Movement Policy Strategist

 
 

Overview: 

Black Visions’ role of Movement Policy Strategist will lead Black Visions’ public policy and political strategy. With an emphasis toward leading people-powered campaigns in the Twin Cities, they will work with communications and campaigns staff to implement power building strategies capable of winning big for Black people in Minnesota. By building relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and partners, they will work to ensure our agenda is moving forward.  We are looking for someone who is a strategic thinker rooted in abolitionist values that is able to engage across the political spectrum while understanding diverse people/poltics and how to move them. The Movement Policy Strategist will be key to implementing Black Vision's long-term organizing strategy and work with other lead staff to develop issue-based campaigns fighting for safety. 

  

This role will work inside of a team and in direct coordination with other “Pods” (aka departments) and their leadership staff, supporting cohesiveness to our work overall.  This role will represent Black Visions externally with partners, community members, and stakeholders.  

Are you excited to join a growing team leading cutting edge strategies to transform community safety? Does digging in deep on how we educate, agitate, and organize our people give you joy? Join us!  

About Black Visions: 

Since 2017, Black Visions, has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us, as well, our direct experience in building within the Movement for Black Lives, in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. Through our intentional growth process, we aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, sustainability, and developing Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation. 

Mission: Black Visions is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence. 

Vision:  Black Visions believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems.

Black Visions is currently in a period of growth, accountability, and development. All prospective applicants must be willing to grow with the organization as we move into our next iteration. 

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning 

  • Support overall power building strategy alongside Campaigns Director, Communications Leads, and Co-Executive directors

  • Lead research efforts to develop and fortify Black Visions public policy agenda 

  • Lead efforts that are innovative and disrupt the traditional and harmful ways public policy is enacted and advocacy is performed, ensuring authentic engagement of members and community that is transformative when it comes to politics, elections, and policy development

  • Develop a clear policy agenda for Black Visions by engaging members, staff, and supporters

  • Work with Co-Directors and lead program staff to prepare for future statewide fights 

Campaign Policy Organizing: 

  • Create and implement campaign plans to win policy changes in the Twin Cities Metro around safety, ending policing, and environmental justice

  • Work with communications staff to develop materials that speak to our strategy and educate the public on our issues 

  • Lead trainings and produce materials for staff, members, and supporters that explain and illustrate policy in accessible ways

  • Build and maintain relationships with elected officials (emphasis currently on Minneapolis), while staying rooted in community 

  • Connect with national campaigns to share lessons learned about policy possibilities, and determine if there are national policy fights that Black Visions should participate in or help lead

  • Identify opportunities and threats to Black Visions power building agenda as politics and policies shift election to election, as well, other political crises 

  • Analyze key information such as the Minneapolis City Budget and proposed ordinance/legislation to support current campaigns

  • Develop policy and advocacy projects alongside other Black-led formations in order to strengthen our local ecosystem and political alignment 

  • Build and sustain relationship with organizational partners connected to Black Visions campaigns and organizing

  • Join and participate in Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) Policy Table to learn and share lessons, inform national policy work, and represent our local work and fights  

Pod Leadership: 

  • Support Campaigns Director and Co-Executive Director in managing and coaching campaigns and organizing staff 

  • Build relationships and work alongside other campaigns and organizing staff 

  • Train to serve as a spokesperson to communicate vision and work of Black Visions 

  • Support resource development activities as needed including: supporting on grants, reporting, and funder relationships 

 Experience and Qualifications

  • 5+ years experience in public policy/advocacy

  • Supporting staff in the role of manager or coach

  • Understanding of political and policy landscape in Minnesota including a working knowledge of local politics and relationships (with specific emphasis on Twin Cities Metro)

  • Strong understanding of issues as it relates community safety, policing/prisons, and environmental justice

  • Strong research and analytical skills

  • Experience living, organizing, and working within Black communities 

  • Steadfast commitment to collective liberation and ability to speak and unite those behind Black Vision’s mission and vision

  • Strong writing and verbal communication skills; experience using Microsoft Suite, basic internet based technology and data entry/management 

  • Common sense, flexibility, and teamwork skills with the ability to exercise independent judgment

  • Time and project management skills; ability to pivot to meet current events and organizational needs while maintaining attention to detail

  • Working in collective or cooperative settings

  • Positive and open personality

  • Strong interpersonal skills, experience managing multiple deadlines, and maintaining attention to detail

Must be willing and able to:

  • Communicate needs and boundaries as they arise

  • Delegate tasks to focus on their primary role

  • Speak in front of small and large groups (translation provided as necessary)

  • Speak to what Abolition is and why it is essential to Black liberation

  • Access to reliable transportation 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage. Flexibility to work outside normal business hours that include evenings and weekends and work extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position.

*Due to COVID-19, Black Visions staff are currently working from home with a few moments (about 1x/month) when staff are expected in person. 

REPORTS TO & LOCATION

  • This position reports directly to the Black Visions Co-Executive Director 

  • Position is located in Minneapolis, MN. All Black Visions staff must have a home address in Minnesota.

This is a full time, salaried position. Salary will be set commensurate with experience and will include a full package of benefits including health and dental insurance, matching retirement, investment in personal development, and an expansive time off policy. 

Salary range: $65,000- 70,000

To Apply: 

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and one work sample demonstrating your campaign and strategy development experience or a legislative campaign you have led to jobs@blackvisionsmn.org -- with the title: MOVEMENT POLICY STRATEGIST -- YOUR NAME. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to applications received by March 11th, 2022

Black Visions is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, BIPOC, folks with disabilities, and/or are or have been impacted by systems of oppression, to apply.