Director, State and Local Policy

A Way Home America (AWHA) (awayhomeamerica.org) is a national organization that seeks to transform public policy solutions to prevent and end homelessness for Black, Indigenous, youth of color, and LGBTQIA+ youth on a path to housing justice for all.  The following values drive our work. We are homeless youth providers, advocates, researchers, government agencies, philanthropists, and young people uniting behind a common goal: Prevent and end homelessness among all youth and young adults. Ensure that homelessness among youth and young adults is rare, and if it occurs, experiences of homelessness are brief and one-time.

A Way Home America is a fiscally sponsored organization of TSNE (tsne.org).

The Director, State and Local Policy provides organizing leadership, management, and evaluation of AWHA’s New Deal: Transforming the Way Home Initiative through policy, organizing, and advocacy work at the state and local levels. The Director reports to and works in tandem with the AWHA Executive Director.

Essential Functions

Organizing and Policy Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the AWHA Executive Director, Public Policy Director, Fellows, and AWHA Youth Policy Team, develops, directs, implements, and evaluates the impact of AWHA’s New Deal: Transforming the Way Home Initiative through a community organizing and advocacy lens. Activities may include the development and codesign of the New Deal: Transforming the Way Home, representing AWHA in diverse state and local coalitions, coordinating with advocates from state and local peer organizations and local Continuums of Care CoCs, and managing the assessment of successful strategic coordination of state and local advocacy and organizing efforts around youth homelessness.
• Increase and mobilize the engagement and leadership of Youth and Young Adults with Lived Expertise (YYALE)s, Continuums of Care (CoC)s, and all other stakeholders at a state and local level in efforts around youth homelessness. This will involve identifying, re-engaging, and developing partnership opportunities, promoting state and local policy changes, and driving consistent AWHA advocacy across our many partners. This will likely involve co-designing strategies, working in tandem with AWHA’s Public Policy Director to determine statewide and local policy and advocacy efforts aligned with the New Deal to End Youth Homelessness and AWHA’s 118th Congressional Policy Agenda. 
• Develop and execute AWHA’s public policy efforts at the state and local level, in tandem with AWHA’s Policy Director, in line with the New Deal, Policy Agenda, and the New Deal: Transforming the Way Home Initiative, identifying opportunities to move state and local policy changes that advance our work to end youth homelessness. Partner with state and local advocacy groups and officials (e.g., CoCs, legislators, governors, and mayors) to identify and advance policy priorities. Activities may include establishing a pilot state-by-state peer collaborative, compiling state and local legislation boilerplate and best practice curriculum, and hosting a convening around state and local strategies to end youth  
• Maintain and develop positive relationships with an extensive network of contacts in legislative, executive, and administrative offices in state and local governments and with unlikely In every relationship, we center our collective goal to effectively end youth homelessness across the United States and seek common ground.
• Support AWHA’s engagement at the Federal level by working in tandem with the Director of Public Policy, ensuring cohesion of federal, local, and statewide policy and advocacy work, and engaging in meaningful opportunities for youth collaboration and strategy input across all policy and organizing activities.
• In conjunction with the AHWA Public Policy Director and Communications Officer, draft op-eds, blogs, and other user-friendly materials to communicate AWHA community organizing efforts to stakeholders.
• Staff New Deal: Transforming the Way Home Community Support Teams in each locality (e.g., city, county, and/or state), with the AWHA Director and Public Policy Director,
• preparing materials and meeting follow-up. They will also staff any state and local meetings regarding organizing, advocacy, and legislative efforts in each New Deal community.
• Represent AWHA in other coalitions and collaborations that advance the movement to end youth homelessness at the state and local levels.

