Director of Public Policy

CommonWealth Beacon; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Hybrid schedule

Retirement plan with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is seeking a Director of Public Policy to lead the development and execution of our advocacy agenda. You will engage with local, state, and federal partners, member organizations, and lived-experience voices to shape MHSA's policy work.

This is a full-time, exempt role reporting to the Chief Policy & Strategy Officer within a small, mission-driven team. You will monitor policy developments, set priorities with the Chief Policy & Strategy Officer,

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in advocacy/public policy work.
• Experience tracking and analyzing public policy, developing advocacy strategy, and meeting with policymakers.
• Understanding of the local, state, and federal environment related to housing, homelessness, and health care.
• Commitment to advancing racial and ethnic equity.
• Passion and empathy for the mission of ending homelessness.
• Flexible and collaborative. Eager to dive in, learn as you go, pivot to address emerging priorities, and work collaboratively across MHSA teams.
• Strategic thinker.
• Excellent writing skills with ability to translate complex policy concepts into simple messages; write original content with minimal edits.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills; manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze federal, state, and local budget and policy issues related to MHSA’s mission.
• Identify advocacy priorities and develop and implement strategy and tactics.
• Lead MHSA’s advocacy work on specific issue areas.
• Organize, lead, and support events including legislative briefings, mobilization calls, member meetings, and webinars.
• Represent MHSA at coalition and committee meetings and external-facing opportunities.
• Develop relationships with policymakers, MHSA members, community partners, and people with lived experience of homelessness.
• Develop compelling advocacy/policy materials for policymakers, partners, and the public; collaborate with MHSA teams on communications and data needs.
• Supervise MHSA interns and volunteers on Policy Team projects.

Skills

Advocacy strategy

Policy analysis

Writing skills

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Collaboration

Massachusetts policy

MS Office

Zoom

Tools

Microsoft Office

Zoom

Job description

The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Massachusetts. We partner with nearly 100 member organizations across the state who operate housing, shelter, and services. We are excited to expand our Policy Team with the addition of a Director of Public Policy. As the Director of Public Policy, you will play a leading role in the development and implementation of MHSA’s advocacy strategy. In this position, you will engage with partners at the local, state, and federal levels; member organizations; and people with lived experience to shape MHSA’s policy work. You will think creatively, build relationships, dive into policy analysis and strategy, and develop compelling advocacy and policy communications. You will be a key external voice for MHSA. This position reports to the Chief Policy & Strategy Officer and works with the Policy & Community Engagement Manager as part of a three-person team. The Policy Team works closely with the CEO to set and carry out MHSA’s policy agenda. This position might be for you if:

• You are dedicated to ending homelessness and excited to create policy change to ensure people have access to housing, health care, and the support they need to thrive.
• You have experience navigating local, state, and federal policy landscapes.
• You are a detail-oriented and strategic thinker who can take initiative, set long-term goals, map out the steps needed to get there, and implement projects from start to finish.
• You are an excellent writer who can translate complex policy topics into simple, compelling messages for multiple audiences.
• You are flexible, collaborative, ready to pivot to address emerging priorities, and eager to be part of a small nonprofit with a big mission.

