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Title: Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy
Direct report: Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs
Location: Massachusetts (temporarily remote due to COVID-19)
Start date: Monday, January 10, 2021
Salary range: $70,000-80,000
Application deadline: Wednesday, December 1, 2021

WHO WE ARE
Founded in 2015, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) is a statewide organization that advances the economic well-being of Black businesses, organizations, and people through advocacy, business and leadership development, and strategic partnerships. We are dedicated to eliminating the racial wealth gap for Black people across the diaspora in Massachusetts through innovative approaches to equitable opportunities.

WHAT WE’RE LIKE
This is not your typical 9-5. BECMA is a growing organization with a transformative mission and startup environment, led by a team of passionate individuals who are committed to achieving the urgent and important goal of eliminating the racial wealth gap. With that in mind, you can look forward to a work culture that is:

  • Mission-driven: We are committed to excellence in all we do and put in the time and effort required to achieve our goals, no matter how long it takes.
  • Member-led: As the chief advocate for Black business owners across the state, all of our efforts respond to the real-time needs and long-term issues of our members.
  • Empowering: We believe in supporting leaders who are forward-thinking, independent, risk-takers, and confident.
  • Collaborative: We understand that our work is interrelated and interdependent. We don’t operate in silos.
  • Supportive: We create an environment that provides the physical, emotional, and intellectual space and tools to accomplish your tasks and exceed internal and external expectations.
  • Innovative: We know it’s better to work smart and are always seeking creative ways to move us closer to our goals and leverage new ways of learning and working together.

     

WHAT YOU’LL DO
BECMA is looking for a passionate, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven leader to play a key role in advancing our work through public policy, government relations, advocacy, and organizing. The Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy will report to and support the Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs and serve in an external-facing role. The Senior Manager will develop and implement advocacy campaigns, organize and conduct policy research and analysis, engage with key community, business, and government stakeholders, and inform BECMA’s overall strategy and plans.

This newly created role is a highly cross-functional one that will work closely with BECMA’s staff, members, board of directors, and other stakeholders. The Senior Manager will be a collaborative leader, able to build consensus and leverage internal and external knowledge and resources to achieve BECMA’s public policy aims. This role will be responsible for a number of initiatives, owning projects end-to-end and often working with minimal supervision.

The Senior Manager will own and develop a portfolio of key relationships on a local, county, state, and federal level. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is able to work independently and creatively with confidence and a strong passion for Black lives.

A successful candidate will execute the following roles and responsibilities as well as other duties as assigned:

Public Policy and Government Relations

  • Inform the development and execution of a public policy and government relations strategy
  • Serve as a representative for local, county, state, and federal government
  • Possess, cultivate, and maintain trusting and enduring relationships with key elected officials and staff, political appointees, civil servants, and relevant private sector groups
  • Support the development and execution of BECMA’s policy and advocacy agenda
  • Monitor, introduce, and influence legislation, budget items, policy options, and issue campaigns relevant to BECMA members and stakeholders
  • Prepare fact sheets, testimony, action alerts, policy papers, and other associated materials
  • Support BECMA’s overall thought leadership, including, but not limited to, conference and panel placement, op-eds and other communications, and the creation of report cards
  • Develop and implement policy events, working groups, and other convenings engaging BECMA members, partners, and other stakeholders

Advocacy and Organizing

  • Identify and develop relationships with advocacy and grassroots organizations and other core influencers to further BECMA’s public affairs, advocacy, and community organizing goals
  • Lead BECMA’s advocacy agenda, use research and data to determine priorities and ensuring buy-in from BECMA members, partners, and other stakeholders
  • Engage in direct advocacy with key stakeholders and allies
  • Design and implement creative advocacy and organizing tactics to build collective power, raise awareness, and advocate for solutions
  • Serve as a key point of contact for coalition partners and other stakeholders

Political and Civic Engagement

  • Support the establishment and growth of BECMA’s political activities
  • Constantly assess the local, county, state, and federal political landscape to identify opportunities and challenges for BECMA members and stakeholders

Leadership

  • Serve as a thought and work partner to the Director of Policy and Public Affairs
  • Assist in the creation of materials for the leadership team and board of directors
  • Provide strategic advice and support to the Director of Policy and Public Affairs and the leadership team
  • Supervise and orient staff, interns, and consultants as needed
  • Effectively serve as an evangelist for BECMA

     

WHO YOU ARE

BECMA recruits self-organized and self-motivated people who are passionate about transformative leadership, solving problems, and causing good trouble, along with a great sense of humor and a strong commitment to Black lives.

A successful candidate will possess most or all of the following:

Experience

  • At least 4-5 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, community organizing, government relations and lobbying, public affairs, economic development, or related fields

Knowledge

  • Interest in and knowledge of issues facing Black people, organizations, and businesses, including racism, racial justice, and economic development
  • Strong passion for Black lives, our mission, and eliminating the racial wealth gap
  • Experience, ease, and a strong passion for grassroots organizing, stakeholder engagement, and community-building
  • Knowledge and ease of working on small and entrepreneurial teams
  • Creative and strategic thinking
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and passion for local, county, state, and/or federal government structure, officials, and processes
  • Familiarity with public policy issues relevant to BECMA

Skills

  • Excellent time and project management, analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent writing, editing, organizational, customer service, and research skills
  • Fluency in Microsoft Office, Google Drive, Zoom, Slack, Asana, Apple iOS, and other workplace technologies
  • Familiarity with policy and advocacy software, such as The Action Network, Legistorm, Muster, New/Mode, etc.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including members, staff, board of directors, partners, and business and civic leaders
  • Strong prioritization skills, performing multiple tasks seamlessly and with impeccable attention to detail
  • Comfort with ambiguity and a fast-paced environment
  • A self-organized and self-motivated problem-solver passionate about causing good trouble, along with a great sense of humor

Abilities

  • Ability to be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment and schedule
  • Ability to learn new software and databases
  • Ability to meet deadlines with efficiency and accuracy
  • Ability to work independently and with professional discretion
  • Ability to travel within Massachusetts as needed (within the changing guidelines of COVID-19)
  • Ability to work with a broad range of people while managing differing priorities and needs

     

WHAT YOU’LL GET

This is a full-time position located at our office in Boston. You are not expected to work from the office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who do wish to work from the office are expected to be fully vaccinated or to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to each visit. You will receive:

  • Competitive salary, with a range between $70,000-80,000 commensurate with demonstrated skills and experience
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter benefits
  • Flexible medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family
  • Life insurance
  • Family leave
  • Unlimited paid time off 
  • Work-issued laptop or computer
  • Mobile phone reimbursement stipend
  • Flexible working hours
  • Personal and professional development opportunities

     

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a resume and one-page cover letter to policy@becma.org by Wednesday, December 1, 2021. References are encouraged but not required. Submissions that do not include a cover letter will not be reviewed. Candidates who identify as LGBTQIA+ and/or Black, Indigenous, or people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

As an EOE/AA employer, we will not discriminate in our employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status, or any other factor prohibited by law.