NOW HIRING: Policy Manager 

New Era Colorado Foundation and New Era Colorado Action Fund is seeking a full-time Policy Manager to:

• Drive policy research
• Contribute to statewide political strategy 
• Develop issue messaging for organizing department
• Lead testimony and spokespeople recruitment for state level policy work
• Sustain, cultivate, and build deep relationships with statewide progressive partner organizations, coalitions, and stakeholders

To apply:  Follow this link to apply for this role. Priority deadline will be Friday, September 15. Resume required, cover letter encouraged. This position is open until filled. 

About New Era Colorado: 

New Era is nationally recognized for its work in voter access, registration, and voter turnout. Since our founding in 2006, we’ve registered more than 250,000 young people to vote and consistently turn out those registrants at one of the highest rates in the country. In 2021 we started to deepen our work on multi-issue organizing, and launched  a new Strategic Plan for the organization in 2022. That same year we also launched  our policy platform, the Youth Agenda, which defines our issue work areas and the young people’s  policy demands. 

New Era is creating a youth movement that fights for a common vision of the world: one that centers equality, prosperity, love, and joy. A vision where everyone is treated fairly, has their basic needs met, and can thrive. Young people are the most impacted by the challenges and issues we face today and have the capacity to dream bigger, designing the solutions towards this future. And yet, young people are often shut out from the halls of power and ignored by elected officials. That’s why at New Era, we organize young people to participate in the political process, develop as leaders, and find a political home. 

 Get to know us: Website | Facebook | Instagram

About the position: 

New Era’s next Policy Manager will work with the Political Director to advance the youth agenda by driving policy research, tracking the legislature as well as statewide ballot initiatives, creating written content for voter guides, supporting New Era’s organizing team in executing campaigns, and supporting the growth and development of partner relationships. This role will offer a lot of autonomy as well as opportunity to work collaboratively across departments including communications and organizing.  This is an excellent role for an organized analytical thinker who is excited to have autonomy working on policy, organizing, and advocacy. 

Job Responsibilities: 

The Policy Manager reports to the Political Director and is responsible for: 

• Driving policy research and contributing to political advocacy | Support the Political Director in advancing the Youth Agenda by driving policy research, contributing to political landscape research, driving legislative and ballot measure tracking, voter guide content creation, supporting c4 political work and political accountability tactics.
• Supporting the growth and development of partner relationships | Sustain, cultivate, and build deep relationships with statewide progressive partner organizations, coalitions, and stakeholders.
• Supporting New Era’s organizing team in executing campaigns | Support New Era’s organizing team by – developing issue messaging and training teams on messaging, reviewing issue communications, working with Regional Lead Organizers on policy engagement at the local level, and leading all testimony and spokespeople recruitment for state level work.
• Program team leadership | Support the design and implementation of the multi-issue organizing program, identifying areas for improvement and design initiatives, systems, trainings etc to improve our work, keeping all relevant manuals up to date for the areas you manage, play a hands-on and supportive role in rapid response or special projects that come up throughout the year.l 

What We’re Looking For: 

• Creativity: You’ve got big ideas. You like thinking outside the box for solutions to problems. 

• Critical thinking: You are able to craft strong arguments for an idea, analyze information. You’re the person friends ask to explain complex policies in a way that is easy to understand. 

• Excellent writing skills: You are able to succinctly define a problem and create values driven, persuasive messaging around it. 

• Excellent project management and organization skills: You have the demonstrated ability to manage and drive competing priorities and hold multiple projects with moving pieces at once.  You have a strong sense of drivership and can problem solve and bounce back from setbacks. You have strong systems to stay organized so that you can drive work forward and complete tasks and projects. 

• Relationship building: You’re a people person. You’re good at building trust and managing relationships with partners, stakeholders, and coalitions. You understand that conflict happens in this work and feel confident in finding solutions. 

• Commitment to anti-racism and equity: You have a deep investment in New Era’s anti-racism and equity work and are committed to support the organization through its growth. You  are committed to ending anti-Black racism through working on the policy issues outlined in the Youth Agenda. 

• Commitment to New Era’s mission: You are passionate about the work New Era does to engage young people in the political process and believe in the power of peer-to-peer organizing. You believe in the power of young people, grassroots organizing, and policy change. 

•  Empathy and sensitivity in caring for storytellers around personal sensitive, lived experiences

Relevant Software and Tools:

• Asana
• Google Suite
• State Legislative Database
• Secretary of State Ballot Tracker

Preferred but not required 

• Prior knowledge or experience working in Colorado’s political landscape and progressive ecosystem.
• Prior experience working in coalition.  
• Previous experience working with folks who will provide public stories/testimony around personal, sensitive lived experiences. 

Note: We recognize that the right candidate may have different backgrounds and related talents that demonstrate the qualities and skills necessary to be successful in this role and encourage you to apply if you feel you have what it takes!

Position Details, Compensation and Benefits

The position is based out of New Era’s Denver Office. This is a permanent, full-time, non-exempt position that is part of a bargaining unit exclusively represented by the Denver Newspaper Guild. Salary is $58,000 annualized, commensurate with experience. 

Benefits include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision; employer pays 85% of the premium), $300 annual wellness stipend, minimum $250 annual professional development funds, SIMPLE IRA with 3% employer match, $600 annual tech stipend, RTD Ecopass, generous holiday, vacation, and sick time, eight week paid sabbatical eligibility after four years of employment, and paid parental and family leave benefits. 

This role will include in-person work. New Era Colorado is committed to the safety of our employees and requires proof of full vaccination status for all employees unless a religious or medical accommodation is granted. If you have any questions about our safety protocols please contact us at [email protected].

This position will be open until filled.  Interviews will take place on a rolling basis. New Era Colorado Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all, and strongly encourage women, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees and members of the LGBTQ community to apply. We do not require formal education. We encourage you to submit your application if this job excites you!