Researcher & Policy Advocate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

ABOUT US

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County unites the community to identify and solve our most critical issues. We are dedicated to improving people's lives and creating community-level change. Our work includes leading cross-sector collaborations, advocating for public policy changes and investing in programs that prevent problems from happening in the first place for those in need. Our strategy for improving quality of life and advancing the greater good involves focusing in four impact areas: 1.) Ready Children - preparing children for kindergarten; 2.) Successful Students - empowering students to graduate and reach their full potential; 3.) Strong Individuals and Families - helping individuals and families become self-sufficient 4.) Safety Net - addressing urgent and essential needs for those in crisis.

JOB SUMMARY

The Public Policy Manager advances United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County's mission to unite the community to identify and solve our most critical issues by supporting policy, advocacy, research, and community engagement strategies that improve outcomes for children, students, families, individuals, and people in crisis. This role works across internal teams, community partners, public officials, coalitions, nonprofit organizations, and civic leaders to monitor policy trends, analyze legislation, develop advocacy materials, and support initiatives that align with UWSA's community impact priorities. 

This position will serve as the lead staff person for the organization's internal public policy committee and be responsible for policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, government relations, advocacy strategy, and written/verbal communication. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, mission-driven professional who can translate complex policy issues into clear recommendations, build trusted relationships across sectors, and help position UWSA as a respected convener and advocate for meaningful community solutions.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

Policy Research, Analysis, and Strategy

• Monitor local, state, and federal policy developments that may impact UWSA's priority areas, including early childhood development, student success, family stability, economic mobility, emergency assistance, nonprofit capacity, and community safety net services.
• Analyze legislation, public funding opportunities, regulatory changes, and policy proposals to assess potential impact on UWSA, partner agencies, and the broader community.
• Prepare policy briefs, issue summaries, talking points, position statements, testimony, and other materials for internal leadership, board committees, partner coalitions, and external stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of UWSA's annual public policy and advocacy agenda in alignment with organizational priorities and community needs.
• Translate data, community feedback, and partner insights into actionable policy recommendations.

Government Relations and Advocacy

• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, public agency staff, civic leaders, nonprofit partners, coalitions, and advocacy organizations.
• Represent UWSA in policy-related meetings, community forums, coalitions, task forces, and public hearings, as appropriate.
• Coordinate advocacy activities that elevate UWSA's mission, community impact priorities, and partner agency needs.
• Track legislative sessions, city and county budget processes, public hearings, and policy initiatives relevant to UWSA's work.
• Support leadership in preparing for meetings with public officials, funders, and community stakeholders.

Community Impact Alignment

• Partner with UWSA Community Impact staff to identify policy opportunities that support: 
• Preparing young children for life
• Helping students succeed
• Strengthening individuals and families
• Supporting people in crisis
• Serve as the staff lead for the internal Public Policy Committee and collaborate with internal staff to connect policy work with program outcomes, community data, grant priorities, and partner agency feedback.
• Help ensure policy recommendations reflect the lived experiences of the communities UWSA serves.
• Support policy strategies that strengthen the nonprofit sector and improve access to resources for community-based organizations.
• Supervise interns as available and necessary.

Grant Advocacy and Public Funding Strategy

• Support advocacy efforts that promote increased public investment in evidence-based programs and services addressing early childhood development, educational success, economic mobility, workforce development, housing stability, health, and emergency assistance.
• Develop funding briefs, issue papers, advocacy materials, and presentations that communicate the impact of public investments on community outcomes.
• Coordinate with nonprofit partners, coalitions, and community stakeholders to advocate for funding priorities that strengthen the social services sector and increase resources available to residents of Bexar County.
• Assist with the development of policy positions, testimony, letters of support, and public comments related to government funding opportunities and budget proposals.
• Support grant application efforts by providing policy analysis, community needs data, legislative context, and public-sector funding insights.
• Build and maintain relationships with government agencies, public-sector funders, and community stakeholders to strengthen UWSA's role as a trusted partner and advocate for community investment.
• Work closely with leadership to identify opportunities where advocacy, public policy, and grant funding strategies can be aligned to maximize community impact and advance UWSA's strategic objectives.

