Public Policy Advocate

The California Council for Affordable Housing (CCAH) is seeking a Public Policy Advocate to support and advance the organization’s efforts to promote affordable rental housing development across California. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing, coordinating, and executing CCAH’s legislative and regulatory advocacy strategies, with a focus on addressing the critical need for affordable rental housing.

The successful candidate will establish and maintain strategic relationships and influence local, state, and federal legislative bodies and government agencies to represent and protect the interests of California’s production-focused affordable rental housing development community. This position offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of policy, community development, and affordable housing advocacy, making a meaningful impact on housing solutions in California.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Development & Advocacy

• Works with the Executive Director and Policy Committee to set and refine CCAH’s public policy agenda, ensuring alignment with the organization’s goals and mission.
• Monitors, tracks, and analyzes state and federal legislation, regulations, and policies impacting affordable housing development and related sectors and prepares regular updates for CCAH executive director, members, and other stakeholders.
• Develops and advocates for CCAH’s policy priorities and positions through direct engagement with legislators, government agencies, and key stakeholders.
• Drafts policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy materials that communicate CCAH’s positions on key issues to stakeholders, policymakers, the media, and the public.
• Researches housing policy, economic trends, and legislative proposals that affect affordable housing.
• Builds and maintains relationships with policymakers, industry experts, government officials, community organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Coordinates and represents CCAH in coalitions and partnerships focused on affordable housing policy and advocacy efforts.
• Represents CCAH at legislative hearings, public meetings, and other relevant events.
• Works closely with contract lobbyists to develop and execute strategies to advance CCAH’s interests.
• Maintains relationships with key legislators and provides contract lobbyists with necessary background materials, talking points, and briefings to support their advocacy on CCAH’s behalf.
• Staffs statewide Policy & Advocacy Committee, delivering relevant policies, programs, and updates.
• Serves as a liaison to CCAH’s Political Action Committee (PAC), coordinating strategy, fundraising, and political outreach efforts to support pro-affordable housing candidates and policies.
• Works closely with the PAC chair and committee to ensure alignment with CCAH’s advocacy goals and priorities.

Member Support & Education

• Provides policy updates and advocacy tools to CCAH members, ensuring they are informed and equipped to engage in advocacy efforts.
• Organizes and staffs member advocacy events, such as lobby days, briefings, and workshops focused on policy education and engagement.
• Assists in developing educational materials that shed light on complex housing policies.
• Assists in the production of data-driven policy reports and white papers on key issues.
• Oversees forums and town hall meetings to connect membership to their elected officials and relevant political issues.
• Develops scorecards and voter guides on local and statewide elections.
• Identifies opportunities for grassroots engagement on state issues including coordinating office visits and other advocacy activities.

Public Relations & Communications

• Drafts public statements, press releases, op-eds, and other media materials related to advocacy.
• Promotes CCAH’s policy initiatives through social media, newsletters, and other digital platforms.
• Supports the Executive Director in establishing relationships and partnerships with policymakers, community leaders, advocacy organizations, and funders to foster coalition building, joint advocacy efforts, and funding to sustain statewide policy and advocacy initiatives.
• Assists in producing CCAH’s two conferences.

Qualifications

Any…