Policy Coordinator

About The Praxis Project

The Praxis Project is a values-driven, national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to build community power. Praxis believes strongly that organized communities are critical partners in the struggle to create healthy communities. Praxis works with over 200 diverse grassroots groups across the United States that influence local policy, mobilize communities, and strengthen programs and organizations to improve health justice. Praxis works in strong partnership to enable local efforts to build community power through training, technical assistance, and capacity building services, as well as comprehensive fiscal sponsorship. Our capacity-building programming is focused on partnerships that actively advance Praxis’ mission to build healthy communities by transforming the power relationships and structures that affect our lives. For more information, please visit www.thepraxisproject.org.

The work environment at The Praxis Project is fast-paced, creative, and fun, and our team is hardworking and extremely passionate about our mission. This position will support our ambitious growth and impact goals.

Position summary

The Policy Coordinator (PC) reports directly to the Executive Director.  The PC is responsible for helping Praxis advance health justice policies and practices with our community partners, our public health advocate peers, local, state and federal agencies and governments, and with funders. This work includes supporting the development of and advancing policy goals under the Communities Creating Healthy Environments (CCHE) project.  This position is responsible, with support and oversight by the Executive Director, for engaging in direct policy work for Praxis, and also to help community organizers increase their capacities to improve local policies that advance health justice.

The PC should be willing and able to work in an environment that emphasizes a team approach, and should deeply understand Praxis’ overall commitment to addressing issues of racial and economic justice, working with traditionally disenfranchised populations, changing structural conditions to improve the quality of life, and building community power.

This exempt, full-time, benefits-eligible, non-supervisory position, and can be based in either Oakland, CA, or Washington DC. The salary range for the PC position is $65,000-$75,000 per year, depending on experience.

General roles

Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among partners and staff.
Understands Praxis’ mission, values and principles and applies them in work responsibilities.
Works collaboratively with other programmatic staff to achieve overall program goals.
Maintains a strong organizational voice in policy and legislative efforts.
Duties and Responsibilities

Policy & Legislative Management
Under the direction of the Executive Director, manage Praxis’ public policy, advocacy, outreach, legislative and government relations activities.
Work closely with the Executive Director and Assistant Director in developing a public policy and legislative agenda and a strategic advocacy plan to implement that agenda.
Track relevant legislation as well as Praxis’ priorities and interests, and identify and secure bill sponsorship opportunities.
Work with Praxis staff to develop policy guidance materials, including reports, briefs and factsheets.
External Engagement & Relations
Develop and maintain relationships with contract lobbyists that may assist Praxis efforts to advance a health justice agenda.
Collaborate with partner organizations to support policy advocacy strategies across the US.
Represent Praxis in discussions with partner organizations, government agencies, legislatures, administrations, and corporations.
Facilitate working groups/task forces with a range of stakeholders on various social and health justice issues.
Manage existing special initiatives/coalitions and identify opportunities for Praxis to meaningfully support coalitions advancing health justice efforts.
Training & Technical Assistance
Develop, when appropriate, and in partnership with community-based allies, training materials and trainings that will increase knowledge of the policy and legislative advocacy process.
Deliver trainings as appropriate to community partners, public health collaborators, funders, and peers on how to improve practices, systems and environments to achieve health justice
CommunicationsUpdate and advise staff, board, volunteers, and coalition partners about policy developments.
Document internally and promote policy advocacy efforts through a variety of media including blogs, op-eds, conference presentations, invited presentations, and white papers.
Implement action alerts to supporters when required.
Additional Duties & Responsibilities
Manage funding resources responsibly and in alignment with Praxis and funder requirements.
Perform additional duties as directed by supervisor.
Required qualifications: education and experience

BA/BS in public policy or similar degree; Master’s degree in public policy, or similar public policy degree, from an accredited college or university strongly preferred;
Minimum 5 years of experience in policy advocacy with preference given to candidates who have served a legislative staff, worked as lobbyists, and/or have experience crafting and leading training in legislative advocacy and public policy; and
Experience working with external partners and demonstrated success in managing relationships.
Required qualifications: skills, knowledge, and abilities

Willingness and ability to adapt in a fast-changing, dynamic work environment.
An ability to multitask, perform under tight deadlines, and work independently.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Fluency with legislative process.
Ability to work with community partners and establish authentic relationships.
Demonstrable commitment to Praxis’ social and health justice mission as evidenced by past work or volunteer history.
Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google applications.
Ability to drive, valid drivers license, good driving record, regular access to a personal vehicle, and required insurance.
Mental and physical demands

Fast-paced work environment.
High level of concentration and attention to detail required.
Ability to lift up to 20 pounds is required.
Time speaking and listening: (range 25–50%).
Reasonable travel, about once a month including a mix of local and overnight travel, is required.
Praxis has two offices, additional remote staff, and partners based all over the country. Leading and participating in remote video and telephone conferences is required.
Equal Opportunity Employer

The Praxis Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

BENEFITS

The Praxis Project offers a very competitive benefits package that includes fully employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 11+ paid holidays, generous paid vacation, retirement plan with employer match, wellness subsidy, and healthy and delicious office snacks.

How to apply

To apply please email a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position as well as your resume to Ariel Cohen, Assistant Director, at ariel@thepraxisproject.org with “Policy Coordinator” in the subject line by February 28, 2018