Communications and Public Education

• Develop clear, compelling policy communications for internal and external audiences.
• Create advocacy toolkits, fact sheets, presentations, newsletters, and briefing materials that explain complex issues in accessible language.
• Work with Marketing and Communications to align public policy messaging with UWSA's brand, mission, values, and community voice.
• Support public education efforts that increase awareness of critical community issues and policy solutions.

Coalition and Partner Engagement

• Convene and support partner discussions around shared policy priorities.
• Foster collaboration among nonprofits, public agencies, business leaders, education partners, funders, and community advocates.
• Identify opportunities for UWSA to participate in or lead cross-sector advocacy efforts.
• Maintain awareness of partner agency challenges, emerging needs, and policy barriers affecting service delivery.

Data, Reporting, and Evaluation

• Track public policy activities, legislative outcomes, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy progress.
• Maintain policy calendars, legislative trackers, contact lists, meeting notes, and advocacy documentation.
• Support reports to senior leadership, board committees, funders, and community partners.
• Identify indicators to evaluate the effectiveness and reach of UWSA's policy and advocacy efforts.

BENEFITS

• Employer-subsidized healthcare plan with employer-funded HRA offered.
• Group dental, vision, life insurance and other insurance products available.
• Paid holidays, personal and sick leave time.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching available.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, political science, social work, nonprofit management, communications, education, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in public administration, public policy, nonprofit leadership, social work, law, or related field preferred.
• Three to five years of experience in public policy, advocacy, government relations, nonprofit leadership, legislative affairs, community engagement, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with elected officials, public agencies, nonprofit coalitions, or community-based organizations strongly preferred. Extensive knowledge of community issues.
• Strategic leadership of collective impact efforts.
• Strong relationships in the nonprofit, public and private sectors. 
• Staff and volunteer management. 
• Budget and fiscal management

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES INFORMATION

• Strong understanding of local, state, and federal policymaking processes.
• Ability to analyze complex policy issues and communicate implications clearly and concisely.
• Excellent writing, research, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and policy issues in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and political awareness.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, community voice, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with legislative tracking tools, CRM systems, or data dashboards preferred.
• Knowledge of the nonprofit arena and the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, community partners, donors and volunteers.
• Ability to identify and build opportunities and assist in educating and mobilizing networks of individuals, associations, agencies and institutions to support UWSA's impact agenda.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including development of content relevant to the Impact Council for a wide variety of audiences and media.
• Professional demeanor, confident and goal oriented.
• Self-motivated and creative.
• Dynamic, authentic leadership and team building skills.
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities and problem-solve issues as they arise.
• Strategic thinking ability.
• Demonstrated independent decision-making and problem-solving ability.
• Facilitation and presentation skills and experience.
• Knowledge of Results-Based Accountability, preferred.
• Data utilization expertise related to community issues.
• Relationship management with a broad array of individuals and organizations. 
• Attention to detail in a multitasking environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Competent with Adobe Products Suite, preferred.

UNITED WAY COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies (all United Way Professionals):

Mission Focused, Relationship Oriented, Collaborator, Results Driven, Brand Steward

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Normal nonprofit office environment with little exposure to dust, noise and extreme temperatures.
• Extended work on personal computing equipment, telephone, multi-functioning printer and calculator.
• Reliable transportation required, with the ability to travel to and from meetings, training sessions or other business-related events locally, routinely and around the state and nationally, occasionally.
• Monday-Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm work week with occasional evening and weekend hours.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sedentary work on a PC; sitting for extended periods of time, routinely. 
• Movement within the office and during external meetings and events, regularly.
• Bends, stoops and twists, occasionally.
• Exerts up to 25 lbs. of force, occasionally.
• Facilitates, presents and collaboratively interacts with others, routinely.
• Perform repetitive tasks, i.e., typing and texting, routinely.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The contents of this job description may change as deemed necessary by United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.

APPLY

To submit your application visit https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/c1a895ce-f28e-4dac-88db-d5fb796d20f5/UNITED-WAY-OF-SAN-ANTONIO-BEXAR-COUNTY.

• Applications WILL NOT be accepted via email.
• Contact uwjobs@unitedwaysatx.org should you experience problems submitting your application.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. 

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, UWSA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview process, or to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County | 700 South Alamo St., San Antonio TX, 78205 | www.uwsastx.org