Additional Responsibilities

• Supervise and manage up to two part-time State and Local Fellows and the State and Local Manager.
• Work with the AWHA Associate Director of Communications, Public Policy Director, and Executive Director to publicize AWHA’s statewide and local organizing and policy initiatives, New Deal: Transforming the Way Home updates and create opportunities for partners across the movement to participate in our collective state and local Ensure that all materials are approachable, transparent, and constructive.
• Serve as a resource to state and local organizations, CoCs, and others on issues pertaining to AWHA’s state and local public policy activities, New Deal updates, and general youth homelessness developments.
• Contribute strategic thinking to AWHA’s practice and communications activities and drive close alignment across AWHA’s focus areas.
• Speak and present on behalf of AWHA’s collective effort at conferences, events, and other forums.
• Participate in strategy development for the New Deal: Transforming the Way Home, including the strategic plan and annual goals, in partnership with AWHA Leadership.
• Support and manage relationships with AWHA Policy Squad members, as well as the State and Local Policy Crew, and other key policy stakeholders at the state and local level in New Deal communities.
• Manage daily AWHA operations in New Deal communities, and be available to respond to in-person initiative needs in the Western and Midwestern United States and lead AWHA’s Public Policy Director and other staff to respond to in-person initiative needs in the Eastern United States, as needed.
• Ensure compliance with state and local lobbying laws and regulations, in tandem with AWHA’s Public Policy Director, and accurately report lobbying time to appropriate parties using the correct platform(s).

Other duties as assigned.

We will consider exceptional candidates who demonstrate a strong combination of the specific qualifications and skills described below.

• Minimum of five years of experience in community-level organizing and overall advocacy on behalf of youth experiencing homelessness, disconnected youth, people experiencing homelessness, or a complementary area.
• Demonstrated experience working with government agencies, legislative bodies, nonprofit organizations, and complex coalitions at a state and/or local level.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong grassroots coalitions.
• Comfort in communicating with state and local legislative and administrative policy-makers and staff.
• Strong organizational, leadership, communication, and project management skills and excellent judgment in developing and implementing priorities.
• Exceptional traditional writing and grammatical skills.
• Diligent work ethic and personal drive while working independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and G Suite.
• Willingness to travel.
• The most competitive candidate is committed to youth collaboration, LGBTQ+, racial equity, and ending youth homelessness.
• Effective and productive in a remote work environment;
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office software and Adobe Acrobat, Google Suite; ∙ Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills inclusive of public speaking, facilitation, and social media;
• Experience in building relationships with diverse populations;
• Align with A Way Home America’s core values;
• Ability to authentically partner with youth and young adults;
• Passionate about the mission to end youth homeless and impact change in existing systems;
• Able to give and receive feedback with love, rigor, and respect, honoring individual differences and promoting a healthy life/work balance;
• Has integrity and accountability;
• Holds all accountable for anti-black racism and colorism;
• Be adaptable to the workload and self-sufficient.

 Additional Qualifications:

• Ability to travel for events and meetings;
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends;
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work;
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills;
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask
• Lived experience in homelessness, child welfare, and juvenile justice, which is a plus
• Bi-lingual ability, a plus (Spanish preferred).

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those for this position. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. Work is performed in an office environment and in close proximity to other workers.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• May require extended periods at a computer.
• Reach; traverse; sit (usually for longer periods of time); occasionally ascend/descend; and position self (to) move;
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds;
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate;
• Job is not subject to significant occupational or environmental hazards;
• Likelihood of personal injury would be relatively slight;
• Environmental and work hazards are not present to a measurable degree.

Compensation and Benefits

Location: Work is primarily performed remotely from personal home office and may require travel.

Schedule: Regular business hours Monday – Friday 9a – 5p EST. This role requires the ability to work occasional nights and weekends.

Compensation: The pay range for this position is $80,000 - $90,000.

Benefits: This position is eligible for a full benefits package including:

• Generous Paid-Time-Off (PTO): 12 paid holidays, 3 weeks vacation, 1 week personal holiday, and health leave time for full-time staff;
• 80% Employer-paid, offering some $0 deductible Health Insurance through Harvard Pilgrim along with several low-deductible plans;
• Low-cost Guardian Dental and Vision;
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care;
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance;
• Employer-paid Pension through TIAA;
• ...and more!

TSNE/AWHA strives to achieve excellence through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment that embraces all of our individual and collective differences. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Middle Eastern and North African, Bilingual and/or Bicultural candidates, and LGBTQ2SIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We value and honor the unique talents, learning styles, and lived experiences of each individual that enrich and strengthen our workplace culture, and we are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All employment conditions are based on an individual’s performance and job qualifications. TSNE/AWHA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, creed, color, religion, native language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, race-based hairstyles, or any other protected characteristic stated by federal and state law. Regardless of any class’ protection under the law or lack thereof, TSNE/AWHA celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse team of employees. It is represented in our workplace culture, and it is who we are.

TSNE/AWHA's EEO statement extends to volunteers, interns, contractors, vendors, and clients.