Policy & Advocacy Associate

About the Role:

The Policy & Advocacy Associate will play a key role in representing and promoting Woodstock and Woodstock’s policy positions among policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the communities we strive to serve, especially Black, Brown and lower income communities.

The position reports to the Director of Policy & Advocacy and assists Woodstock’s policy and government relations work at the local, state, and national levels. Recognizing that successful advocacy can depend on effective communication, the Policy & Advocacy Associate also assists with the development and implementation of communications plans. Finally, the Policy & Advocacy Associate serves as a team member in collaborating with the research team and in assisting with fundraising.

Essential qualities for the role include strong interpersonal communication skills, solid writing, and creative problem-solving skills. Also needed is the ability to translate complex ideas into language that is accessible for different stakeholder audiences. The Policy & Advocacy associate will thrive as part of a small team that balances competing and occasionally rapidly changing priorities.

The position is based in our downtown Chicago office. Remote work is permitted on a limited basis.

• Reports to the Director of Policy & Advocacy
• Close collaborative working relationship with the President & CEO, Research Director, and Communications Associate
• Build and maintain good relationships with coalition partners, legislators, regulators, and journalists.

• Assist with policy/advocacy initiatives at the local, state, and national levels, including frequent trips to Springfield, IL, and periodic trips to Washington, D.C.
• Facilitate and participate in lobbying meetings with local, state, and federal elected officials; manage Woodstock’s mandatory lobbying reporting (the Policy & Advocacy Associate will register as a lobbyist with the appropriate government offices, including the State of Illinois; Woodstock will manage all necessary payments)
• Monitor, analyze, and help to form Woodstock’s position on emerging legislative matters
• Monitor, analyze, and assist with responding to regulatory developments at the local, state and federal levels
• Help organize and convene coalitions to advance the policy agenda, while also representing Woodstock Institute in partner organizations’ coalitions
• Assist in planning, publicizing, presenting at, and/or handling logistics for policy-related events – at least 2 per year, potentially more depending on the organization’s policy needs

• Assist with media relations, including pitching stories, drafting talking points, and conducting interviews
• Conduct presentations at meetings and conferences
• Write & review items for submission to media

• Especially when the Illinois General Assembly is in Session, attend work-related events outside regular work hours in some evenings and weekends
• Assist with developing and maintaining relationships with funders and donors
• Assist with annual awards event preparations; help increase turnout and ensure a successful event

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience in the field; three years or more preferred
• Ability to work effectively and independently under the pressure of multiple tight deadlines and budgetary constraints
• Collaborative mindset and creativity to leverage new opportunities and moments of uncertainty to achieve progress
• Excellent written and spoken English language communications skills, very detail-oriented
• Strong commitment to economic and social justice issues, as evidenced by previous professional and/or personal work
• Curiosity about…