Policy Associate

Salary Range: $50,000 plus benefits, commensurate with experience

(HfHR) is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization founded in 2019. We advocate for pluralism and civil and human rights in South Asia and North America, rooted in the values of our Hindu faith: shanti (peace), nyaya (justice), and satya (truth). We provide a Hindu voice of resistance to caste, Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), racism, and all forms of bigotry and oppression. Our vision is a world defined by lokasangraha (the universal common good) — where there is peace among all people, and our planet is honored and protected.

Your Role:

We are seeking a Policy Associate to expand advocacy and policy relations with Hindus for Human Rights. You will collaborate with the Policy Director to draft and execute a comprehensive policy strategy, manage organization-wide communications, and establish protocols for engaging policymakers. Responsibilities include organizing monthly meetings for HfHR community members in DMV and creating a DC chapter of HfHR. Ideal candidates are creative, professional, self-motivated, personable, innovative, open to critique, and passionate about social justice and our mission.

This role will report to HfHR’s Policy Director.

Your Responsibilities:

• Strategic planning and project management:
• In collaboration with Policy Director, assist in drafting and executing a comprehensive policy strategy aimed at amplifying the work of the organization to various audiences including the general public, policy community, current and prospective donors, and relevant audiences both within and beyond the South Asian American diaspora community
• Manage organization-wide internal and external communications
• Work with Policy Director to establish protocols for engaging policymakers both from the grassroots and headquarters
• Maintain a calendar of key events, holidays and significant anniversaries for advocacy planning
• Assist in creating specific advocacy plans for campaigns, including creating strategies for legislation and other policy products
• Advocacy relations
• Assist with scheduling meetings with policymakers, fielding requests from advocacy partners for meetings
• Track legislation and other policy developments in the US
• Manage relationships with a variety of advocacy partners across the country and world, especially as related to work on HfHR’s US domestic policy agenda
• Organize monthly meetings for HfHR community members in DMV
• Work with grassroots activists and community members to create a DC chapter of HfHR
• Publications
• Work with Research and Advocacy Director to create resource library, including policy briefs, memos, and letters to educate and provide policy products to lawmakers on relevant issues
• Draft Policy newsletter, with updates on policies relevant to human rights and democracy in South Asia
• Oversee updates to advocacy pages with Communications Director
• Database
• Ensure policy trackers and contact databases are regularly clean and updated

Skills and Requirements:

You are creative, professional, self-motivated, personable, innovative, open to critique, and a team player, with the ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders. A thriving passion for social justice and our mission are vital – and so is a sense of humor!

You do NOT need to identify as Hindu for this role. We invite and encourage applications from underrepresented groups in the advocacy space: women, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and those from caste-oppressed communities.

Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of advocacy or policy analysis experience
• Excellent English language written and oral communication skills
• Strong writing skills, particularly within a policy advocacy and grassroots context.
• Experience with data and workflow management applications such as Airtable
• Strong planning, administrative, and organizational skills, with high attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work well with a team in a dynamic environment and ability to work independently and proactively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to work well with other team members, activists, policymakers, elected officials, academics, community members, and more
• Demonstrated expertise in South Asian politics and South Asian diaspora advocacy
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, International Relations, Foreign Affairs, or related field

Bonus, but not required:

• Master’s or advanced degree focusing on communications, public policy, and/or South Asian studies
• Understanding of the Washington, DC policy environment
• Working proficiency in one or more South Asian languages

Work/Office/Travel Requirements

This is a full-time, fully remote role, based in Washington, DC. There will often be meetings and engagements in evenings and/or weekends and meetings in the DMV will be required on an as-needed basis.

At this time, we are only able to hire U.S. citizens or individuals with U.S. work authorization.

How to Apply:

Please send the following materials to hiring@hindusforhumanrights.org. The subject line of your email should be “[Name] - Policy Associate Application.”

• Cover letter (one page, single-spaced, no more than 500 words, PDF format) explaining how you are well-qualified for the position
• Resume (one page PDF)
• Academic, journalistic, or policy writing sample (3 pages maximum)
• Email and phone numbers of three references; at least two should be professional references.

The application deadline for this position is February 23, 2024.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Travel requirement:

• Travel

Work setting:

• In-person

Application Question(s):

• Please include a cover letter.

Ability to Relocate:

• District of Columbia: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person