacy services, and the field in Washington state.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge, skills, and experience with the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, survivor-driven advocacy, civil and criminal legal systems, and state and federal laws that affect survivors and their children. Working knowledge of principles, best practices, and promising approaches for safety and justice for survivors and the role of domestic violence and sexual assault community-based intervention and prevention programs.
• Working knowledge of public policy advocacy and strong ability to think strategically, navigate complex issues, manage relationships, and effectively represent the wide range of domestic violence and sexual assault programs and survivors across the state.
• Demonstrated understanding of the impact of gender-based bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of survivors in the law and justice system, and of the impact of racism, sexism, poverty, and other forms of inequality and oppression. Demonstrated commitment to improving safety, justice, and options for historically marginalized survivors, including immigrant survivors.
• Strong working knowledge of funding streams for domestic violence/sexual assault community-based programs in Washington state and funding advocacy.
• Proven ability to build effective, collaborative, working relationships with a wide range of policy makers, partners, allies, and membership.
• Strong oral and written communications skills – including creating talking points, writing testimony, speaking with policy makers and media – to effectively engage and educate a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience delivering training and technical assistance, and ability to work effectively and non-judgmentally with domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Tact, discretion, and ability to maintain calm, engaging, efficient approach with policy makers, membership, the public, coworkers, and others.
• Efficient self-starter, with strong ability to lead collaboratively, plan, problem-solve, independently manage workload, and complete tasks with limited direction. Ability to work independently and in an interactive, productive team environment.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and use/learn office software.
• Demonstrated experience working on race, economic, and gender equity issues, as well as commitment to our mission, Principles of Unity, and Theory of Change, including undoing racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression that contribute to violence and abuse.

For All Staff, we want to see:

• Knowledge of racial, economic, and gender justice issues and/or willingness to learn.
• Commitment to supporting WSCADV’s mission, Theory of Change, and Principles of Unity.
• Ability to foresee, solve problems and meet deadlines in a professional, positive manner.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively, build trust, and be flexible with coworkers, community partners, and organizations from a wide range of backgrounds in a predominantly remote environment.
• Demonstrated spirit of cooperation and ability to build positive working relationships in an interactive, productive, team environment.
• Flexible with ability to learn and adapt to changes in duties, processes, and technologies in an evolving nonprofit and as part of the movement to end violence.