Advocacy and Policy Manager

Our Core Values

Our employees, interns, and volunteers are expected to embody AAF's core values:

• Leading With Integrity
• Purposeful Transparency
• Committed to Accountability
• Guided By Our Community

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy, AAF is seeking an experienced and motivated Advocacy and Policy Manager to help advance AAF’s policy and advocacy priorities across New York City and New York State.

The Manager will independently manage assigned advocacy portfolios, campaigns, and external partnerships within the strategic direction established by the Associate Director and organizational leadership. This person will translate advocacy priorities into coordinated action by developing work plans, managing projects and relationships, monitoring policy developments, producing substantive advocacy materials, and ensuring consistent follow-through from planning through execution.

The ideal candidate brings experience in public policy, advocacy, government relations, coalition-building or community-based nonprofit work and is comfortable working across organizations and communities to turn complex policy priorities into coordinated action. This role is well suited for someone who combines strong policy and advocacy skills with excellent project management, communication, and relationship-building abilities. This person will exercise meaningful ownership and judgment in their day-to-day work while partnering closely with the Associate Director on organizational positions, significant political considerations, and broader advocacy strategy.

This position is grant-funded, and employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.

• Track and monitor relevant New York City and New York State legislation, budget developments, hearings, agency actions, and policy initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze city and state budget proposals, negotiations, and funding opportunities affecting AAPI communities and nonprofit service providers.
• Assess policy developments to identify opportunities, risks, and implications for AAF, its members, and the communities it serves.
• Draft clear, substantive advocacy and policy materials, including policy summaries, briefing materials, talking points, hearing testimony, advocacy letters, and internal updates.
• Prepare policy summaries, recommendations, briefing materials, hearing testimony, and internal updates for leadership and staff.
• Recommend potential advocacy or organizational responses and next steps based on emerging policy developments and community priorities.

• Lead or play a senior role in the planning, coordinating, and executing advocacy campaigns, including city and state budget advocacy, public awareness initiatives, legislative initiatives, and other policy priorities.
• Manage advocacy actions and activities such as rallies, hearings, sign-on letters, advocacy days, public comments, partner outreach, meeting with policymakers, and stakeholder meetings.
• Lead assigned components of AAF's city and state budget advocacy efforts, including funding campaigns, stakeholder engagement, testimony coordination, and coalition mobilization.
• Develop project plans, coordinate stakeholders, manage timelines and deliverables, and ensure effective follow-through throughout the lifecycle of assigned campaigns.
• Identify and recommend tactics that advance AAF’s advocacy goals while responding to changing policy and political conditions.

• Serve as a bridge between AAF’s member organizations and the policy making process by gathering community knowledge, identifying shared concerns, and translating member perspectives into coordinated policy and advocacy priorities.
• Develop and facilitate listening sessions, policy discussions, working groups, convenings, advocacy actions, government meetings, and other opportunities for member organizations to participate meaningfully in AAF's advocacy work.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with member organizations, coalition partners, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead or play a key role in coalition meetings, working groups, and collaborative advocacy efforts, helping build alignment and move shared priorities forward.
• Manage partner communications, follow-up, and information sharing across assigned coalitions and advocacy…