Full-Time Policy Manager
Job Description
Policy Manager
Who We Are and What We Do
Save The Bay’s mission is to protect and restore the Bay for people and wildlife. We are the only regional organization that integrates political advocacy, wetland restoration, and education to shape a healthy and resilient region. We are a team of passionate people, and at the core, we are collaborative, supportive, dedicated, and bold.
Over two decades, Save The Bay has become a Bay Area leader in the science and practice of habitat restoration, focused on tidal marsh transition zone habitat at landscape-scale for recovery of endangered species, and for ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. We enlist thousands of volunteers annually to restore the shoreline and educate Bay Area students to be the next generation of Bay stewards through hands-on experiential education and on-line learning.
Position Summary
The Policy Manager develops and implements impactful issue advocacy campaigns to address the impacts of climate change and pollution on San Francisco Bay. We work locally, regionally, and at the state and federal levels to accelerate regional protection from sea level rise, storm flooding, and other climate impacts; promote nature-based climate adaptation through restoration of Bay wetlands and green infrastructure in our cities; and reduce Bay pollution. We promote equitable transit, housing, and access to the Bay, recognizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the health and safety of vulnerable populations and underinvested communities.
The Policy Manager works to secure effective policies and public funding for them, identifying opportunities to advance our goals through campaigns and partnerships. The Manager builds and stewards strategic relationships with allied organizations, elected officials, public agencies, and community activists to advance Save The Bay’s mission and strategic plan.
This position requires strong experience in legislative issue advocacy, keen political and strategy instincts, and the ability to manage multiple projects and work efficiently in a rapidly evolving environment. This position reports to the Political Director and supervises our Political Organizer
REPORTS TO: Political Director
SUPERVISES: Political Organizer
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
General
- Develop and manage Save The Bay’s strategic advocacy focused on equitable multi-benefit green infrastructure, climate resilient infrastructure, and land use planning. Seek emerging opportunities to achieve our advocacy goals.
- Support the Political Director and other staff in identifying and implementing effective campaign strategies and tactics, strategic planning opportunities, and cross-departmental collaboration & planning efforts.
- Advance Save The Bay’s policy and equity goals by identifying and developing elected and appointed champions for Bay resilience and equitable climate adaptation.
- Advance Save The Bay’s policy and equity goals through management and expansion of partnerships with environmental, environmental justice, indigenous peoples, housing, business, labor, and issue advocacy organizations, including supervising and directing the work of the Political Organizer.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to generate participation from Save The Bay’s members. Develop advocacy materials, including advocacy plans, timelines, and budgets; conduct research for white papers and advocacy messaging; write public comments, blogs, social media, and other content to support campaigns.
- Serve as a spokesperson for Save The Bay to promote our advocacy campaigns with the media and other audiences.
- Participate in Save The Bay’s internal Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, which may include racial affinity groups and staff working groups focused on updating internal policies and processes.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Stormwater and Groundwater Management
- Advocate for cities across the Bay Area to plan for the impacts of intensifying storms and rising groundwater in their policy, planning, and funding priorities.
- Advocate for local, regional, state, and federal funding for green infrastructure as a priority nature-based climate adaptation and Bay protection strategy.
- Cultivate elected and appointed officials to champion green infrastructure funding and projects within their communities and across the Bay.
- Work with local and regional agencies to overcome administrative barriers to the implementation of green streets.
- Work with Political Organizer to support community-led efforts to address the risk of groundwater rise, especially at toxic sites.
Local and Regional Urban Planning
- Advocate for the inclusion of climate resilience and equity policies in general plans, climate action plans, and other land use policy and guidance documents in partnership with local and regional organizations.
- Identify opportunities to support housing and transportation policies and programs that advance equity and climate goals, including housing affordability and densification in high resource areas; integration of stormwater infrastructure into road projects; reducing regional vehicle miles traveled; and incentivizing transit-oriented development.
State Legislative Liaison
- Help lead the Policy Team to establish and pursue legislative priorities around wetland restoration, green infrastructure, land use planning, transportation, and housing; coordinate and conduct direct advocacy, including in-person and remote meetings with state legislators, officials and agency staff; participate in the statewide Green California organizing effort and other coalition calls and meetings.
