Policy Director : New York

OUR
United for Respect

Policy Director

Based in New York, NY
(National Search)
 

The Organization United for Respect (OUR) is seeking an experienced Policy Director to advance a broad agenda to promote economic, social and gender justice through public policy and legal action on the federal, state and local level.  Working in collaboration with OUR’s field and campaigns teams, the Policy Director will be responsible for:

• Advocacy:  Driving winning state policy campaigns and bold federal advocacy with OUR’s team and key state and national coalitions
• Legal:  Advance legal strategies that support OUR’s network in enforcing their workplace rights while advancing broader industry campaign goals
• Public Policy:  Hone OUR’s policy agenda and work with experts to craft model policies that improve job quality and stability in the service industry.

The ideal candidate would bring campaigning, coalition and legal experience to OUR, including expertise in policy and legislative campaigns. Though not required to have a law degree, we prefer candidates who are attorneys with litigation, enforcement and/or public policy expertise.

OUR is a national organization building an industry voice of people working for the country’s largest retail corporations. Through scaled leadership development and base-building, OUR’s growing network is challenging major corporations and policymakers to provide family‐sustaining jobs for all working people. We leverage technology — social media and our digital platform, WorkIt — and bring the retail workforce into a shared community of support and advocacy. Learn more about OUR’s core programs here: OUR Walmart  and Rise Up Retail.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with OUR’s senior leadership and field teams to advance winning campaigns that promote economic stability as well as racial and gender justice for the low wage service workforce. Implement a strategic plan to advance our policy agenda that achieve these goals nationally and in key states and municipalities.
• In collaboration with OUR’s Political Director, support collaboration with allied advocacy organizations and coalitions engaged in public policy issues that impact the retail workforce on the federal, state and local level. Work with these same constituencies to map relevant power dynamics and develop a strategy to win policy changes. 
• Engage in the development of public policy that address issues that impact the retail workforce, working in collaboration with key legal, policy partners, and impacted workers.
• Coordinate with OUR’s field team to engage our base network and develop their leadership to be public voices and drivers in national and state advocacy through campaign committees, training in advocacy and media skills, engaging policymakers and public events, preparing testimony, and more.
• Collaborate with OUR’s campaign team to amplify our issue by amplifying the experiences of our network by sharing their stories in earned media, online and video.
• Develop public education materials that promote our issue and policy agenda for our network, policymakers and the earned media, including fact sheets, briefs, trainings and presentations.
• Work with OUR’s field and research teams deep to develop analysis of the key economic, social and racial justice issues impacting our network.
• Together with OUR’s Campaigns and Political team, look for opportunities to advance OUR’s corporate policy change work with public policy initiatives. Develop support among alliance partners for OUR’s corporate policy change work.
• Support the Fair Workweek Initiative, a partnership of OUR and the Center for Popular Democracy as needed on policy advocacy and industry engagement in collaboration with the FWI team.

For attorney candidates:

• Provide legal expertise for our public policy advocacy that includes legislative analysis, crafting model policy and work with policymakers and government agencies.
• Support OUR’s enforcement work on labor standards, employment discrimination and layoffs by helping to evaluate and offer a plan of support for legal claims, advising on enforcement work through our app, WorkIT, and working with agencies and partners on strategic enforcement.

Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of advocacy, public policy or legal experience in economic justice and campaigns.
• Candidates with a J.D. are preferred, though candidates with strong public policy experience will also be considered.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to identify policy issues, determine and articulate policy recommendations effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including superior writing, copy editing and proofreading ability.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, proven ability to multitask, prioritize, problem solve and meet deadlines.
• Experience working collaboratively on teams and coordinating multifaceted projects, an advantage.
• A demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice issues and understanding of challenges facing immigrant communities, communities of color, and low-and moderate income families.

Competitive benefits package provided for full-time employees and eligible dependents, including health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage and 401k.
Salary range: $75,000-$85,000.

OUR is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to equity.  People of color, women, and LGBT candidates are encouraged to apply.

APPLY HERE.