Reports to

Chief Policy & Strategy Officer

Status

This position is full-time, 40 hours a week, exempt.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze federal, state, and local budget and policy issues related to MHSA’s mission.
  • Identify important budget and policy developments and opportunities for action.
  • Prepare clear, easy-to-understand updates for MHSA members and other key stakeholders.
• Identify advocacy priorities in collaboration with the Chief Policy & Strategy Officer and develop and implement strategy and tactics. Lead MHSA’s advocacy work on specific issue areas.
• Organize, lead, and support events including legislative briefings, mobilization calls, member meetings, and webinars.
• Represent MHSA at coalition and committee meetings, speaking engagements, and other external-facing opportunities.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with:
  • Local, state, and federal policymakers. Be a trusted resource on issues related to MHSA’s mission. Serve as a registered Massachusetts lobbyist and represent MHSA’s advocacy priorities, particularly with state legislators.
  • MHSA members and community partners. Work closely with the Policy & Community Engagement Manager on member engagement in MHSA’s advocacy, including through the annual member retreat, member meetings, and the Member Advisory Board. Represent MHSA at external meetings and coalitions.
  • People with lived experience of homelessness. Support MHSA’s Lived Experience Fellowship and engage people with lived experience in policy work.
• Develop compelling advocacy/policy materials for multiple audiences, including policymakers, community partners, and the general public.
  • Write compelling one-pagers, emails, legislative testimony, public comments, presentations, website and social media content, letters to the editor, and more.
  • Work collaboratively with other MHSA teams on communications and data needs to inform advocacy/policy materials.
• Supervise MHSA interns and volunteers working on Policy Team projects, as needed.
• Other duties as reasonably required to support MHSA’s mission and organizational operations.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in advocacy/public policy work.
• Experience tracking and analyzing public policy, developing advocacy strategy, and meeting with policymakers.
• Understanding of the local, state, and federal environment related to housing, homelessness, and health care.
• Commitment to advancing racial and ethnic equity.
• Passion and empathy for the mission of ending homelessness.
• Flexible and collaborative. Eager to dive in, learn as you go, pivot to address emerging priorities, and work collaboratively across MHSA teams.
• Strategic thinker.
• Excellent writing skills. You are able to:
  • Translate complex policy concepts into simple, clear messages for multiple audiences.
  • Write original content without needing extensive grammatical edits.
  • Proofread and edit colleagues’ work and provide constructive feedback.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills. You are able to:
  • Manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
  • Take initiative, prioritize projects, and complete tasks efficiently and with exceptional accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. You are able to:
  • Build and strengthen relationships and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, municipalities, service providers, people with lived experience of homelessness, funders, donors, and community members.
  • Work with people from a range of backgrounds, particularly those who have been marginalized or impacted by social inequities.
  • Listen well, participate thoughtfully in challenging conversations, and be diplomatic.
  • Navigate political discussions and make the distinction between personal political priorities/opinions/pursuits and policy work on behalf of MHSA.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, adaptable, and to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Strong proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and Zoom.
• Ability to register as a Massachusetts lobbyist.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Must reside in Massachusetts while employed at MHSA.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range is $100,000 – $110,000 per year. Many of our benefits (including health, dental, and vision insurance) start on the first day of your employment. Our excellent benefits include:

• Harvard Pilgrim health insurance (80% employer-paid) for individual and family
• Delta dental insurance (80% employer-paid) for individual and family
• EyeMed vision insurance (100% employee-paid at MHSA’s lower group rate)
• 401k and Roth retirement plans with 100% employer match on the first $2,000 contributed and a 20% match on additional contributions subject to a maximum
• Life, long-term disability, and Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave insurance (100% employer-paid) – Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for out-of-pocket health care expenses
• Pre-tax Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA) for dependent care expenses, such as daycare, preschool, and summer camps
• 15 days of vacation per year to start, increasing to 20 days at two full years of employment, and 25 days at four full years of employment
• 12 days of sick time
• 3 personal days
• 15 holidays per year
• Flexible, hybrid schedule
• Focus on your professional development and growth in the organization
• MHSA is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer

Note: MHSA supports a hybrid work environment. Staff are expected to work from the Boston office regularly and at the direction of supervisors.

The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we appreciate the value and richness of different perspectives and experiences. We constantly strive to be a more diverse and inclusive workplace and ensure everyone feels welcomed and engaged as a valued member of the team. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

About MHSA

MHSA is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Massachusetts. We advance policies and strategies to ensure that everyone has a home and the support they need to thrive. For more than 30 years, MHSA has been a policy driver and a catalyst for change. We began in 1988 as a small group of homeless shelter providers serving adult individuals in Greater Boston whoknew that truly ending homelessness would require strategic vision, collaboration, and commitment to long-term solutions.That small group of providers has since evolved into a statewide alliance of nearly 100 member organizations working together to problem solve, innovate, and mobilize support for housing solutions and access to health care and support services. Today, MHSA continues to be a leader in the Commonwealth’s response to the housing challenges we face. Working with our partners statewide, we advocate, build capacity, and innovate to transform the ways communities respond to homelessness.

MHSA Values

• Dignity – We believe in human dignity and housing for all people.
• Lived Experience – We incorporate the voices of people with lived experience.
• Solutions – We strive to replace reliance on emergency responses with a focus on solutions.
• Data – We are guided by data and advocate for evidence-based responses.
• Equity – We are committed to racial equity.
• Collaboration – We collaborate across stakeholders, sectors, and communities.