Researcher & Policy Advocate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Founded in 2001, CAUSE’s mission is to build grassroots power to advance social, economic and environmental justice for the people of the Ventura and Santa Barbara counties region through policy research, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy.

CAUSE is currently seeking a Lompoc Policy Advocate responsible for analyzing and advocating for local, state, and federal policies and programs and communicating messages using traditional and digital media. The Policy Advocate will focus on CAUSE’s strategic priority issues of tenants’ rights, environmental justice, and immigrant worker power. The Policy Advocate will work closely with CAUSE’s organizing team and our grassroots base of working-class immigrant families in Lompoc to provide them with policy analysis and communications support for organizing campaigns around local social, economic, and environmental justice issues. The position will be supervised by an Associate Policy Director.

• Providing research and policy support for CAUSE organizers’ campaign needs
• Analyzing policy issues and working with policymakers, reporters, and community allies to advance social, economic, and environmental justice in government programs and legislation
• Producing written and multimedia content for CAUSE’s online presence including mass emails, webpages, social media posts, etc.
• Graphic design of flyers, posters, infographics, fact sheets, etc. to support CAUSE organizers
• Writing press advisories, press releases, and op-eds; organizing press conferences and working with local reporters to increase regional media coverage of social, economic, and environmental justice issues
• Supporting get out the vote efforts during elections including developing voter education materials and helping with phonebanking and canvassing to inform and mobilize voters
• Assisting CAUSE staff and grassroots leaders with preparation for media interviews and speaking in public forums
• Translating complex policy documents into accessible presentations, fact sheets, and trainings for CAUSE grassroots leaders and community members
• Translating documents between English and Spanish and providing interpretation during meetings and community events
• Oversee paid temp staff such as summer youth fellows, promotores and interns as needed
• Supporting the opening of a new Lompoc chapter through relationship building with community leaders, identifying opportunities and offering recommendations around strategic direction
• Working with local partner organizations and state and national coalitions on behalf of CAUSE
• Participating in some grassroots fundraising and occasional grant writing and reporting

• Bilingual in English and Spanish required at a level of proficiency to translate policy documents and be interviewed by Spanish-language media
• Bachelors Degree or equivalent required
• Prior employment and/or internship experience including policy analysis and advocacy to advance social, economic, and/or environmental justice preferred
• Demonstrated commitment and passion for social, economic and/or environmental justice
• Strong written and verbal communications skills including large-group public speaking and formal writing for publication
• Experience with using Microsoft Office computer programs (Word, Powerpoint, Publisher, and Excel) as well as web-based Google applications (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar)
• Multimedia skills such as graphic design and video production a plus
• Familiarity with accessing public databases such as Census data a plus
• Familiarity with managing and editing basic websites a plus
• Experience with and desire to work with diverse cultures and the ability to engage people from a variety of backgrounds
• Ability to interact professionally with elected officials, donors, board members, leaders of ally organizations, and news reporters
• Strategic and analytical approach to political issues
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to set own work priorities, manage responsibilities and time
• Flexibility and willingness to sometimes work evenings and weekends, and be able to travel throughout region, state and nation.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Valid drivers’ license and dependable access to a car to drive for work required.

This position has flexible hours and may often include evening and weekend work. CAUSE has a hybrid remote/office work arrangement (3 days in office, 2 from home).

Starting pay for this full-time hourly position is $30/hour (estimated $62,400 annual). Benefits include 100% paid medical and dental coverage including dependents, paid sick and mental health days, holidays and flexible paid vacation days, paid family leave, paid sabbatical after 5 years of employment, monthly stipend for use of cellphone and travel, and annual professional development budget. CAUSE also typically provides two weeks of paid annual holiday shutdown and an annual retirement contribution. This position is represented by a staff union under a collective bargaining contract with IAM Local 947.

To ensure pay equity across our team, salaries at CAUSE follow a formula based on position and tenure and are non-negotiable for individual candidates. However, we have a fixed salary scale providing additional pay for candidates with years of relevant job experience significantly beyond the minimum qualifications listed in this job description.

CAUSE will be accepting resumes through Friday, April 3rd. Please e-mail resumes with cover letter to Erica Diaz-Cervantes at Erica@causenow.org.