Director of Policy & Advocacy

South Asian SOAR is looking for a full-time Director of Policy & Advocacy.

Click here to complete the online application.

About SOAR

South Asian SOAR (SOAR) is a collective of survivors, organizations, and allies building a national movement for joy, healing, and justice in the South Asian diaspora. 

We seek to dismantle and transform the culture and conditions that lead to violence by building the capacity, voice, and leadership of survivors, communities, and organizations. With our collective power and action, we can reimagine new systems that uphold care and healing. Over the past year, we have built an engaged and active membership-based network of 30 organizations and individuals, nationally. We are seeking a Director of Policy & Advocacy to uplift the needs of survivors, communities, and member organizations to drive bold solutions through policy and advocacy.

About the role

The Director of Policy & Advocacy is a visionary leader who believes in the power of people to change systems of oppression, a strategic thinker and communicator, and an inspirational leader who can mobilize people. Building off of our groundbreaking report (releasing in 2022), Together We Rise: Voices from the Frontlines of the South Asian Anti-Violence Organizations, this Director will lay the groundwork for a survivor and community-centered policy and advocacy platform. 

As the second staff member, the Director will work very closely with the Executive Director and Board to uphold and shape SOAR’s vision, strategy, impact, and values.

What you’ll do

Policy, Research, & Advocacy 

• Lead and facilitate the development of a survivor-centered, community-centered, and member-driven policy and advocacy platform through participatory research and engagement

• Cultivate and steward strong relationships and strategic partnerships with federal-level leadership, elected officials, policymakers, advocates, coalitions, and relevant stakeholders

• Oversee the creation and dissemination of high-quality deliverables such as policy reports, white papers, policy position letters, fact sheets, and presentations

• Research, monitor, and track federal and state legislation and regulatory policies impacting survivors and communicate their relevance to members

Member Engagement & Training

• Engage with and support the leadership of individual and organizational members on an ongoing basis to inform policy and advocacy priorities and strategies 

• Serve as a trainer and translator of policy for members, providing resources, sharing guidance, and bringing in experts when necessary 

• Lead the planning, preparation, and follow-up for federal lobby visits, including Congressional in-district meetings, and advocacy within SOAR and with partners or coalitions

Leadership & Management

• Develop and manage a team of policy and research staff and consultants, overseeing team growth and happiness, setting quarterly and annual goals and work plans, and evaluating and reporting ongoing work

• Support communications staff and consultants to disseminate publications and content, aligned with advocacy strategies and goals

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Board to inform the organization’s vision and strategic direction, support fundraising, provide thought leadership, and act as a public-facing ambassador

Who you are

Your Background & Experience

• You apply an anti-oppressive, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed approach to your work, and you have experience working with survivors or in the field of gender-based and sexual violence.

• You have 7+ years of national-level experience in policy advocacy, including working with or leading coalitions, building and maintaining relationships with Congress and federal agencies, and reading and writing legislation.

• You have a demonstrated understanding of the intersections of immigration, health, housing, reproductive rights, and mental health with gender-based violence and you have a fierce commitment to racial and gender justice.

• You have experience building and managing a team of staff and consultants, moving people towards outcomes with collaboration, trust, compassion, and focus

• Ideally, you are based in or prepared to relocate to DC.

Your Qualities

• You are committed to learning and deepening your own understanding of systems of oppression through dialogue, study, and humility.

• You value uplifting others as experts and supporting others to become experts themselves, centering those most impacted as the best leaders.

• You are an empathetic translator of complex information, and you have the ability to adeptly navigate data and policy to uncover meaning and nuance.

• You earn rather than demand the trust of people through kindness, high integrity, and authenticity.

• You are unafraid to question convention, proactively suggesting creative and catalyzing opportunities for creativity.

How to apply

Click here to complete the online application.

The online application will ask for:

• A resume

• A short bio, written or recorded

• A relevant project or writing sample

• A response to the question: What does being a survivor-centered organization mean to you?

Folks who are survivors, queer, trans, non-binary, people of color, have different abilities, are immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression and gender-based violence are encouraged to apply.

We encourage you to apply if this sounds like a good fit for you, even if you believe you don’t meet all the qualifications.

If you have any trouble with the online application, please reach out to us at hello@southasiansoar.org.

Job Details

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but applicants are highly encouraged to apply before February 1st, 2022.

Ideal Start Date: March 15th, 2022, or as soon as possible

Work Location: Remote, ideally based in DC

Salary: $75,000K+ per year, depending on background and experience

Comprehensive Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for you and eligible dependents

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care FSA

• 403(b) retirement plan

• Commuter benefits

• Unlimited vacation

• Flexible schedule

• Annual growth stipend

• One-time WFH stipend

Physical Factors: This position requires long periods of time at a desk on a computer, performing sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing, and repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. 

Hiring Policies

South Asian SOAR provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and skills. SOAR does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, caste, color, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, or medical status.