Qualifications and Experience
Required Qualifications
At least two years of experience in the following areas:
- Demonstrated knowledge of policy advocacy, legislative and government agency processes, and Bay Area political geography
- Experience working with diverse partners, including equity, environmental justice, business, and labor advocates.
- Experience developing advocacy strategies and advocating effectively with elected officials, community leaders, activists, community-based organizations, agency officials, and other stakeholders.
- Experience analyzing legislative and administrative policy documents and proposing policy language.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within organizations and through policy work and partnerships.
- Strong persuasive writing, research, editing, and public speaking skills.
- Proven ability both to work independently and to collaborate effectively.
- Experience managing staff or volunteers, supporting their professional growth, and developing and executing work plans.
- Experience facilitating meetings and managing projects.
- Demonstrated initiative, creativity, and collaborative work style.
- Interest in Save The Bay’s mission.
- Computer proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Office, and Internet research applications.
- Valid California driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with environmental public policy, and climate change and adaptation issues.
- Familiarity with issues related to wetlands, stormwater, and climate resilience.
- Familiarity with nature-based solutions, green stormwater infrastructure, and infrastructure planning.
- Experience with electoral campaigns, working with political action committees, and campaign fundraising.
- Proficiency with Salesforce and voter files (PDI, VAN, etc.).
Position Logistics
Location: We are a primarily virtual office with full staff in-person workdays twice per month in our Downtown Oakland office. The Policy team additionally works in the office every Thursday. Some in-person events and meetings around the Bay required. We offer a flexible work environment and provide equipment, training, and frequent opportunities to connect.
Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time, exempt, 40 hours per week position. The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $90.000 per year, based on experience. Our work week is Monday-Friday with occasional evening and weekend work. Our core hours are 10am-4pm with flexibility before 10am and after 4pm. We offer an excellent benefit package including medical, dental, vision, acupuncture/chiropractic, and life insurance; 12 paid vacation days per year to start, 13-14 paid holidays and 12 days of sick leave per calendar year; 403(b) retirement plan; stipend for working remotely and funds for home office workstation equipment and furniture.
COVID-19 Policy: All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.
Work Environment: We welcome people of all cultural backgrounds, gender expression and sexual orientation to apply and thrive with our growing team. Save The Bay is an equal opportunity employer that strives to recruit a diverse workforce and provide an equitable, and inclusive workplace for all.
DEI Statement: Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Save The Bay will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
Our Leadership Philosophy: At Save the Bay, we take a person-centered approach to leadership. As leaders, we strive to embody our organizational core values and create a work environment that fosters belonging, authenticity, accountability, and care.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) – Our Journey
Over the past three years, Save The Bay has been reckoning with our positionality within a predominantly white-led environmental movement. Our internal DEI work has matured from identifying opportunities to create safe and welcoming working environments to implementing organization-wide professional development and offering racial affinity-based programs. Multiple DEI efforts began and continue to be fueled by employee leaders, their impact has already made a difference in the programs we offer, the investments we make, and partnerships we build. We are currently working to be effective allies to environmental justice organizations and to support community-driven efforts that protect the most vulnerable people from the impacts of climate change in our region.
In 2023, we adopted organizational core values after collecting feedback and engaging staff and board members. This has proven to be an impactful step in the integration of DEI into the leadership philosophy and operations of Save The Bay. The next phase of our work includes continued efforts to identify equitable outcomes in alignment with the development of Save The Bay’s strategic plan.
Our DEI work is expansive and ongoing. We are committing significant organizational time and resources to advance DEI efforts and achieve equitable outcomes. We seek candidates who will help us forward this work, and understand that systems work demands resiliency, patience, and endurance.
How to Apply
Hiring Timeline: The priority deadline for applications is May 13, 2024
We will review resumes and conduct interviews on a rolling basis in May
Finalists will be invited to submit three references
Preferred start date is June 17, 2024
How To Apply: This position is open until filled. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Please make sure to include the position title Policy Manager in the subject line. In the body of the email, please share where you found this job listing.
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