Job Description
Job Description
NOW HIRING: Policy and Research Director
New Era Colorado Foundation and New Era Colorado Action Fund is seeking a full-time Policy and Research Director that will lead our statewide political and issue advocacy work!
To apply: Follow this link to apply for this role and submit application materials. Please submit a resume and cover letter! The priority deadline is May 22nd but this position will be open until filled and will be removed from our website once it is filled (if the posting is still up, you can and should still apply!). No phone calls please.
About New Era Colorado:
New Era aims to build a youth movement that fights for a common vision of the world: one that centers equality, prosperity, love, and joy. A vision where everyone is treated fairly, has their basic needs met, and can thrive. Young people are the most impacted by the challenges and issues we face today and have the capacity to dream bigger, designing the solutions towards this future. And yet, young people are often shut out from the halls of power and ignored by elected officials. That’s why at New Era, we organize young people to participate in the political process, develop as leaders, and find a political home. Since our founding in 2006, we’ve registered more than 250,000 young people to vote and consistently turn out those registrants at one of the highest rates in the country. We’ve won critical protections for student loan borrowers, played a key role in ballot measure campaigns to protect abortion rights and climate, enacted voter preregistration for 16- and 17-year-olds, advocated for key improvements to our voting systems, and more. Get to know us: Website | Facebook | Instagram
About the position:
New Era’s Policy and Research Director will be responsible for researching, identifying and designing the organization's political and issue advocacy campaigns to build progress towards the issues that impact young people in our Youth Agenda Policy Platform. In this role, you’ll drive the development of New Era’s policy strategy, priorities and goals while working to build strong, sustainable relationships with partners and elected officials towards a common goal. As a member of New Era’s program leadership team, you will act as a collaborative partner to determine the strategic direction of New Era’s statewide, grassroots organizing and electoral program in order to build political power for young Coloradans while advancing the youth agenda forward! This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic self starter who is excited about growing young people’s momentum for progressive political change.
Job Responsibilities:
The Policy and Research Director reports to the Deputy Director and is responsible for:
❖ Drive and design strategic long-term policy goals and campaigns to win on the Youth Agenda: Design and oversee all of New Era’s policy and issue work across all levels of government to make progress on our policy platform informed by the experiences of young people; execute research necessary to lead effective and successful campaigns
❖ Manage relationships with statewide elected officials and partners in the policy space: Build and sustain strong relationships with statewide elected officials and partners (while overseeing relationships at the local level) to make progress on our issue areas in coalition with partners.
❖ Manage Senior Policy Manager to pass local policies in collaboration with the Regional Lead Organizers: Manage, support, grow, and develop New Era’s Senior Policy Manager to the results and outcomes of their work towards local policy solutions in service of the Youth Agenda so that we can build power for our generation
❖ Program and Organizational Leadership: Work closely as a strategic thought partner with New Era’s Program Leadership Team to design strategic programmatic campaigns, consult on organizational decisions and overall work with the full leadership team to ensure organizational strategy, cohesion, and a strong team culture.
What We’re Looking For:
❖ Strategic program planning: You have experience organizing and mobilizing people towards progressive political wins and have the ability to develop and implement a campaign plan from start to finish. You have the ability to make high-level strategic decisions while weighing tradeoffs and evaluating possible outcomes.
❖ Organizational decision making and leadership: You are a collaborative team player who is invested in New Era’s collective goals and is able to make high level strategic decisions that are in the best interest of the organization and our mission and are able to hold nuance and perspective in decision making.
❖ Relationship building: You have the ability to deepen, cultivate, and manage relationships with partners, stakeholders, and coalitions.
❖ Excellent management skills: You are an excellent people manager who has experience directly managing individuals or teams and has the ability to build, lead, foster, and empower a team to meet the results and outcomes of the work.
❖ Fluency, commitment, and leadership to anti-racism and equity: You have a deep investment in New Era’s anti-racism and equity work and are committed to support and lead the organization through its growth. You have the ability to design and center equity and anti-racism in plans.
❖ Highly organized, motivated, and detail-oriented: You have a proven ability to effectively and thoroughly manage projects with many moving parts to produce high-quality results, maintain a strong foundation to stay organized, manage your time effectively, and plan ahead
❖ Commitment to New Era’s mission: You are passionate about the work New Era does to engage young people in the political process and believe in the power of peer-to-peer organizing. You believe in the power of young people, grassroots organizing, and policy change.
Preferred but not required
❖ Experience with political databases - including VAN, EveryAction, and ThruTalk
❖ Prior knowledge or experience working in Colorado’s political landscape and progressive ecosystem
Position Details, Compensation and Benefit
This position is based out of New Era’s Denver offices. This is a permanent, full-time, exempt, management-level position. The salary range is $75,000-80,000 annualized, commensurate with experience.
Benefits include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision; employer pays 85% of the premium), $300 annual wellness stipend, minimum $400 annual professional development funds, SIMPLE IRA with 3% employer match, $720 annual tech stipend, RTD Ecopass, generous holiday and time off, eight week paid sabbatical eligibility after four years of employment, and paid parental and family leave benefits.
This role will include in-person work. New Era Colorado is committed to the safety of our employees and requires proof of full vaccination status for all employees unless a religious or medical accommodation is granted. If you have any questions about our safety protocols please contact us at info@neweracolorado.org.
New Era Colorado Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all, and strongly encourage women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees and members of the LGBTQ community to apply. We do not require formal education.