Director Of Advocacy

Position Title: Director of Advocacy

Department: Program

Grade Range/Job Status: Full Time/Exempt-Salaried

Reporting Relationship: Chief Executive Officer

Supervisory Responsibilities: NA

Typical Schedule: Primarily M-F Days. Hybrid work available. Must occasionally be willing and able to work flexible hours/days, including evenings and weekends, reflective of the dynamic schedule of the organization.

Position Summary

The Director of Advocacy reports to the Chief Executive Officer to lead the development, execution, and evaluation of Hammer & NER’s public policy and advocacy programming. Collaborates and works closely with ANCOR, ARRM and Best Life Alliance to influence community awareness, public policy, and budget outcomes to positively impact Hammer & NER and its constituents. The position is responsible to collaborate and serve as a liaison with external partners to ensure priority positions and targeted local and state advocacy outcomes are effectively achieved. This includes the building of relationships with public officials on behalf of the organization. All employees are expected to center, model and champion Hammer’s core values: Person-Centered, Relational, Opportunistic and Stewardship in order to provide people with intellectual and other disabilities, the opportunity to live life to its fullest.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Advocacy Development and Implementation

· Leads advocacy efforts for staff, and individuals and their families who Hammer & NER support.

· Identify key advocacy issues and develop comprehensive strategies to advance the organization’s agenda.

· Collaborate with senior leaders to align advocacy efforts with overall organizational goals.

· Stay abreast of legislative and regulatory developments that impact the organization’s interests.

· Develops educational programs around advocacy for families, staff, and the people we support.

2. Government and Public Relations

· Identify and cultivate key relationships with elected and appointed officials and staff, serving as the organization’s primary liaison with government officials, including elected and administrative officials at local and state levels.

· Monitor, evaluate, research, and respond to local, state and, federal policy developments and issues including legislative and regulatory proposals.

· Advance ANCOR, ARRM, and Best Life Alliance positions and policy recommendations and advocate with lawmakers, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.

· Represent the organization in public events, hearings, coalitions and meetings with elected officials, the media, and external stakeholders. advocate for its interests.

· Cultivate strategic partnerships with other residential providers and coalitions to amplify advocacy efforts.

· Serve as a spokesperson for the organization; prepare and deliver persuasive presentations, speeches, and written materials to convey the organization’s positions.

3. Policy and Board/Organizational Development

· Participate in policy development with ANCOR, ARRM, and Best Life Alliance.

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge about legislative efforts and laws. Conducts research and analysis on policy issues, legislative trends, and political landscapes.

· Develop and/or support policy briefs, reports, and white papers from coalition partners to further advocacy efforts and the mission of Hammer & NER.

· Provide strategic guidance to the board and organizational leadership about legislative agendas, policy considerations and advocacy efforts.

· Create and maintain accessible public policy/advocacy training and resources that support board and staff stakeholder engagement and learning.

4. Grassroots and Self -Advocacy

· Explore and implement self-advocacy groups to center the voice of people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.

· Mobilize grassroots supporters (volunteers) to advocate for the organization’s priorities.

· Organize and coordinate advocacy campaigns, including grassroots lobbying, public awareness initiatives, and grassroots training.

· Lead and serve as primary organizer for public events such as Day at the Capital.

· Organize, implement, and support home visits with legislators and other key stakeholders at Hammer & NER residential homes.

Essential Knowledge and Qualifications

· Intermediate experience required working for a mid-sized non-profit organization leading public policy, public affairs, or applicable work. Formal, informal, and cross-disciplinary experiences will be considered.

· Demonstrated experience on behalf of and alongside people who have disabilities preferred.

· Experience and ease communicating with a variety of key stakeholders including policy makers, opinion leaders and their staff, families, and self-advocates to advocating for the organization’s interests.

· Ability to analyze public policy and legislative efforts into simple accessible explanations and language.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated comfort with public speaking.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, Outlook).

· Experience leading and mobilizing board members and volunteers in advocacy and public policy efforts.

• Experience recruiting, coaching, and supervising volunteers required.

· Requires a valid driver’s license, access to a personal auto and willingness to drive as needed to our east and west metro offices, residences and other locales as needed.

· Knowledge of marketing and communications planning, social media platforms and multi-media strategies.

· Experience, ability, and commitment to working with individuals and teams that are mixed across lines of difference such as race, gender-identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, class, and immigrant status.

· Must be willing and able to work flexible hours/days, including occasional evenings and weekends, reflective of the dynamic schedule of the organization.

This job description assigns essential functions. It does not restrict the tasks an individual in this position might be asked to perform or all qualifications that may be required currently or in the future.