Legislative Advocate

Position Title: Legislative Advocate

Pay Range: ~$65,000- $75,000

Duration: Regular

Hours: Full time (40 hrs/week with five (5) paid well-being hours weekly)

Location: Must be based in Oregon by February 1. This is primarily a remote position that offers flexibility for staff to have a home office or access to shared co-working space. During the legislative session (approximately 5 months every other year), this position will be required to be present in the State Capitol in Salem on average three days a week and up to five days a week as needed.

Oregon Just Transition Alliance (OJTA) is a movement of communities facing environmental racism, climate change, and economic exploitation, by and for people on the frontlines of injustice and the frontlines of change. We unite organizations committed to base-building in frontline communities and gather to create ownership over our future. Our goal is to move Oregon toward an economy that is rooted in our shared values, the principles of a Just Transition. OJTA is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.

About the job

The Legislative Advocate is responsible for supporting Oregon Just Transition Alliance in advancing alliance policy goals through building and sustaining alliance member relationships with policymakers, frontline voices, and stakeholders. This includes developing and maintaining legislator relations; accessing and disseminating information on the policy making process through maintaining a consistent feedback loop with key stakeholders; tracking, training, and facilitating alliance participation in strategic spaces; developing and executing work plans; and engaging and supporting the alliance in administrative and legislative processes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship Development (30%)

• Develop and implement a strategy to engage policymakers with input from the alliance that advances the leadership of frontline voices through meaningful engagement with policymakers.
• Implement and maintain strategic relationships to engage with alliance members and those interested in participating in the advocacy process.
• Participate in meetings with the alliance to understand their policy priorities and create a feedback loop that ensures all stakeholders are heard and engaged by lawmakers or agencies.
• Facilitate strategic relationships between OJTA and elected officials, agency administrators and their staff; build/maintain a list of key legislators, the state executive, and agencies and their priorities as they relate to OJTA; organize strategic meetings with legislators and executive branch leadership; connect and track interactions between the alliance and their legislators on our priorities; participate in legislative events and meetings on behalf of OJTA and when members are not available.

Government and Legislative Coordination (30%)

• Serve as an entry point for policymakers and government staff new to OJTA and facilitate connections to alliance.
• Facilitate relationships between agencies and relevant member/staff issues, track agency progress, maintain a work plan, and advocate for effective implementation of alliance priorities within government.
• Ensure the alliance is up to date and offers opportunities to participate in agency processes relevant to our priorities.
• Coordinate education, influence and content for equitable governance policy strategies and priorities across alliance issue areas.

Advocacy (25%)

• Educate policymakers on a Just Transition. Help policymakers understand and apply the framework to ensure member voices are represented at the capitol.
• Develop political strategy proposals with alliance based on unique alliance and theory of political change, including conducting comprehensive power analysis.
• Ensure equitable implementation of legislation we pass: work with our alliance to create data-driven feedback and co-create strategic solutions that relay feedback to government agencies and lawmakers, including the broader alliance.
• Advocate for alliance priorities by meeting with legislators and staff when alliance members are unavailable or as needed.
• Facilitate connections between alliance and legislative drafters to ensure equity in bills, rules, and policy documents align with OJTA's principles and positions.
• Develop and coordinate policy work groups in partnership with the policy team and steering committee; recruit members, create a detailed work plan, and ensure staff provides the necessary support for the group’s success.
• Participate in the development and implementation of coalitions and/or committees that advance legislative and government relations.
• Co-create trainings to advance the legislative capacity of the alliance.

Communications Support (10%)

• Be available to participate in key community briefings and media interviews.
• Ensure accuracy and strategy around all communications related to legislation, policy, and advocacy.
• Oversee, provide guidance and review communications related to legislative policy advocacy to ensure accuracy and alignment with messaging that will advance priorities.

Operations (5%)

• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in regards to lobbying.
• Maintain strategic relationships with OJTA policy and program consultants, and assist in negotiating contracts and scopes of work as needed.
• Co-create and manage data and assessment methods to evaluate progress and outcome to share with members, funders as well as to inform and shape future efforts.
• Provide written, monthly progress reports on deliverables completed or, as requested by team/project lead.

NOTE: This job description is inclusive of, but not limited to the job duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or requirements contained herein. Additional duties, responsibilities, qualifications or requirements may be required as deemed necessary by the executive director.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• At least 2 years professional experience related to community organizing or engagement, including relationship building, understanding community concerns, and strategic mobilization to achieve a goal.
• At least 2 years of professional or volunteer experience working with community-based organizations.
• At least 2 years experience and demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity or working directly in and for communities of color.
• Ability to engage community leaders and their members using remote tactics and across diverse statewide groups of prospective participants and in person.
• Strong commitment to the vision, mission, and values of OJTA.
• Proven ability to take initiative, identify priorities and accomplish tasks, and advance projects.
• Team player capable of working both collaboratively and independently.
• Highly organized and resourceful with a strong attention to detail.
• Deep knowledge and passion for social movements, environmental justice and racial justice.
• Experience working in diverse communities namely with people of color and indigenous peoples as well as disenfranchised communities.
• Ability to travel and attend meetings as needed, potentially on weekends and evenings.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Subject matter expertise in campaigns, engagement strategies, and participatory design.
• At least 2 years of experience working on policy issues or issues of environment, climate, or economic justice or demonstration of interest.
• Excellent collaboration skills, ability to work in diverse groups to develop ideas, find alignment, and build together against competing demands.
• Knowledge of state and local frontline communities.
• Desire and ability to learn about new issues and areas quickly.

Location:

The candidate must be based in Oregon by February 1. This is primarily a remote position that offers flexibility for staff to have a home office or access to shared co-working space. Staff are expected to occasionally attend in-person monthly staff meetings, fundraising events, member events and retreats that are held across the state. The candidate is required to travel throughout the state to build relationships and represent the organization. During the legislative session (approximately 5 months every other year), this position will be required to be present in the State Capitol in Salem, on average, three days a week and up to five days a week as needed. Work related travel expenses are 100% covered.

Application deadline:

Open until filled; priority deadline Jan. 8.

To apply:

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter with their resume and 3 references IN ONE PDF DOCUMENT to info@ojta.org (subject: Legislative Advocate).

OJTA and Community Initiatives is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited category.