Director of Policy and Advocacy

Position:
Director of Policy and Advocacy

Status:
Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to:

Executive Director

Supervises:
Support Staff as assigned

The Korean American Family Service Center, Inc. (KAFSC) is a leading nonprofit organization serving women, children, and families in the New York tri-state area to prevent and end domestic violence, sexual assault, and relationship abuse. Through counseling, education, advocacy, shelter, legal services, economic empowerment, youth programming, and community-based support, KAFSC helps individuals and families build safe and healthy lives based on dignity, respect, and self-determination.

All services are culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed, and free.

KAFSC is seeking a strategic, experienced, and mission-driven Director of Policy and Advocacy to lead the organization’s policy, advocacy, systems-change, and public engagement efforts. This position will play a key leadership role in advancing KAFSC’s mission by identifying policy priorities, analyzing city and state budget developments, strengthening coalition partnerships, and elevating the needs of immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, culturally specific service providers, and underserved communities.

The Director of Policy and Advocacy will work closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership team to develop and implement KAFSC’s advocacy and policy agenda, represent the organization in coalitions and public forums, lead policy campaigns, and support government relations. This position will also supervise the Policy and Research Coordinator, providing guidance on research, issue tracking, policy analysis, budget analysis, written materials, and advocacy projects.

• Develop and lead KAFSC’s policy and advocacy agenda in alignment with the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and the needs of immigrant survivors of gender-based violence.
• Monitor, analyze, and respond to city, state, and federal policy developments affecting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, immigrant communities, women, children, and families.
• Identify emerging policy issues, advocacy opportunities, legislative priorities, and systems barriers impacting KAFSC clients and culturally specific service providers.
• Lead the development of policy recommendations, advocacy strategies, campaign priorities, and public positions that advance survivor-centered, trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically responsive systems change.
• Represent KAFSC in coalitions, working groups, public hearings, advocacy meetings, community forums, and government stakeholder spaces.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with elected officials, government agencies, coalition partners, advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Support KAFSC’s role in broader advocacy efforts related to gender-based violence, immigrant rights, language access, housing, economic justice, mental health, public safety, victim services, and nonprofit sustainability.

• Lead analysis of city and state budgets, government funding streams, legislative proposals, and public investments impacting gender-based violence services, culturally specific organizations, immigrant communities, and women’s programs.
• Track relevant funding opportunities, budget priorities, agency allocations, and policy decisions that may affect KAFSC’s programs, clients, and organizational sustainability.
• Develop budget advocacy materials, funding analyses, talking points, testimony, briefing memos, and recommendations for internal and external audiences.
• Work with the Executive Director and senior leadership to connect policy and budget developments to organizational strategy, program planning, grant opportunities, and public messaging.
• Provide clear and timely updates to leadership, staff, board members, and partners on relevant policy and budget developments.

• Lead the development of testimonies, public comments, policy briefs, advocacy letters, position…