ABOUT VIOLENCE FREE COLORADO

Violence Free Colorado is recognized as the state’s Domestic Violence Coalition. Our mission is “advancing the well-being of all Coloradans through relationships free from abuse and oppression.” We work at the local, state, and national level to create system-wide change by influencing policy and supporting direct service organizations with resources, training and technical assistance. We are committed to working in partnership with survivors and other anti-oppression movements to address the root causes, and overlapping dynamics, of violence. Violence Free Colorado is excited about our current trajectory. We are a progressive organization fostering a workplace culture rooted in equity, transparency, liberation, and care.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Public Policy Director (PPD) manages Violence Free Colorado’s Public Policy Program to increase safety, support, and options for survivors of domestic violence through policy and systems advocacy. The PPD collaborates with staff, membership, community partners and our Public Policy Committee. The PPD works to identify, analyze, monitor, and create public policy solutions around domestic violence and to determine how legislation will impact our mission, our membership, survivors, and advocates across the state. Our goal is to develop and implement policy that centers the needs of the most marginalized survivors, works to dismantle oppressive systems, and includes strategies beyond the criminal-legal system.

We are seeking someone who is excited about stepping into a dynamic team at a moment of change and transition. In keeping with our organizational core values, the successful candidate will engage their work in trauma-informed, culturally responsive ways that increase accessibility, equity, and inclusion. All our work, including our policy work, should engage survivors and address the ways that domestic violence intersects with experiences of oppression based on identity and access to power. All Violence Free Colorado staff participate in our internal work on diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as vision building.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Public Policy & Systems Advocacy

Diversify, and manage Violence Free Colorado’s Public Policy Program, including development, pursuit, and implementation of the coalition’s public policy agenda with explicit attention to expanding our impact beyond judicial and carceral systems.
Work with staff, membership, community partners, and the Public Policy Committee to develop positions on state and federal public policy issues, including legal cases that impact survivors of domestic violence and membership.
Work with survivors and advocates to prepare witnesses and testimony.
Collaborate with national partners on federal domestic violence-related policy efforts.
Lead Public Policy Committee, facilitate other working groups as needed, and engage in coalition building and community organizing to accomplish public policy agenda.
Solicit feedback from membership, stakeholders, and the community at large on effectiveness of, and gaps in, existing law and policy.
Research and analyze the impact of domestic violence public policy at the local, state, and federal levels and to coordinate public policy and systems advocacy efforts.
Training & Technical Assistance

Provide training on policy issues to members and community partners, as needed.
Provide TA to survivors, members, and community partners, as needed.
Provide staff support and leadership during Coalition events such as Colorado Advocacy in Action Conference.
Organizational Leadership

Supervise Public Policy Specialist in their work connecting to community partners and diversifying our policy agenda.
Hire and supervise Public Policy Interns.
Coordinate with Violence Free Colorado’s Contract Lobbyist on legislation and strategy.
Participate in various boards, task forces, and committees that impact domestic violence-related public policy to advocate for systems change.
Support internal equity (ACRTI) work.
Participate in internal vision work, including theory of change, strategic planning, and culture building.
Support human resources work by assisting with recruiting, hiring, internal policy development and management.
Support financial management of the organization through budgeting process.
Participate in grant development and management.
Other duties as assigned.

Communications and Outreach

Develop and disseminate materials for distribution including legislative action alerts, fact sheets, talking points, testimony, issue briefs and technical assistance documents.
Coordinate with Community Impact Team to ensure effective messaging.
With Community Impact Team and other leadership, respond to media inquiries.
With staff, support outreach to new community partners.
With staff, build and maintain strong relationships with member programs.
With staff and leadership team, expand and diversify membership.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Masters level degree in political science, public policy, communications, human services or related field; OR 8 – 12 years equivalent experience.
Demonstrated history in public policy development, public policy research and analysis, and legislative work.
Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression work.
High level of understanding of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and the ways these intersect with issues of identity and oppression.
Excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills, coalition building skills.
Excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate policy needs and decisions through public speaking and writing.
Some experience with grant writing, esp. narrative aspects
Experience with Zoom and other online meeting platforms, Microsoft Office programs and databases, skilled with Excel and comfortable with large data set volumes.
Due to our funding sources, all staff must submit an I-9 at time of hire.
Due to our funding sources, a background check and fingerprinting are required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates who identify as bicultural and bilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.
Knowledge of Colorado laws and/or legal systems is highly valued.
Experience in direct service as an advocate, counselor or community organizer is highly valued.

Note to potential applicants: The final candidate must have the ability to perform the majority of duties in this role. Having said that, we acknowledge that individuals who have experienced systemic oppression tend to undervalue what they can contribute to an organization. We encourage you to apply for this job if it sounds like a good fit for you, even if you aren’t confident you meet every single one of the requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

Send a cover letter, resume and contact information for 3 professional references in a single PDF attachment with the subject line “(your last name) Public Policy Director” to jobs@violencefreeco.org Please speak to how your experience and qualifications match what we are looking for in this role in your cover letter. We invite candidates to include chosen names and pronouns on documents. Please let us know in your application what reasonable accommodation(s) you need to apply. Application review starts immediately and will be open until filled.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

E.O.E. – Violence Free Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on any protected status and enthusiastically welcome applications from people of all genders and gender expressions, all sexual orientations, members of BIPOC communities, the formerly incarcerated, and persons in/of any other protected class, such as religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, pregnancy status, or genetic status. Survivors of systemic oppression and/or gender-based violence are highly encouraged to apply.