Political Director

Sojourners has an opening for a Political Director to develop and implement Sojourners’ policy strategy, positioning, framing, messaging, and advocacy for outreach and impact on Capitol Hill and the public sector. The Political Director works with the President, Senior Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing, and other staff to maximize Sojourners’ influence in the policy arena and advance the organization’s mission and priorities.

This is a full-time position based in Sojourners’ Washington, D.C. office.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage organization’s policy and advocacy agendas with public sector and government representatives, including Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, as well as state and mayoral representatives as needed.
• Monitor relevant activity on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch, forecast policy trends, and identify opportunities for advocacy.
• Conduct comprehensive legislative, regulatory, administrative, and legal research and analysis related to Sojourners' policy priorities and develop policy recommendations for both internal and external use.
• Maintain and build relationships with external public sector partners and coalitions, including working with the Circle of Protection and guiding Sojourners’ anti-poverty portfolio.
• Provide political and policy advice to organizational leadership.
• Evaluate sign-on and endorsement opportunities.
• Review organizational materials, including action alerts, press releases, statements, and fundraising proposals and letters, for policy consistency and 501(c)(3) compliance.
• Pitch op-eds on relevant topics to Sojourners editorially independent print and online publications and external media.
• In consultation with organizational leadership, identify and evaluate opportunities for influencing public narratives to advance organizational priorities.
• Work with the Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing to research policy issues, track legislation, and develop an internal campaign strategy.
• Mentor, equip, and support government relations of campaign leads to help them more effectively engage government entities.
• Works in coordination with other mobilizing directors and relevant SojoAction team members to develop and implement grassroots/grasstops advocacy and mobilizing strategies to achieve programmatic goals, including FRAN.
• Coordinate grassroots advocacy efforts with the Mobilizing Team, with the goal of educating and mobilizing partners to take action that can influence federal and state policy formation through online Action Alerts, curriculum development, and church network development.
• Promotes effective and clear communication within the mobilizing team and cross-organization teams.
• Represent the organization externally, including through public speaking.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in public policy, public administration, social work, theology, or related field, or juris doctorate, plus five years’ experience with policy advocacy; OR a Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years’ experience with policy advocacy in one or more of Sojourners’ policy priority areas.
• Capitol Hill familiarity and experience; established relationships with religious and secular public sector partners.
• Excellent communications skills, including public speaking and writing.
• Attention to detail and deadline-driven timelines, and a high standard of work product.
• Knowledge in Sojourners issues, mission, non-profit status, and positioning in the faith-based mobilizing context.
• Strength and experience in cross-team leadership and collaboration.