NAKASEC
Position Description: Policy Director
To apply: Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary expectations to becky@nakasec.org by Friday, April 12th. Please write subject heading “NAKASEC Policy Director.” For more information, please visit our website at www.nakasec.org.
Founded by local community-based organizations in 1994, NAKASEC’s mission is to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, racial and economic justice. NAKASEC’s Affiliates (Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles and Orange County, Hana Center in Chicago and NAKASEC Virginia in Annandale) empower the most vulnerable community members including the low-income, recent immigrants, limited English proficient, undocumented, youth, women, and seniors. Through education, social service, community organizing, public policy advocacy, and civic participation, NAKASEC & Affiliates ensure that these community members can impact progressive change at the local and national levels.
NAKASEC is one of the few national Asian American organizations that engages grassroots people in national organizing and advocacy programs and campaigns. NAKASEC and Affiliates strongly believe that systemic change that benefits everyone results when folks who are most impacted by injustice act collectively through organizing, advocacy and civic engagement.
The Policy Director will lead NAKASEC’s work to implement its federal policy agenda. NAKASEC’s policy agenda is created and informed by its grassroots bases. The position will be located in the DC area and based out of the NAKASEC VA office in Annandale, VA.
Major Responsibilities include:
Be a part of a local-national team that develops and implements multi- pronged education, advocacy, and organizing projects and campaigns to advance policies that improve the lives of Asian American communities.
Coordinate the development and implementation of an advocacy agenda on priority issues for NAKASEC that include immigrant, racial, gender, and economic justice, immigrant integration, and other issues of importance to the Asian American community.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with policy makers, legislators, and key ally organizations.
Monitor, analyze and provide input for legislative proposals, policies and trends as they impact Asian American communities, particularly low-
income families, the undocumented, seniors, women and young people.
Produce legislative and policy fact sheets for NAKASEC & Affiliate staff and community members.
Regularly produce relevant educational materials including reports, policy analyses, and fact sheets.
Provide weekly internal policy briefings with pertinent information and
analyses to NAKASEC staff and Affiliates.
Represent NAKASEC and speak at constituent and coalition partner meetings, events, and conferences, and play a leadership role in coalitions when appropriate.
Assist with grant reporting as needed.
Other duties as needed by the organization.
Qualifications:
Experience working on social justice issues and policies relevant to Asian American, immigrant and/or low-income communities.
Knowledge of immigration policy and prior experience in a legislative environment a plus.
A track record of developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a
diverse group of stakeholders.
Supports bottom-up organizing and the leadership of those most impacted by systems of oppression.
Willingness to be a bold and creative thinker.
Enjoys both listening to and sharing ideas and opinions.
Willingness to propose and think about new ideas and concepts.
Ready to resist racism, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia, classism and ableism.
Ability to work collaboratively in local-national or multi-sectoral/ethnic partnerships.
Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
Strong research and analytical capacity.
Ability to manage projects, think creatively, and prioritize multiple tasks.
Ability to supervise and oversee staff, interns, and volunteers.
Experience in community organizing and civic engagement campaigns an asset.
Ability to travel and to work some evenings and weekends.
NAKASEC offers a salary commensurate with experience and full health, dental, and vision insurance.
To apply: Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary expectations to becky@nakasec.org by Friday, April 12th. Please write subject heading “NAKASEC Policy Director.” For more information, please visit our website at www.nakasec.org.
NAKASEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
