Partnerships & Advocacy Specialist (Remote)

Title:  Partnerships & Advocacy Specialist

Department: US Policy & Programs

Reporting to: Senior Director, U.S. Policy

Salary: $72K - $77K USD

Location: Remote ( US Based Candidates only)

Description: 

In partnership with other Departments and teams in the Social Impact Division, the US Policy team envisions a world in which individuals can thrive anywhere. The team works collaboratively with partners and policymakers to advance reforms that foster economic, educational, and social inclusion for immigrants, refugees, and international students and help receiving communities realize mutual benefit to build shared prosperity and resiliency. Our current policy focus areas include ensuring the recognition of occupational credentials (such as in healthcare) of internationally trained newcomers (refugees, other displaced persons, and immigrants); the creation and expansion of state-level Offices of New Americans to help build welcoming and integration infrastructure; and workforce access and inclusion. Our policy team aims to be proactive and strategic; future-oriented; impact-focused; and collaborative, especially to support state and local leaders and efforts. This position supports team efforts through the identification, development, and deployment of strategic partners and advocacy efforts to help reach policy goals and aims.

Responsibilities: 

Partnership Development and Support – 40%

• Support the Senior Policy Managers and the Director of US Policy in identifying, developing, maintaining, and deploying mutually beneficial partnerships to help meet policy goals
• Develop, maintain and deepen relationships with strategic partners, including stewarding partnerships towards transformational and systems change, including through the development and utilization of stakeholder/partner power mapping.
• Develop, in partnership with Senior Policy Managers and other team members, a strategy and course of action in target states and at the national level to utilize and bolster partners and partner networks to help move policy goals forward
• Represent WES and the Policy team in partner-facing events, as appropriate and in coordination with other team members
• Develop and provide information and training to partners, as needed, in coordination with overall policy and advocacy efforts
• Actively gather and craft compelling stories from partners and their constituents that help demonstrate the impact, or the potential impact, of WES policy priorities on individuals and communities
• Identify new potential partner organizations at the national and local level (in WES Policy target states) that have mutual interest in policy reforms sought
• Deeply understand how key and existing partners can help amplify the goals of the WES team to the mutual benefit of all and be able to identify actionable opportunities for collaboration

Advocacy Coordination and Support – 40%

• Steer and coordinate the IMPRINT advocacy network, including through the ongoing support of members, meeting cadences and agendas, and coordination with the steering committee
• Steward the IMPRINT network through engaging in educational and advocacy efforts under the strategic guidance of the Director and the steering committee
• Lead potential advocacy actions, IMRPINT and otherwise, that can contribute to policy goals
• Draft blogs and social media copy to highlight the work of IMPRINT, the WES Policy team, and partners, synthesizing and lifting up insights from across the field with support from Social Impact Communications colleagues
• Draft action alerts and other advocacy tools, including statements of support, as warranted and in partnership with the Senior Policy Managers
• Coordinate closely with Social Impact Communications and Marketing colleagues to identify and develop communication tools and plans
• Support prep for external events, working groups, and other forums identified by the Senior Policy Managers that help move policy goals forward

Knowledge Management & Administrative Support – 20%

• Prepare meeting prep, coordination, calendaring, and conference call coordination, note-taking, follow-up, and logistics, as needed for partner engagement
• Maintain records to ensure up-to-date information on partnership outcomes and opportunities, compile key metrics for reporting and dashboards, develop analytics, and other needs
• Represent the Policy team in internal collaborations with other teams, such as State and Local and Network Partnerships
• Support Policy Director and Senior Policy Managers and other team members in updating key tools and reports required, including by the WES Senior Leadership Team, and/or WES Board
• Proactively develop visual and other tools that help tell the story of the impact of IMPRINT and partnerships on Policy and other WES-wide goals
• As a team member, manage various administrative tasks related to partnerships, IMRPINT and advocacy for Policy team members including problem-solving in collaboration with other departments

Requirements:

Required

• 4-8+ years of relevant professional work experience required;
• Bachelors and Masters degree in relevant fields preferred but not required; relevant work experience preferred and required.
• 2-4 years of experience leading coalitions or partner networks towards shared goals
• Professional experience in building coalitions in workforce development, immigration, refugee resettlement, and/or social sectors strongly preferred
• Professional experience in partnership development and stewardship, with a focus on advocacy-oriented goals
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong project management skills with comfort coordinating with a range of internal and external stakeholders on a diverse portfolio of projects
• Techy savvy with strong database management skills and comfort learning new applications and programs
• Track record of delivering high-quality, accurate work in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Fluency in English required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to generate new approaches, spot innovative opportunities, take calculated risks, and initiate action
• Have a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity, an openness to diverse ideas and perspectives, and a continued interest in learning and professional development
• Thrive in an environment that values transparency, collaboration, and an orientation for results
• Bring a “can-do” attitude and have a willingness to stretch up and down in their role
• Build informal working relationships and quickly establish credibility in new areas of work
• Have a commitment to supporting immigrants and refugees and an interest in elevating their voices and experiences through their work

Our Commitment:

World Education Services is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. 

If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.

 For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org