Vice President, Policy and Advocacy

About UnidosUS

We empower Latinos to define and achieve their own American Dream. We believe in an America where economic, political, and social advancement is a reality for all Latinos, where all Hispanics thrive and our community’s contributions are recognized.

For more than 50 years, UnidosUS has united communities and different groups seeking common ground through collaboration, and that share a desire to make our country stronger.

UnidosUS, previously known as NCLR (National Council of La Raza) is the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos at the national and local levels.

For more information on UnidosUS, please visit their website.

The Opportunity

Working with the Senior VP, the Vice President is responsible for advancing the organization’s public policy and advocacy agenda.  The Policy & Advocacy team aims to achieve transformational public policy change that improves the social, economic, and political status of the U.S. Latino community.  Current priorities include advancing the interests of Latinos on civil rights and racial equity, economic issues, education, health, housing and immigration.  The work involves activity directed at the White House, Congress, federal and state agencies, and regulators, as well as allied researchers and advocates.  The team employs a full suite of advocacy tactics from applied research and policy analysis to direct lobbying.

The VP of Policy & Advocacy will initially oversee few key areas of work such as public policy, state policy and advocacy, and operations. Responsibilities include supporting and advising the SVP on all public policy matters, setting overall public policy and advocacy strategy, developing a substantive public policy agenda, supporting teams to operationalize advocacy campaigns, representing the organization in policy settings (including lobbying), public speaking, media relations, and managing and supervising staff.  The position will initially assume a major portion of functions outlined below, with additional responsibility(ies) added over time based on performance. There is a strong likelihood of opportunities for growth and upward mobility.

Success in this role requires ability to lead, manage, supervise, communicate, analyze, think strategically, advise, work collaboratively with other departments/teams, and operationalize complex campaigns and projects.  The policy and advocacy component has an annual budget between $7-8 million, over 40 full-time equivalent staff and consultants, with activity across a number of target states.

The VP of Policy & Advocacy’s responsibilities will include:

Oversee Public Policy

• Lead the P&A strategy development: includes goal and priority setting for the policy and advocacy team.
• Work with teams and component directors to set issue team goals and objectives that align with the overall strategy.
• Develop an overarching strategy for the state policy and work with State Directors and others to develop plans and carry out coordinated tactics. 
• Supervise and provide support to Senior Public Policy Director and State Advocacy Directors and leads.
• Support and advise SVP and other institutional leaders as needed.

Oversee Team Development, Management, and Operations

• Recruit, hire, and onboard staff.
• Lead a diverse staff and foster teamwork, provide guidance and strategic support.
• Experience with change management.
• Innovative and collaborative thinker that can identify opportunities for alignment with other colleagues to increase organizational impact.
• Responsible for the component’s overall planning, progress tracking efforts.
• Responsible for building and strengthening operational capacity in core states. 
• Responsible for partnering with HR to align talent development systems and manager support activity in P&A with organizational direction (e.g., professional development, recruitment, retention, performance review, and implementation of a robust orientation/onboarding process).
• Supervise Operations team.
• Experience in fundraising and fiscal management, including an entrepreneurial ability to identify and seize timely and mission-appropriate and impact-driven opportunities.
• Responsible for annual and mid-year component budget processes and keeping financial status in good health.

External

• Lead and support the organization’s efforts and relations particularly with the Executive Branch, federal, and state governments.
• Support relationship building work with policy makers.
• Participate in external boards, serve in an advisory capacity for stakeholders and foundations as required.
• Participate in briefings, roundtables, and other events to advance thinking in the field.
• Represent the institution externally in public policy settings with congressional, federal and state policymakers, providing expert testimony to Congress on public policy issues.
• Work with media, particularly Spanish language media, as appropriate.

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, a successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

• Graduate degree and/or 10 to 20 years of combined relevant education and work experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient Spanish speaker
• Deep familiarity with the U.S. Latino community and Latino nonprofit organizations
• Experience with strategic planning, strategy development, developing policy and advocacy campaigns
• Strong management skills and supervisory experience
• Experience with the policymaking process from congressional legislative process, agency administrative implementation, to state/local implementation
• Exposure to political process and elections
• Fundraising experience with philanthropic foundations and donors
• Commitment to excellence, accountability, and high standards
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of various teams and committees.
• Ability to learn quickly and adapt to fast-paced, changing, environment
• Attention to detail particularly with respect to written products
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Compensation & Benefits

For this role, salary is competitive, commensurate with experience and will be discussed directly with interested candidates. A comprehensive benefits package is offered as well.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume to Erin Reedy here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

UnidosUS is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.