This position directs operations in our organization’s largest state: California. This work includes leading our policy and advocacy work, directly managing our California regional Outreach Managers, and working with senior management on California fundraising. A critical component of this role includes an effective outreach strategy to mobilize small business owners, organizations, policymakers and other small business advocates throughout the state. This position is based in Northen California with a preference for the Greater Sacramento Metropolitan Area. This role collaborates directly with the Chief Policy & Outreach Officer and the Vice President of State Policy & Advocacy on funder strategy and outreach. The role reports directly to the Vice President, State Policy & Advocacy. Salary range is $120K - $145K annually
Duties include: Statewide Management 35%:
- Lead outreach operations throughout California with input from the Executive Team. This includes managing the California Outreach Managers to ensure regional and statewide goals and objectives are met.
- Work with the Vice President of Outreach Operations to fulfill project deliverables.
- Attend partner coalition meetings, networking events, and key policymaker convenings in California to identify and pursue policy, programmatic and funding opportunities.
- Ensure robust outreach to small businesses throughout the region to garner spokespeople to fulfill grants and policy opportunities.
- Oversee and manage all project deliverables with the VP of Outreach Operations, ensuring strategic alignment, timely execution and effective delegation across the California team. Policy & Advocacy 40%:
- Stay informed on key developments in California policy issues relevant to the organization’s work and priorities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key advocacy partners to amplify the voice of small businesses across California and collaborate on advancing the organization’s policy agenda.
- Engage with the legislature through correspondence with policymakers, testimony at legislative hearings, participation in press conferences, coordination of national and state sign-on opportunities and coalition letters, facilitation of letters of support, and communication of key budget and policy priorities.
- Oversee all of California’s government affairs operations, including overseeing or attending events with policymakers, panels, in-district meetings, policy roundtables, and policymaker discussions.
- Work in close coordination with the Communications Department on media interviews, press releases and other public facing communication.
- Act as a spokesperson for media opportunities.
- Work with the California Team to identify advocacy opportunities for Small Business Majority’s small business owner network.
- Work with our federal Government Affairs Team to conduct outreach to California’s Congressional delegation through in-person meetings and identifying and engaging small businesses in their districts.
- Hold regular small business owner advocacy days at the capitol. Development: 25%
- In collaboration with our Development Team and the Chief Policy & Outreach Officer, secure significant funding from philanthropic, corporate, and other institutional funders.
- Maintain relationships with current funders and ensure grants are renewed at the appropriate time.
- In collaboration with the Chief Policy & Outreach Officer, identify and develop relationships with new state (and potentially national) funders to make a convincing pitch to secure funding.
- Work with our Development Team on crafting proposals that match our organizational goals and those of the prospective funders.
- Work in conjunction with the Grants Team to present information for funder reports.
Travel Requirements:- 20% of your time will be traveling in-state to support team members, conduct in-person policy and advocacy efforts in Sacramento, attend key conferences and networking events throughout the state
- Attend annual all-team 3-day meeting in Washington, DC, semi-annual department 2-day meetings held throughout the country and possibly one or two out-of-state conferences.
Qualifications:- 8 - 10 years of experience in California, similar state or federal policy work —small business organizing is preferred.· Strong interest in and experience working on public policy/political issues, particularly small business and/or economic issues.· A proven track record of building and maintaining strong professional relationships with a variety of external stakeholders.· Superior project management skills.· Strong experience with CRM tools, including grassroots organizing software.· Strong experience collecting and analyzing data to inform strategies and tactics related to constituent engagement.· Superior interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.· Strong skills and experience in public speaking and presentations· Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with frequently shifting priorities.· A self-starter requiring limited direct oversight and daily management· Bilingual skills (especially Spanish) a plus.· Collaborative nature with the ability to work remotely in conjunction with team members across the country.· Strong sense of accountability; driven to meet and exceed expectations. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
