Policy Director, Georgia

southernpovertylawcenter; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Southern Poverty Law Center seeks a Policy Director for Georgia with proven public policy advocacy experience and a deep commitment to racial and economic justice. You will lead a multi-strategy agenda, supervise the Policy Associate, coordinate with state agencies and elected officials, and work across SPLC's Legal, Learning for Justice, and Intelligence Project teams.

This role requires strategic leadership, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to translate policy

Qualifications

• Experienced public policy advocate with a track record of advancing democracy, civil rights, and economic justice.
• Strong supervisory and mentorship capabilities for direct reports.
• Strategic, analytical thinker with ability to craft data-driven local and state advocacy plans.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences, including officials and media.
• Efficient and adaptable in a fast-paced policy environment with competing deadlines.
• Collaborative, with ability to build coalitions and work across departments.
• Knowledge of laws governing 501(c)(3) lobbying and compliance with time-tracking.
• Committed to SPLC's mission, vision, and values.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Georgia-focused strategic workplans to influence policy at local and state levels.
• Identify opportunities to shape policy decisions and coordinate with federal and research policy teams as needed.
• Draft legislative testimony, sign-on letters, and advocacy assets to advance or defeat legislation.
• Manage the Georgia Policy team, including mentorship, performance evaluation, and hiring decisions.
• Oversee Georgia's state-based lobbyists, including budget and contract renewals.
• Build and maintain coalitions representing diverse stakeholders and directly impacted communities.
• Develop relationships with elected officials, allied organizations, and community partners.
• Serve as a spokesperson on Georgia policy priorities in media interviews and public forums.
• Prepare reports and materials for the Chief Policy Officer and Regional Policy Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job description

The SPLC is seeking a Policy Director for Georgia experienced in public policy advocacy and committed to racial and economic justice! The Policy Director is a results-driven and experienced advocate, who is passionate about advancing a pro-democracy agenda and civil rights for society's most vulnerable communities. The Policy Director works under the supervision of the Regional Policy Director to advance SPLC's policy objectives in Georgia via a multi-strategy advocacy agenda . The Policy Director works with colleagues within the P olicy departmen t , State Office and Communications, and subject matter experts across SPLC 's Legal, Learning for Justice , and Intelligence Project departments. The Policy Director supervises the Policy Associate, directs state contract lobbyists and liaises directly with state and local elected and appointed officials, agencies, non- partisan advocacy o rganizations , direct service providers and directly impacted communit y members .

Who You Are

• Experienced. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing public policy advocacy initiatives, specifically executing local and state strategies on issues related to securing democracy, eradicating poverty, reimagining the youth and adult criminal legal system, and opposing hate and extremist ideologies that impact Black and Brown communities.
• Supervisor. Dedication to high-quality supervision and mentoring direct reports to ensure development and execution of results driven outcomes.
• Strategic, thoughtful and analytical. Ability to develop, manage and execute effective, data-driven local and state-level advocacy initiatives to achieve organizational priorities, including critical thinking skills, a keen understanding of political structures and necessary assessment tools to identify and evaluate opportunities and craft workplans outlining clear goals, objectives, strategies and tactics.
• Effective Communicator. Skilled in listening and persuasive communication to articulate ideas, problems and solutions, in both written and oral presentations, to diverse audiences, including elected officials across political ideologies, directly impacted community members, stakeholders and the media.
• Efficient. Ability to effectively manage time while working in a fast-paced environment often with competing and fluctuating deadlines. Must be able to pivot from one assignment to another and assess priorities to timely complete assignments.
• Collaborative. Demonstrated ability to work in partnership with people of diverse backgrounds, including internal departments, external organizations and stakeholders, to execute specific policy strategies to advance the work of the Policy department.
• Knowledgeable. Operational understanding of laws governing 501(c)(3) permissible lobbying activity and compliant time tracking.
• Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrates an understanding of and a commitment to SPLC's mission, vision and values.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute a strategic workplan to achieve organizational objectives in Georgia, through strategic local- and state-level policy engagements.
• Identify, secure, and respond to opportunities for SPLC to influence policy decisions at the local and state levels, including collaborating with federal and research policy team members, analyzing the racial and economic impact of proposed legislation, seeking the introduction of or commenting on proposed ordinances, legislation and administrative rules, submitting statements and letters, preparing advocacy materials, and meetings with elected and administrative officials and their staff.
• Secure, draft, and deliver or coordinate delivery of legislative testimony, sign-on letters and other advocacy assets to advance or defeat legislation at the local and state level, leveraging opportunities at the federal level in partnership with federal policy colleagues.
• Manage the Georgia Policy team, providing mentorship, performance evaluation and coaching, including hiring and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Oversee Georgia's state-based lobbyists, including annual contract renewals, processing monthly retainer and expenses for payment, and directing their engagements.
• Assume a strategic leadership role in building and maintaining coalition spaces, ensuring diverse representation including the voices of directly impacted individuals, on advocacy issues consistent with SPLC's priorities and strategies.
• Develop and maintain relationships with elected officials and their staff, allied organizations, direct service providers, community partners and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a spokesperson on matters related to Georgia's policy priorities in media interviews, conference presentations, roundtables and other opportunities.
• Prepare documentation to the Chief Policy Officer and Regional Policy Director, including workplan progress, information necessary for board meetings, annual budgeting, and other assignments as directed.
• Perform other duties