Senior Policy Advisor

Women's Refugee Commission; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

The Women’s Refugee Commission in Washington, DC, is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor for MRJ to advance priorities and support advocacy with policymakers. You will draft reports, explainers, and policy briefs, and represent MRJ with coalitions and partners.

You will design tools and resources on immigration detention, family separation, and related issues, with occasional travel to Central America and Mexico. This is a full‑time hybrid role in DC.

Qualifications

• 5–6+ years of advocacy experience on US immigration, regional migration, and/or gender equality.
• Demonstrated policy advocacy experience, particularly in Congress.
• Strong understanding of the US immigration system and policy impact for migrants.
• Expertise in at least one MRJ core issue area (family separation, detention, reproductive rights).
• Spanish language fluency strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft technical materials, reports, explainers, one‑pagers, and resources on family separation and related issues.
• Engage in occasional travel to Central America and Mexico for interviews and field work.
• Lead or participate in coalitions and working groups related to policy advocacy.
• Design advocacy initiatives on family separation, detention, reproductive rights and related MRJ policy areas.
• Draft public statements and blogs in response to breaking news.
• Manage MRJ’s social media in coordination with WRC communications.

Skills

Advocacy & policy communication

Congress policy advocacy

US immigration system understanding

Spanish language fluency

Policy report drafting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Organizational Background

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is a research and advocacy organization that seeks to improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. We research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

The Migrant Rights and Justice Program (MRJ), based in our DC office, is one of WRC’s largest and longest-running programs. Our work is grounded in research and monitoring of US policy and practice, in collaboration with partners and organizations across the US, Mexico, and Central America. The program advocates for thoughtful, forward‑thinking, and rights‑respecting policy solutions for migrant women, girls, and families.

Scope of Work

The primary role of the Senior Policy Advisor will be to advance MRJ’s priorities and support the program’s advocacy with policymakers and the public. The Senior Policy Advisor will support advocacy initiatives in Congress, with the administration, and with state and local governments. They will also play a vital role in communicating about MRJ’s core issues, including drafting reports, technical explainers, policy briefs, and other materials that speak clearly to nonexperts. Their work will include representing MRJ with a wide range of partners, including coalitions and working groups.

The Senior Policy Advisor will also be responsible for designing technical tools and resources that advance MRJ’s work on immigration detention and family separation, including those related to MRJ’s research in Central America and Mexico.

This position reports to the Director of Migrant Rights and Justice, who is based in Washington, DC.

Essential Job Functions

• Draft technical materials and tools, reports, technical explainers, one‑pagers and resources for impacted individuals related to family separation and reunification, immigration detention, deportation, and immigrant’s reproductive rights.
• Engage in occasional travel to Central America and Mexico to conduct interviews related to MRJ’s reports and technical materials.
• Participate and, where appropriate, take a leadership role in coalitions and working groups related to state and local policy, federal advocacy, and regional engagement.
• Design and implement advocacy initiatives related to family separation, detention, reproductive rights and justice, and other core MRJ policy areas.
• Draft public‑facing materials, including statements and blog posts in response to breaking news.
• Manage MRJ’s social media engagement, in partnership with WRC’s communications team.
• Represent WRC at meetings, conferences, and other public events.
• Identify new supporters for WRC’s work and new opportunities to promote WRC initiatives and research.

What We’re Looking For

• Minimum 5‑6 years of work experience on advocacy related to US immigration, regional migration, and/or gender equality issues.
• Demonstrated experience in policy advocacy, particularly in Congress.
• Strong understanding of the US immigration system and ability to understand how changing laws and policies will impact migrant populations.
• Expertise in at least one of MRJ’s core issue areas, including family separation and reunification, detention, child welfare, regional migration, and/or reproductive rights.
• Ability to design technical tools around family separation, detention, deportation, and/or regional migration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: proven ability to effectively communicate complex issues in a clear manner to multiple and diverse audiences and to produce persuasive advocacy materials for a range of audiences.
• Ability to respond to rapidly emerging situations, including drafting statements, blogs, and press releases on short notice.
• Strong interpersonal skills: must be able to work collaboratively, manage professional relationships, seek out diverse perspectives, provide and receive feedback constructively, be solution‑oriented, meet and communicate deadlines effectively, and embody WRC’s core values of inclusion, equality, integrity, dignity, and forward‑thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with minimum supervision, including the ability to be proactive and self‑driven in pursuing initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Spanish language fluency strongly preferred.

WRC recognizes that many excellent candidates will meet some, but not all, listed qualifications. Candidates who believe they are a strong fit for the role are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet all of the listed qualifications.

Reports to: Director, Migrant Rights and Justice

Position: Regular, full‑time

Salary Band 5: $118,000 – $133,00

Work Schedule: Hybrid remote (2 days in office, 3 days working remotely)

Location: Washington, DC

Closing Date: Once filled

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) is deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and we are an equal opportunity employer. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with a common purpose.

It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status or disability. All qualified people, including those with lived experience relating to a particular role, are encouraged to apply. The Women’s Refugee Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) non‑profit organization.