Director, State Affairs

POSITION TITLE:

Director, State Affairs

SUPERVISOR:

Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs

DATE EFFECTIVE:

June 26, 2023

DATE REVISED:

June 26, 2023

LOCATION:

Washington, D.C.

TRAVEL:

Moderate

JOB CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

JOB LEVEL:

10

POSITION SUMMARY

About NAACP

At the NAACP, our mission is to achieve equity, political rights and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate wellbeing, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color.

About the Chief Strategy Office

The Chief Strategy Office (CSO) leads and oversees the development, communication, and execution of the NAACP's mission-driven strategies. The CSO is primarily responsible for the alignment and integration of the Association's goals throughout all levels of the organization. This focus includes various high-impact initiatives, leveraging strategies leading to sustainable growth, a comprehensive policy agenda, and innovation.

About the Policy and Legislative Affairs Team

The Policy and Legislative Affairs Team is responsible for maintaining an influential position for the NAACP, impacting federal and state public policy initiatives. The team works closely with executive, legislative, and administrative bodies and partners with stakeholders to advance the NAACP's high-impact work.

About the Director, State Affairs

The NAACP seeks a dynamic individual to support state legislative and policy efforts. The right person for this role is an exceptional communicator and strategic thinker, who is organized and detail oriented. The Director, State Affairs is a member of the Policy and Legislative Affairs team with primary responsibility for managing a portfolio of multiple states, including serving as a primary policy and point of contact in those states, cultivating stakeholders, managing on-the-ground relationships and issues, coordinating assets, and creating and executing on all policy reform initiatives.

This role requires expertise in state government relations, which includes extensive work with various state legislators, regulatory agencies and Governors. The coordination of state and local strategies with NAACP members and constituents to ensure active engagement on areas of interest to the NAACP is a key focus of this position. This includes assisting state conferences in advocating for state and local policy, providing technical assistance and strategic advice, and building Black political, social, and economic power.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

• Develop and maintain state legislative partnerships and relationships with key state officials, state agencies and state-level stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain state coalitions.
• Develop high-quality written recommendations, briefings, publications, presentations, and other collateral to communicate complex messages clearly and effectively to audiences, with a focus on state and local stakeholders.
• Prepare and provide summaries and recommendations on legislation and other policy proposals.
• Develop messaging and strategy to combat state bills that have the potential to affect the NAACP constituency.
• In partnership with the Strategy and Campaigns teams, build and execute state campaign plans in multiple states simultaneously.
• Evaluate state campaign initiatives consistent with NAACP's policy priorities.
• Develop legislative scorecards and mapping for state campaign efforts.
• Provide regular updates on reactive and pro-active state legislative efforts.
• Coordinate with State/State-area Conferences, Units, and Branches in identifying plans for advocacy campaigns on policy issues.
• Support the training of State/State-area Conferences, Units, and Branches.
• Provide representation, where appropriate, at unit meetings, media engagements, various coalitions, conferences, conventions/ convenings both internal and external to the NAACP.
• Assist with member visits in state legislatures and in Congress.
• Write and update materials for state legislative advocacy efforts.
• Support federal policy efforts when needed.
• Provide assistance with state legislative policy and advocacy efforts.
• Help supervise and maintain all required state registration and lobbyist disclosure forms.
• Maintain a database of key political contacts.
• All other duties, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Educational/Professional Experience

• Master's in public policy or JD preferred but Bachelor's degree in a relevant or equivalent experience accepted.
• Minimum five years of state legislative work at a statehouse or non-governmental organization with a robust state level advocacy program.
• Solid knowledge of and familiarity with policy issues regarding civil rights advocacy
• Experience on political campaigns preferred.
• Exceptional analytical, research and organizational skills a must.
• Strong interpersonal skills with exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and spoken.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent time-management and prioritization skills.
• Must be able to perform with minimal supervision and function well in a cooperative team environment.
• Must possess the ability to effectively relate to a wide variety of people and demonstrate creatively in addressing assignments and problem solving.
• Ability to exercise good professional judgment and ethical behavior in handling sensitive material with discretion.
• Commitment to NAACP's mission and goals.
• The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise in advising on legislative issues and a high level of political acumen.