Careers & Internships

Interfaith Alliance seeks an extraordinary leader to join our growing national team as Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy in Washington, D.C. A strategic innovator, the Senior Director will be empowered to build upon 30 years of relationships to grow our network of partners and create a positive impact in this critical moment in the history of our democracy.

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country, working together to build a resilient, inclusive democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We use the power of faith/values-based organizing using a three-pronged, interconnected strategy to make change: policy and advocacy in D.C.; mobilizing affiliates and partners in local communities across the country, and through a robust and growing communications and media strategy, including the State of Belief podcast, earned media, and social media, to educate and shape the public narrative. Our strategic areas are inclusive religious freedom; fighting hate and discrimination, including antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate; LGBTQ+ equality; the right to vote and the integrity of elections; public education and libraries; and reproductive freedom – all essential components of democracy.

The Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy will join the team in a pivotal moment for democracy in America which also coincides with the 30th anniversary of Interfaith Alliance. The appointment of Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush as Interfaith Alliance President/CEO, in ‘22 signals a new season of growth and impact for the organization. We eagerly seek an experienced, entrepreneurial, and collaborative colleague to envision and lead our work in policy and advocacy at the state and federal levels. The Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy reports to the President/CEO.

The Senior Director will develop, advise on, and execute the organization’s federal and state policy strategy through effective advocacy and policy education on Capitol Hill, before administrative agencies, and in the courts through amicus briefs. The Senior Director will engage with Interfaith Alliance’s affiliates and partners across the country and work alongside the Senior Director of Field and Organizing to develop strategies for policy objectives at state and community levels. The Director will be able to excel in a fast-paced environment and be flexible in approach, calibrating strategies as necessary to effectively achieve both near and longer-term goals. 

Job Responsibilities: 

Develop and execute the policy strategy:

Develop and lead strategy for Interfaith Alliance’s role in national policy and collaborate with field and organizing efforts across the country in state and local policy and advocacy initiatives;

Identify and advance priority legislation for each Congressional cycle while facilitating new and strengthening existing relationships with legislative offices, executive appointees, career staff, and key partners, including faith-based, secular, and civic organizations and communities;

Collaborate with colleagues to create externally facing advocacy resources, including reports, fact sheets, training materials, talking points, and social media toolkits for a variety of audiences; this includes developing and implementing multi-part campaigns and voter education that mobilize supporters and raise the organization’s profile, including voter education campaigns;

Craft and deliver the organization’s submissions and comments to federal agencies and prepare testimony delivered by Interfaith Alliance leadership before relevant congressional hearings; initiate and/or join pertinent amicus briefs in courts throughout the country, including at the circuit and Supreme Court levels;

Create and manage systems to track information about key issues and policy matters and develop content (events, op-eds, IAF website posts, etc.) drawing attention to the issues at stake;

Represent Interfaith Alliance at events, coalitions, and working groups focused on the strategic policy areas of the organization and seek opportunities for leadership to appear publicly to advance organizational goals, including rallies, marches, media spots, online events, etc.

Support organizational processes and goals:

Create department goals, strategies, calendars, and budgets to optimize team capacity and build momentum around initiatives that advance the mission; ensure that all initiatives use evaluation tools to assess effectiveness and impact;

Serve as part of the senior leadership team to develop strategy for maximum impact;

Manage advocacy platforms, including creating calls to action, building lists, and running reports;

Engage board members and other stakeholders around emerging issues and prepare regular reports to the board, leadership, staff, funders, and other stakeholders regarding progress made toward organizational goals;

Supervise policy and advocacy staff:

Engage communications team to ensure consistent messaging and variety in social media posts, regular email outreach to supporters, and advocacy alerts;

Support fundraising and grant efforts to undergird robust policy goals.

Qualifications: 

Experienced policy professional with a minimum of 7 years experience in relevant policy issue advocacy; experience advocating before governmental bodies, such as the U..S Congress, state legislatures, federal agencies, or other executive offices;

Strong knowledge and relationships with key networks in D.C. related to the policy foci of the organization and the ability to expand and build relationships at the federal and state levels; familiarity with federal government operations;

Understanding the complex landscape of American religious life and how it intersects with democracy, religious freedom, and civil rights;

Proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including faith-based and secular partners, as well as stakeholders on Capitol Hill, within federal agencies, and in state governments;

Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity;

Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present cogently and forcefully and engage a variety of listeners in complex contexts, in person and online;

Strong management and team-building skills;

Resilience, creativity, flexibility, maturity, and humor to thrive in a fast-paced, challenging, growing, and energetic organizational environment;

Familiarity with activities conducted by legal frameworks for 501c3 and 501c4 organizations and an ability to understand the legal and compliance frameworks that govern this work;

Requirements:

JD or equivalent degree strongly preferred;

The ability to travel;

Location in D.C., in a hybrid working context.

Salary: $120,000 – $150,000, commensurate with experience

Starting Date: The desired starting date for this position is May 1, 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately on a rolling basis and continue until the position is filled.

This is a full-time position with benefits, including health and dental insurance, generous
holidays and paid leave. To apply: Please send resume and cover letter to
jobs@interfaithalliance.org.

As an equal opportunity employer, applicants need not identify with a particular faith but must be willing to work on behalf of the issues we support including advancing religious freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, supporting the public education system, reproductive justice, and other civil rights issues.