Summary

The Director of Policy and Advocacy leads Voces Unidas’ policy, research, and advocacy strategy to advance equity, racial, social and economic justice and civil rights for Latinas and Latinos in Colorado’s western slope. This role manages a complex portfolio of initiatives, including Colorado Latino Agenda, Latino Advocacy Days in Denver and Washington, D.C, and ensure the organization’s priorities are backed by strong research, effective campaigns, and deep relationships with community leaders

Description

About Voces Unidas

Voces Unidas' mission is to create a more equitable Western Colorado and central-mountain region where Latinas and Latinos are thriving, engaged and leading in our communities. We create opportunities where Latinas and Latinos advocate for themselves, actively participate in all civic institutions and take leadership roles in all decision-making tables. We are also building and growing our community's power and influence in the region. Based in Glenwood Springs, Voces Unidas has offices in Frisco and Denver. Voces Unidas includes four separate organizations, all working independently to accomplish the larger mission. Learn more at www.vocesunidas.org.

Description

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Policy Strategy and Government Relations

Lead development of annual and multi-year policy priorities and strategy across local, state, and federal levels, in partnership with the CEO, staff, consultants, and allies.
Develop affirmative and defensive policy strategies, including legislative, administrative, and budget approaches aligned to organizational goals.
Monitor political and policy developments affecting immigrant and Latino communities; analyze implications and recommend strategic pivots for the organization.
Manage relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, agency leaders, and other policymakers; coordinate meetings, briefings, and advocacy efforts.
Serve as primary point of contact and relationship manager for lobbying firms in Denver and Washington, D.C., ensuring alignment, accountability, and results.
Produce and disseminate timely, fact based advocacy updates, action alerts, briefings, and reports both verbally and in writing.
Represent Voces Unidas in coalitions and strategic community spaces; build trusted relationships with issue experts and institutional partnership.

Advocacy Campaigns and Power Building

Design and oversee advocacy campaigns that build influence and pressure decision-makers, including escalation plans, timelines, messaging needs, and measurable outcomes.
Ensure strong coordination between advocacy, communications, organizing, and research so campaigns are integrated and mutually reinforcing.
Provide leadership to team members to identify, train, and support community leaders for strategic actions such as testimony, meetings with policymakers, and media storytelling.
Direct rapid response strategy as needed, including public actions and mobilizations connected to breaking events.
Lead planning and execution of Latino Advocacy Days in Denver and Washington, D.C., ensuring strong programming, strategic objectives, and effective logistics.
Coordinate agendas, partners, advocacy asks, participant preparation, and follow up plans to drive concrete outcomes after each convening.

Research, Analysis and Publications

Provide leadership and project management for the Colorado Latino Agenda, including policy agenda development and related research products (e.g., exit poll reports and findings).
Oversee research design and implementation (quantitative and qualitative), ensuring integrity, equity-centered framing, and useful outputs for advocacy.
Translate data into clear, actionable materials such as issue briefs, fact sheets, reports, presentations, and briefings for policymakers, partners, and community leaders.
Manage relationships with pollsters.

Management, Systems and Accountability

Directly manage team members, set goals, coach performance and ensure high quality execution of campaigns, events and stakeholder engagement.
Supervise vendors and consultants as needed; manage scopes of work, deliverables and timelines.
Build and maintain tracking systems for milestones, campaign progress, wins, challenges, and learning.
Produce high quality briefings and reports for the CEO, board, funders and key stakeholders.
Contribute to overall organizational success by supporting cross-team priorities and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, community organizing, nonprofit management, or related field (or equivalent lived/professional experience).
5-7 + years of professional experience in public policy, advocacy, organizing, research, or a closely related field; management experience strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of legislative and administrative processes; comfort navigating government systems and political landscapes.
Demonstrated ability to build coalitions, broker consensus, and work collaboratively across diverse partners and across the political spectrum.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex policy and research into clear materials for varied audiences.
Experience analyzing and interpreting legislative/regulatory language and using data to inform strategy.
Strong project and time management skills; able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-changing environment.

Additional Requirements

Must be able to travel across 15 counties in the Western Slope and work occasional evenings/weekends; access to a car required.
Ability to travel to Washington, D.C. and Denver (periodically)
Bilingual Spanish/English preferred, not required.

Salary and Benefits