YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement

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Political Strategist
Job Code: 19-04011
Reports to: CPO (Chief Program Officer)
Position Status: Regular Full Time
Home Site: East Cherry Branch
Location: 2820 East Cherry St., Seattle WA 98122
Summary:
This position requires knowledge of local, state and national public policy in order to advance the YWCA’s mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women. She/He/They will serve as the strategic advisor to the Chief Program Officer and the Public Policy Committee for the YWCA. This position will be responsible for the implementation of a multi-pronged strategy around community education, client and community mobilization and influence political figures to advance our services. This job requires attendance at meetings, forums, and hearings any time of the day in King and Snohomish County. This strategy will include, but is not limited to: research, briefing and preparation of position papers, event planning, testifying, and attending public hearings on the agency’s behalf.

This position will work closely with CPO to implement and update public policy strategy that engages staff, program participants, community and leadership of the YWCA. She/He/They will ensure seamless and integrated execution, understanding, and ownership of the overall advocacy strategy. The Political Strategist will stay aware of the initiatives supported or endorsed by other local, statewide, and national coalitions that impact progress towards racial and gender equity, for those furthest away from equity. She/He/They will provide key information to CPO and other staff designated to serve as spokespersons on the YWCA’s behalf. The Political Strategist is responsible for building relationships with potential and ongoing partner organizations to deepen our effectiveness, and identify ways to further our impact.

This position has a social justice component that requires critical thinking through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. Knowing the core principals of antiracism and grounding those principles in everyday work are required job skills and core values. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Responsibilities:
  • Distributes information to staff related to interest that supports the mission of Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women around public policy both locally, statewide and nationally, centering those furthest away from equity
  • Develops position papers that support the YWCA position(s) on race and gender equity, centering those furthest away from equity. This includes writing briefings as necessary
  • Staffs opportunities for CEO and Board to meet and engage with public officials up to and including prepared remarks
  • Brings together YWCA staff that work around public policy to ensure their committee, coalition and advocacy work is strategic, effective and intentional, creating the most impact for the clients we serve. This coordination includes clear communication with Regional Directors and the CPO around staff committee, coalition and community advocacy work
  • Works in partnership with program staff to mobilize client engagement in advocacy. This includes organizing all details for program participants/staff/community in: HAAD (Homeless Advocacy Day in Olympia), Candidate Forums, Voter Education and Registration, Advocacy Training, Staff and Participant input for Advocacy Agenda, and any other events or participatory actions on behalf of the YWCA
  • Works with FireSteel and Marketing/Communication staff to ensure that all publications and action items are in line with and support the political advocacy/strategy of the agency
  • Sets up, attends, prepares agendas, with CPO and Public Policy Chair, for the Public Policy Committee
  • Clearly articulates the Participant Centered Strategy of the YWCA to educate, organize and mobilize people who care about issues that impact our constituents
  • Keeps the organization informed of strategic community, state and national issues that tie to our advocacy work; mobilize action and responses as needed
  • Must manage their schedule to be flexible and respond in the moment to keep up with political change
  • Actively engages in agency-wide Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), and strives for racially equitable outcomes; takes responsibility for creating and maintaining a safe and welcoming community by making room for people of color, trans and gender-non-conforming folks, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppressions
  • Adheres to all Volunteer Services protocol relative to volunteer usage, recognition and monitoring
  • Attends required safety trainings and meetings; follow all safety and health guidelines, standards, practices, policies and procedures; and actively participate in the agency’s Emergency Preparedness program and activities
  • This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position, the level of knowledge and skills typically required and the general scope of responsibility. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities and should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals will perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications & Core Competencies:
  • Ability to work well in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, communities, and people. This includes demonstrated community work with identified communities that are furthest away from opportunity in King and Snohomish Counties
  • Three to five years’ experience in advocacy, policy, and community planning or any combination of skills and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform this job. This includes working in AND reliable connections with local, state and national level political circles (coalitions, City Council, State Legislature, Congress)
  • Connections to organizers and advocacy leaders in communities that are furthest away from equity
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Excellent writing skills, MUST include proficiency at interpreting political linguistics. Ability to produce technical documents; includes ability to produce documents on a quick timeline
  • Excellent public speaker
  • Knowledge on Race and Gender Inequity in institutions for those furthest away from opportunity
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and working knowledge of social media
  • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse workforce, constituents, and volunteers
  •  Demonstrated commitment to anti-racist principles
  •  Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism and poverty
  • Assure clients and volunteers are treated with respect and dignity regardless of race, ethnic, background, gender or socioeconomic background
  • Demonstrated work to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Strong communication skills, both oral and written
  • Strong problem-solving, priority-setting, public speaking and decision-making skills
  • Able to think holistically about organizational needs
  • Demonstrated ability to represent the agency well including the promotion of community service and public speaking
  • Flexibility to travel as far as Snohomish County or nationally as needed. Car or ability to drive rideshare car preferred
  • Ability to train others preferred
  • Core Competencies: initiative, sound judgment, relationship building, organizational understanding, communication: oral and written communication, planning, professionalism, organization and leading others, fostering diversity, and Race & Social Justice Advocacy
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In performing this job, the employee:

  • All positions at YWCA of Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to: domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc.  As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients
  • Continuously performs indoor work including sitting while operating a computer
  • Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations and other individuals in the community
  • Frequently stands, walks, sits and climbs in performing duties in the workspace and in the community
  • Frequently reaches and grasps in using telephones, computers, fax machines and other office equipment and supplies
  • Occasionally travel between the 3 downtown properties via bus and/or walking
  • Occasionally lifts/carries 10 pounds or less
  • Occasionally stands, squats, kneels and bends while performing job duties

 *Continuously defined as 80% of the time, Frequently 20-80% of the time, and Occasionally under 20% of the time.

Hours, Rate & Benefits:
• Hourly rate: DOE
• Hours per week: 40
• FLSA Classification: Exempt
• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday and sick leave plans
• At the time of hire, employees may choose to voluntarily enroll in the Fidelity 403b Plan. Typically after two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund