Policy & Advocacy Specialist

About the position

The Policy and Advocacy Specialist supports the coordination of Immigrants Rising’s policy and advocacy initiatives. Working under the direction of the Policy Advocacy Senior Manager, the Specialist helps coordinate Immigrants Rising’s policy priorities by tracking legislation and policy proposals, developing policy analyses, and drafting policy-related materials.

Key roles & responsibilities

• Produces drafts of materials that advance policy and advocacy goals and initiatives, including analyses, fact sheets, position letters, statements, talking points, and policy communications content.
• Analyzes, summarizes, and presents on policy priorities, translating complex policy information into clear, accessible content for internal and external audiences.
• Maintains policy operations systems, including digital filing systems, databases, trackers, policy calendars, and contact lists to ensure effective team coordination and knowledge management.
• Supports coalition engagement efforts by coordinating meetings, tracking participation, and contributing to relationship-building with partners and stakeholders.
• Drafts meeting notes, internal updates, and documentation to support cross-team communication and continuity.
• Documents processes and procedures to strengthen internal systems, consistency, and efficiency.
• Collates and tracks relevant data and information to support policy and advocacy efforts and organizational learning.
• Escalates complex, technical, legal, or time-sensitive issues to appropriate staff and supports follow-up as needed.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of relevant professional experience in public policy, advocacy, government, nonprofit, or related fields, with experience supporting policy research, analysis, or communications.
• Strong writing and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex policy information into clear, accurate, and accessible materials for diverse audiences.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with experience managing multiple projects, tracking systems (e.g., policy trackers, databases), and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent time, task, and deadline management.

Prioritized skills & experience

• Experience working in immigrant justice, higher education, economic mobility, or nonprofit sectors.
• Deep passion and commitment to immigrant rights with a personal connection to the undocumented experience.
• Familiarity with California’s legislative and budget processes, including tracking bills, hearings, and regulatory developments.
• Experience working with coalitions, community-based organizations, or advocacy campaigns, particularly those advancing immigrant justice or economic mobility.
• Experience collaborating across programs and departments.

Organization wide requirements

• Thoroughly committed to Immigrants Rising’s mission and vision.
• Deep passion and commitment to immigrant rights with a personal connection to the undocumented experience.
• Expected to attend organizational fundraising events and relay key information from interactions with potential donors and funders to fundraising staff, represent the organization professionally and in accordance to organizational values.
• Eager to learn and develop new skills.
• Adaptive to changing circumstances.
• Demonstrates strong active listening skills, with the goal of understanding the perspectives, needs, and concerns of others before responding.
• Open to giving and receiving constructive feedback on communication efforts and able to implement suggestions to improve future interactions.
• Participates in organization-wide efforts to bolster organizational health, address implicit bias, inequitable practices, structural inequities in the workplace, and infuses equity & inclusion skills and principles to programs and external work.
• Pursues personal and professional learning and development opportunities.