Summary

The VP is responsible for overseeing a multifaceted portfolio, including managing the organization’s policy work and local and regional advocacy and organizing campaigns and initiatives. This includes supervising two regional offices, creating systems and practices of accountability and supporting leadership in building the overall culture of the organization. This role will work closely with and reports to the President & CEO.

Description

The VP of Policy, Advocacy and Organizing is responsible for directing the organization’s efforts to achieve policy change that advances equity and racial, social and economic justice for rural Latinas and Latinos in the central mountain region of Colorado. The VP is responsible for overseeing a multifaceted portfolio, including managing the organization’s policy work and local and regional advocacy and organizing campaigns and initiatives. This includes supervising two regional offices, creating systems and practices of accountability and supporting leadership in building the overall culture of the organization. This role will work closely with and reports to the President & CEO.

Description

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Policy Development, Implementation and Tracking

Develop overarching policy priorities of the organizations with the Executive and Leadership teams;
Develop and implement affirmative and defensive legislative strategies for accomplishing the organization’s policy goals and objectives at the local and state levels;
Monitor key legislative, political developments and trends affecting immigrants and analyze the political impact of breaking events as they relate to the immigration movement;
Track legislative developments, policy changes, and advocacy efforts, and provide regular updates and reports to the leadership team and board of directors on progress, challenges, and successes;
Lead or join coalition efforts to drive the organization’s policy agenda;
Engage in direct lobbying activities, including meeting with legislators, testifying at hearings, and participating in policy discussions, to influence decision-making processes and legislative outcomes; and
Create year-round opportunities to engage and educate policymakers, including the executive branch, on our policy priorities.

Advocacy and Organizing

Oversee and provide leadership to regional advocacy efforts, led by the organizing teams;
Direct advocacy response about local and state-level government policies, initiatives and community incidents;
Support the regional organizing teams to identify, recruit, train and mobilize core leaders and advocates in advocacy campaigns, including providing testimony in support of a legislative proposal, meeting with policymakers and sharing their story through the press to create awareness of the issues; and
Organize aligned grasstop leaders to involve them in state-level advocacy and policy work.

Relationship Building and Communication

Build and sustain strong relationships with regional and statewide policymakers and key stakeholders in Colorado to advance our Latino agenda;
Develop and disseminate advocacy materials, including policy briefs, fact sheets, and press releases, to communicate the organization's positions and messages effectively to various audiences;
Committed to building strong relationships internally with direct reports and the rest of the staff;
Committed to working collaboratively to accomplish the work; and
Communicate clearly to the President/CEO when the work is off track.

Management and Staff Support

Oversee the work and budget for policy, advocacy and organizing;
Directly manage the regional directors and offer regular feedback on progress to goal;
Develop tools for accountability, like performance reviews, to ensure the work is advancing and team members are learning and growing;
Manage and serve as the point of contact for lobbying firms, interns and vendors, as needed;
In partnership with the Executive Team, provide leadership and support the execution of the Colorado Latino Agenda initiative; and
Provide leadership and project manage Latino Advocacy Days programming in Denver and D.C.

Development and Leadership Strategy

Work with the President & CEO and the Leadership Team to implement and align on overall organizational strategy and serve as an advisor and thought partner as needed;
In partnership with the Executive Team, develop internal tools and practices to advance the work of the organization with accountability and sustainability;
Responsible for cultivating new funding opportunities and managing grants supporting policy, advocacy and organizing; and
Track and report on key milestones, successes, wins, and challenges.

Required Job Skills, Experience, and Qualifications

Alignment to Voces Unidas’ missions;
Passionate about community organizing and movement-building;
7-10 years of management-level experience in policy or advocacy or similar transferable skills;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Knowledge of legislative and administrative processes;
Understanding of and commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of Latinos to change their communities and to participate directly in changing public policies;
Ability to learn fast and communicate clearly with stakeholders with short notice;
Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and to adjust to frequently changing demands;
Experience analyzing and interpreting legislative and regulatory language;
Excellent project management and time management skills: ability to rapidly respond to day-to-day needs while conceiving and implementing more significant projects over time;
Access to a car and ability to travel by car to the main office in Glenwood Springs at least monthly and work occasional weekend or evening events, as needed; and
Bachelor’s degree and bilingual in Spanish and English Languages is preferred but not required.