Policy Analyst

Autistic Self Advocacy Network–a national disability rights advocacy nonprofit run by autistic people–is hiring a Policy Analyst. Consider becoming a part of the team and helping us advance community-driven disability policy!

The Policy Analyst will lead ASAN’s policy work in selected issue areas. They will work closely with the Policy Director and other members of the Policy Team. The job is a full-time salaried position paying $67,000 annually with comprehensive health insurance and other benefits including a retirement plan, dental insurance, commuter benefits for office-based workers, four day work week, and up to 5 weeks of paid time off per year. (A higher salary may be possible for candidates with substantial policy advocacy experience, or who hold advanced credentials in policy or law.)

The Policy Analyst will work out of ASAN’s Washington, DC office and must be up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. Hybrid work arrangements are available, but this position does require being located in or near Washington, DC.This is a NewsGuild-Communication Workers of America represented position.

Job responsibilities:

Identify and prioritize topics and strategies for policy advocacy

• Gather information on upcoming or prospective legislative and administrative items through coalition meetings and other means. Strategize policy responses to these developments.
• Review upcoming administrative actions, agendas, and legislation. Identify and prioritize relevant responses from ASAN.
• Develop and maintain subject-matter expertise in selected policy areas through participating in task force meetings, research and review of policy materials from aligned organizations, attending briefings from administrative agencies, and other means.
• Look for and prioritize new opportunities for ASAN to achieve our policy goals.

Effectively influence key policy concerns on a short and long-term basis, ensuring ASAN is a leader in priority policy areas

• Be consistently “in the room” when policymakers are considering issues that affect us that are within the Policy Analyst’s portfolio.
• Participate in meetings with coalition partners to strategize, share intelligence and develop responses to policy concerns, leading meetings and strategy as appropriate.
• Communicate the policy priorities of ASAN to policymakers, including Congressional staff and members, administrative agencies, the executive branch, and others.
• Draft public comments, letters to Congressional offices, and public testimony reflecting ASAN’s policy positions.

Educate community members, advocates, and allies about key policy issues within the policy analyst’s portfolio.

• Research, outline, and draft policy toolkits focused on areas of importance to the autistic community for ASAN, in collaboration with other ASAN staff and/or external project partners.
• Participate in webinars, panels, and other public speaking engagements to communicate about important policy issues as needed.
• Coordinate with ASAN’s communications team to carry out public education activities such as statements, action alerts, and webinars.

Internal communication and collaboration:

• Collaborate with the policy team, Policy Director and Executive Director about proposed policy positions and strategies.
• Ensure that all work undertaken by the policy team regarding selected areas is consistent and well-coordinated.
• Proactively document policy knowledge in selected areas, in coordination with the Policy Coordinator, to support knowledge sharing and team coordination.

Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Experience Needed:

• Familiarity with the disability rights, self-advocacy, and neurodiversity movements.
• Track record of discretion and reliability in work and advocacy environments.
• Previous education or work experience in policy advocacy, disability advocacy, public health or health policy, employment policy, education policy, or similar. (Work experience can include volunteer positions or internships.)
• Comfort exploring and developing familiarity with a variety of policy issues.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Able to identify emerging policy issues, analyze the components and context of an issue, and evaluate its overall strategic importance.
• Appetite for identifying and developing creative opportunities to advance disability rights through both incremental and large-scale policy change.
• Strong attention to detail. An appreciation for how effective policy change often hinges on small details.
• Willingness to think through how to strategically prioritize multiple urgent policy issues within the constraints of limited resources, in partnership with Management and other members of the Policy Team.
• Effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders, including self-advocates and people without a policy background, through writing, presentations, and real-time meetings.
• Experience representing an organizational perspective in external meetings.
• Comfort with constantly managing and monitoring multiple competing perspectives and contexts–in communications, in coalitions, in policy development and negotiations, in developing advocacy strategies, etc.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Strong time management skills. Ability to work on multiple complex projects simultaneously and organize a daily workload by both short and long-term priorities.

Skills and Experience Preferred:

• 2+ years of work experience in public policy.
• Familiarity with specific areas of disability policy, such as: education, employment, reproductive rights, health care, home and community-based services, voting rights, supported decision making, emergency management, etc.
• Previous lobbying experience.
• Comfort with public speaking (which can be via AAC).
• Experience communicating with journalists.
• Experience in coalition building: intentionally building relationships with potential allies; navigating disagreement and conflict constructively; representing an organization’s strategic interests in challenging and nuanced environments; establishing yourself as a trusted partner via consistent follow-through that turns relationships into tangible results.

How to apply:

Please send your application to policy@autisticadvocacy.org with “Policy Analyst” in the subject line. Your application should include:

• A resume detailing your work experience, volunteer experience and education, highlighting details relevant to this position
• A thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications described above

ASAN is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, veteran, age, disability, marital status, gender identity or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage autistic people of color, AAC users, members of the LGBTQ community and autistic people with personal experience in special education and other public service systems to apply.

About ASAN:

Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN is a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community. We fight for disability rights. We work to make sure autistic people are included in policy-making, so that laws and policies meet our community’s needs. We work to support all forms of self-advocacy and to change the way people think about autism. Our members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends