Policy & Advocacy Fellow

BECMA is looking for a passionate, entrepreneurial, and community-driven intern to serve as a Policy & Advocacy Fellow. This position is highly cross-functional, and seeks a candidate who has strong listening skills, attention to detail, and is not afraid to ask questions. The Policy & Advocacy Fellow will provide substantive support to the team’s policy and outreach goals, and provide support to BECMA as its statewide footprint grows. Candidates with legislative and community organizing experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Description

Title: Policy & Advocacy Fellow

Reports To: Policy Team

Location: Massachusetts (Virtual or Boston Office)

Start Date: Winter 2024

Pay Range: $18-22/hour up to 20 hours/week

Application Deadline: Rolling, Until Filled

Organizational Summary

The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)’s mission is to drive economic equity and prosperity for Massachusetts to achieve inclusive growth through advocacy, programming, and strategic partnerships that enable Black-owned businesses and Black communities to thrive.

BECMA’s work is centered around our 4 pillars for closing the racial wealth gap in MA:

• Entrepreneurship: Nurture startups and support existing entrepreneurs by providing them with access to affordable and adequate capital to launch and scale their firms.
• Placement: Focus on workforce development, particularly in Massachusetts’ high-growth industries, and placing Black professionals in decision-making roles in management and board positions.
• Commerce: Support Black business owners in selling their goods and services while helping ally buyers to meet their supplier diversity or ESG goals.
• Ownership: Increase business owners’ equity stake in their enterprises.

Our membership community includes Black students and professionals, Black business owners as well as partner organizations such as nonprofits, corporations, foundations, hospitals, universities, venture capital firms, insurance companies, and government agencies. BECMA members come from diverse backgrounds, united by the goal of closing the Massachusetts racial wealth gap. We host members-only events throughout the year, and we also host premier annual events including BECMA’s Mass Black Expo and Annual Meeting.

Who We Are

As a startup organization with a transformative mission, we are a team of passionate individuals who are committed to achieving the goal set forth by our founders: eliminating the racial wealth gap. With that in mind, you can look forward to a work culture that is:

• Mission-driven: We are committed to excellence in all we do and put in the time and effort required to achieve our goals.
• Empowering: We believe in creating leaders who are forward-thinking, risk-takers, and confident.
• Collaborative: We understand that our work is interrelated and interdependent.
• Supportive: We create an environment that provides the space and tools to accomplish your tasks and exceed internal and external expectations.
• Innovative: We know it’s better to work smart and are always seeking creative ways to move us closer to our goals.

Who You Are

BECMA is looking for a passionate, entrepreneurial, and community-driven intern to serve as a Policy & Advocacy Fellow. This position is highly cross-functional, and seeks a candidate who has strong listening skills, attention to detail, and is not afraid to ask questions. The Policy & Advocacy Fellow will provide substantive support to the team’s policy and outreach goals, and provide support to BECMA as its statewide footprint grows. Candidates with legislative and community organizing experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do

A successful candidate will execute the following roles and responsibilities as well as other duties as assigned:

• Attend meetings, take notes, and assist in follow up
• Assists with ad hoc events and outreach efforts
• Coordinates logistics for internal and external meetings
• Fulfills tasks set out by the Chief of Policy
• Achieves organizational goals and the goals of the Policy Department while upholding standards and best practices
• Conducts policy research; create literature reviews on BECMA’s policy priorities
• Supports bill tracking activities and document changes
• Researches and drafts briefing memos, bill summaries, etc.
• Assists in BECMA’s thought leadership, including report cards, policy papers, op-eds, panel and conference placement, letters of support, etc.
• Monitors conversations and activities around BECMA policy issues
• Updates legislative outreach tracker
• Contributes to the creation of the Policy Team’s external communications materials, including digital (social media, website, newsletter), collateral, and press work.
• Researches prospective partners; drafts memos
• Supports in the creation of Policy Department talking points for cross-departmental use
• Provide data and content for internal and external Policy Department presentations and reports

What You’ll Need

A successful candidate will possess most or all of the following:

• Interest in reform through advocacy, policy, community organizing, and/or legislation
• Interest in working in grassroots coalition-building
• Knowledge of and passion for Black issues, including racism, racial justice, and economic development
• Strong time/project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong writing, editing, organizational, customer service, and research skills
• Fluency in Microsoft Office and Google Drive products
• Strong network/coalition-building experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, and external partners
• Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment/schedule
• Ability to learn new software and databases
• Ability to meet deadlines with efficiency and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and with professional discretion
• Ability to work with a broad range of people including members, external partners, donors, board of directors, staff, and senior leadership

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to promptly submit their application through our online portal. Please email any questions to careers@becma.org.

As an EOE/AA employer, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law.

Salary

$18 - $22 per hour