Advocacy Manager

Philanthropy Northwest; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative non-profit organization in Seattle is seeking an Advocacy Manager to drive progressive transportation policies. This dynamic role involves building coalitions, engaging with diverse stakeholders, and shaping public narratives to promote transportation equity. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment, leveraging their strategic communication skills to implement advocacy campaigns and support community engagement. Join a passionate team dedicated to creating vibrant, affordable communities connected by effective transit solutions, and make a tangible impact on transportation choices for all.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience in community organizing or related fields.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Ability to advocate for racial equity in policies.

Responsibilities

• Build public will and political support for transportation policy.
• Organize coalitions to advance progressive transportation initiatives.
• Plan and implement advocacy campaigns and communications.

Skills

Community Organizing

Government Affairs

Policy Development

Strategic Communications

Project Management

Public Presentation

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Experience in Advocacy

Tools

Social Media Tools

WordPress

Campaign Monitor

Canva

Job description

Hiring Range: $61,387 - 72,220 annually with competitive benefits.

Job Category:

Administrative

Project Management

Communications | Marketing

Education

Organizational Overview:

Transportation Choices Coalition is Washington State’s leading non-profit organization working to expand transportation choices for everyone. Based in Seattle, our vision is to create vibrant and affordable communities connected by great transit for all. Our programs are focused on educating and building support for more transit, developing cutting edge policies to make it easier and more affordable for people to get around by rail, bus, mobility device, bike and foot and winning new funding to support these transportation choices. In the last 15 years, we have won nearly $100 billion in transit, bike and pedestrian investments.

TCC strives to be a great place to do great work. We prioritize a collaborative, team-oriented culture where everyone has a high level of ownership and performance in their roles, where we prioritize a regular practice of collective programmatic and operational anti-racism work, and where we care for ourselves, each other, and our community.

Role Responsibilities:

The Advocacy Manager is a key member of Transportation Choices Coalition, who works to build public will and political support to pass progressive transportation policy. This role organizes winning coalitions at the intersection of transportation, land use, environment, climate, labor, and social justice that advance TCC’s mission and vision of more transportation choices and opportunities for all.

The Advocacy Manager reports to the Policy Director. This person is responsible for building relationships with community-based organizations, nonprofits, labor leaders, private sector stakeholders, elected officials and agency leaders. This person shapes public narratives and education campaigns in coordination with the Communications Manager and Education and Engagement Manager.

This dynamic role covers advocacy and political work at all levels of government, but particularly the Washington State legislature and supporting statewide transit ballot measures. On any given day this person may be facilitating a coalition meeting, testifying at a board or council meeting, or planning an advocacy campaign with partners. As part of a small and mighty team, this person will assist in other cross-functional work, including fundraising and event support.

Flexible schedule with some night and weekend work required.

Reports to: Policy Director

Hiring Range: $61,387 - 72,220 annually with competitive benefits.

Salary Range: $61,387 - 83,053 annually

Position Type: Full-time, 40 hours a week, based in Seattle in a hybrid office environment

Key Responsibilities

Coalition Building, Elected & Partner Relationships - 40%

• Initiate, grow and maintain partner relationships across sectors and in complex political environments across the state and especially outside of King County
• Initiate, grow and maintain relationships with elected office staff, transportation agency staff and other grass-tops stakeholders across the state and especially outside of King County
• Organize multi-sector coalitions to win progressive transportation policy at the local, regional and state level
• Plan and facilitate coalition meetings and policy development processes
• Represent TCC at partner meetings/coalitions, agency meetings, and on panels and other professional events

Advocacy, Communications & Campaign Support - 35%

• Plan and implement advocacy campaigns, including political strategy, tactics and organizing
• Provide strategy, advocacy support and technical assistance for local and statewide ballot initiatives
• Provide verbal and written public comment before boards and elected governments; organize partners around key advocacy moments
• Collaborate on strategic communications, including message development, communications plans, and earned media
• Support media interviews, author blog posts and action alerts, and pursue other creative advocacy tactics such as videos, social media, or in-person actions and events
• Coordinate with contract lobbyists and other contract staff as needed

Policy Review - 15%

• Collaborate on policy development planning and racial equity analysis
• Enable and solicit government and nonprofit partner policy feedback
• Review policies and plans

Internal, planning, cross-functional support - 10%

• Produce an annual work plan with metrics tied to overall organizational goals
• Participate in team check-ins, weekly staff meetings, and planning and support for TCC events
• Support grant writing and reporting regarding advocacy activities
• Pursue professional development opportunities that advance skills for the role

Candidate Qualifications:

Primary Qualifications

• Excellent writing, editing, public presentation and communication skills.
• 3+ years experience in community organizing, government affairs, policy, campaigns, strategic communications or related life experience.
• Familiarity and interest in transportation policy or related issues.
• A self-starter who excels at working in a team environment, and is comfortable working with all kinds of external stakeholders including community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, elected officials, agency leaders and news media.
• Ability to center and advocate for racial equity within hostile policies, structures and political environments.
• Politically savvy, can navigate complex political and policy issues in both community-based and government settings.
• Expert facilitator; can bring together a diverse group of stakeholders and host policy and process discussions focused on relationship building, shared values and policy goals.
• Ability to distill complex policy and positions into accessible language; experience in strategic messaging development, ideally in a public sector or political environment.
• Strong project management skills, and the ability to prioritize, manage and coordinate multiple tasks, sometimes in a fast-paced, evolving, and political environment.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Secondary Qualifications

• Lived experience without a car; using transit as a primary mode of transportation or transit dependent.
• Experience writing and managing online communications, e-advocacy and social media accounts and tools, including Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Wordpress, Campaign Monitor, Action Network and Canva.

The successful candidate will

• Have a strategist’s mind: You quickly grasp the subtleties of complex policy and political issues, and identify patterns in challenges. You develop insightful, pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable ways to tackle common challenges and produce positive change. You have a successful track record of taking a concept from idea to implementation.
• Proactively advance racial equity: We acknowledge historical inequities and commit to shift power, resources, and decision-making to communities of color and those most impacted by issues related to transportation. You identify decisions, policies, processes or practices that have disparate impacts based on identity and are driven to make changes in systems and practices to operationalize equity.
• Prioritize relationships, community and collaboration: You recognize the deep importance that relationships with colleagues and allies play in our work, and you build rapport and trust with others. Demonstrates enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people. Empathizes with the communities we serve. Able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. Listens closely to understand needs or concerns and takes steps based on that input.
• Exercise inspiring leadership: Brings a clear vision and recognizes the value of divergent perspectives. Approaches leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly includes others in planning and decision-making. Inspires and motivates others to take action and meet goals. Delegates skillfully. Holds the team accountable and acknowledges growing edges (in self and others).
• Manage a high volume of work in high-pressure situations: Able to juggle competing demands and prioritize tasks. Can comfortably shift strategy and tactics in ever-changing, politically sensitive environments. Asks for help when needed.

How to Apply

Application Contact:

[e-mail]

Application Deadline:

Application Instructions:

Submit cover letter and resume by email to Katy Ricchiuto, Policy Director, at [e-mail]; indicate “Advocacy Manager” in the subject line. No phone calls please.