Advocacy Coordinator

Founded in 1989, the Asian American Federation (AAF) is one of the strongest leadership voices advocating for better policies, services, and funding that lead to more justice and opportunity for 1.5 million Asian Americans in New York City. We do this in partnership with 70 community-based organizations.

Asians are the fastest-growing community in our city and state, and we advocate to ensure that our community is visible, our voices are heard, and our stories are told. Shaped by our research, we focus on community safety, mental health, economic empowerment, immigrant integration, and civic engagement to help connect Asian New Yorkers with the resources they need.

Overview:

The Advocacy Coordinator will serve as a critical member of the team responsible for implementing AAF’s policy priorities to increase the visibility of the pan-Asian community and Asian nonprofits’ access to capacity-building resources. This person will coordinate advocacy campaigns to advance civic engagement, economic empowerment, immigrant integration, mental health, senior services, and nonprofit support. In addition, this individual will coordinate and track advocacy opportunities like city and state hearings and other events aligned to advancing the needs of NY’s pan-Asian community.  The Coordinator will also lead event logistics for a number of convenings and panels supporting our advocacy efforts across the city and state. S/he/they will have a deep understanding of the social, political, and cultural landscape impacting pan-Asian communities in New York City and State, and will be committed to advancing their rights and opportunities.

The ideal candidate gains energy from people and both, enjoys and has experience in networking with community members and elected officials at all levels of state and local government. S/he/they enjoy working with a fast-moving, highly collaborative team and have demonstrated the ability to manage concurrent multiple assignments.  The ideal candidate works well under pressure while maintaining high standards and attention to detail despite tight deadlines. This individual should have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as experience analyzing and articulating policy concepts and other complex issues, communicating them to diverse audiences in accessible language. This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated and proactive, early career professional looking to further develop their relationship management skills while continuing to build upon their already superb organizational acumen.

This is a hybrid role reporting to AAF’s Wall Street office and will be required to be in the office at least two days a week. As a member of our Advocacy & Policy team, the Coordinator will frequently travel in and around New York City, connecting with our member organizations and partners.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy, the Coordinator will be responsible for, but not exclusive to the following:

Communications

• Draft written and oral testimonies to provide to the New York City Council and New York State Legislature
• Work closely with the Communications team to draft advocacy materials (i.e. memos, policy legislative summaries) and action-focused digital resources

Data, Recording & Reporting

• Manage and expand a database of AAF’s member,  partner organizations, and other key contacts across New York City and State
• Track the Advocacy & Policy team’s progress on grants to ensure compliance with funder guidelines and prepare funder reports as needed
• Track and follow committee meetings and hearings relevant to AAF’s legislative priorities
• Research and stay well-informed of city and state policies, procedures, and changes related to AAF’s policy areas
• Track key details of meetings with elected and government officials for the organization’s bimonthly reporting on city and state lobbying activities

Relationship Management & Community Mobilization 

• Outreach to AAF’s member and partner organizations, serving as a key AAF liaison
• Participate in advocacy campaigns and initiatives at the city and state levels to elevate AAF’s advocacy positions on issues pertaining to the pan-Asian community
• Mobilize member and partner organizations for grassroots actions, including public hearings, legislative visits, and rallies

Event Logistics

• Work closely with the Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy to advance the key objectives of AAF’s policy priorities
• Coordinate meetings (to include materials collection and distribution, and event operations and details), with city and state leaders to advance AAF’s policy agenda
• Coordinate panels  (to include materials collection and distribution, and event operations and details) for member and partner organizations to join AAF in testifying at critical hearings together
• Organize and provide support for working groups, community forums, workshops, and advocacy events to raise awareness about critical issues impacting pan-Asian communities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, with a background in public health, public policy, and/or public administration preferred
• 2-3 years of experience with New York City or State legislation, lobbying, or campaign organizing, or relevant experience in nonprofit advocacy, budget advocacy, or related field
• Fluency in an Asian language a plus
• Experience working in city council or city government a plus
• All new hires must be vaccinated and must stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability. If you are offered a position with AAF, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved by AAF.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is between $59,000-$61,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous paid time off, health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as a 403(b) plan.

To uphold organizational parity and pay equity, AAF will use a non-negotiable salary structure that takes into consideration the entire breadth of a candidate’s experience, employment, and education to arrive at their base salary.

To Apply

This search is being managed by Talented Advisors, a talent strategy and management firm which partners exclusively with non-profit organizations. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their interest in our mission and qualifications for the position using this link.

The Asian American Federation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.