Policy Manager

POLICY MANAGER

UnCommon Law is seeking a passionate advocate who is excited about using policy change as a tool for collective liberation and committed to making the policy process accessible for communities impacted by incarceration. Our ideal candidate has at least 1-2 years of previous state policy advocacy experience, ability to navigate California’s state legislative process, and past experience with grassroots organizing to impact policy change. While we prefer someone with past experience in criminal legal reform (post-conviction or parole knowledge a plus), we are open to all candidates with experience advocating for policy change that advances social justice and community well-being. We are seeking someone who loves community-building and is excited to collaborate with partner organizations, incarcerated people and their loved ones, and other stakeholders – yet isn’t afraid to tackle independent projects that may require research and writing.

The Policy Manager will develop strategy and coordinate activities to advance UnCommon Law’s policy campaigns and priorities. Activities include but are not limited to research, legislator education, resource development, and community outreach.

The Policy Manager will report to the Senior Policy Manager in our Oakland office, collaborating closely with our Policy Associate and policy consultants, as well as with UnCommon Law’s Executive Director (Keith Wattley), Communications team, and staff attorneys as needed. The Manager will also work closely with the California Alliance for Parole Reform, and participate in other issue-based coalitions as needed. The Manager may also supervise Policy Interns as needed.

We encourage people who have been directly impacted by incarceration to apply. We do not require candidates to have a college degree and we welcome candidates with non-traditional backgrounds and experience.

This position is exempt, based in Oakland in a hybrid office environment (working two days in-office a week, with semi-regular travel to Sacramento as needed), and has a salary of $85,000.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Legislative Advocacy
  • Coordinate campaigns and advocacy activities to support UnCommon Law’s legislative and budget priorities
  • Lead development of materials such as fact sheets, toolkits, support letters, advocacy letters, and talking points
  • Represent UnCommon Law in California Alliance for Parole Reform and other coalitions pertaining to key priorities, actively participating and facilitating as needed
  • Develop and maintain relationships with policymakers, staffers, partner advocates, stakeholders and impacted communities in support of policy priorities
  • Coordinate development of informational materials about the parole process and prisons, and help plan educational events for legislators and community members
  • Coordinate monitoring of bills that impact people convicted of serious and violent crimes in California, and oversee UnCommon Law’s positions on these bills
  • Commissioner appointments, confirmations, training and conduct
• Community Engagement
  • Build and maintain relationships with parole-eligible incarcerated people in California and facilitate opportunities for them to provide input on UnCommon Law’s policy priorities 
  • Coordinate development of policy resources for incarcerated people who correspond with UnCommon Law
  • Coordinate responses to policy-related inquiries from inside California prisons
  • Coordinate engagement opportunities for loved ones of people impacted by the parole release process
• Administrative and Agency-Level Advocacy
  • Participate in development of UnCommon Law’s response to emerging Board of Parole Hearings and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) regulations, including coordinating community education and mobilization
  • Monitor and coordinate advocacy in response to Board of Parole Hearings commissioner conduct, appointments, confirmations, etc.
• Research & Data Analysis
  • Develop fact base, compile parole policy research, and track major parole news in other U.S. states
  • Coordinate ongoing monitoring of parole outcome data using publicly available information
  • Conduct research and produce memos on relevant policy issues as needed 
• Other
  • Complete administrative tasks such as processing policy mail from incarcerated people, maintaining electronic files, and facilitating stipends and honorariums as needed

Who Should Apply: A community-minded and collaborative team player who is passionate about community-centered policy advocacy and ready to wear many hats on a dynamic, supportive, and fast-paced team.

Experience

• At least 2 years of prior experience in state policy advocacy in a social justice issue area with working knowledge of California’s legislative process
• Prior experience building or participating in grassroots campaigns and organizing to support policy change
• Experience working effectively with and building community-based coalitions
• Experience planning and facilitating community engagement and education events, and developing educational materials
• A track record of strong collaboration and leadership in team settings 
• A working proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Suite, and CRM software

Qualities

• Strategic thinker who is able to thoughtfully assess the political landscape, anticipate obstacles, and plan for the future
• Effective communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Able to facilitate inclusive and engaging spaces for people with diverse identities across race/ethnicity, cultural background, gender, age, social class and access to wealth, etc.
• Commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppression practices and principles
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across difference, and navigate conflicts with empathy and restorative principles

About UnCommon Law

UnCommon Law fights to ensure that all people incarcerated for violent crime have access to healing, justice, and effective legal representation.

Through our unique, trauma-informed model of advocacy, we provide the space currently missing in the system for healing, accountability, and safe pathways home from prison. In developing new self-narratives, the people we serve are able to more effectively disrupt violence inside and outside prison and become leaders who change negative societal narratives about those incarcerated for violent crime. Our groundbreaking approach is changing policy and outcomes, driven by the voices and experiences of system-impacted communities.

UnCommon Law’s values include accountability, audacity, authenticity, collaboration, community, empathy, imagination, joy, liberation, and sustainability.

Benefits and Support

Currently, UnCommon Law offers 100% Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees and covers 75% for dependents. To support our team’s mental wellbeing, we also provide a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) of $200/month in reimbursable funds for therapeutic expenses. We have a flexible time off policy and close for two weeks from late December to early January each year. We offer a generous family leave policy, flexible hours, FSA and Retirement plans, regular access to training and clinical support, and generous sick leave. In addition to the formal benefits, we are committed to building and maintaining an equitable culture that is sustainable and joyful and where each team member can thrive. You’ll see this in the acknowledgements in weekly staff meetings, in-office lunches, and community gatherings.

COVID Protocol: UnCommon Law currently requires COVID vaccination (we consider exceptions for religious or medical purposes), masking in institution settings, and regular testing prior to entering into facilities. A complete list of UCL’s COVID protocols can be provided upon request.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a resume and a cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience for the role, along with contact information for two professional or academic references to our hiring portal (https://uncommonlaw.bamboohr.com/jobs/). Applicants who submit cover letters that are not tailored to the position or the organization will not be considered.

Please note that all correspondence in the hiring process will be through the BambooHR portal. Following the submission of your application, you should receive an automatic response (via email) thanking you for your application. If you do not receive this, please check your Spam folder.

UCL is committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. UCL does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or prior contact with the criminal justice system. We strongly encourage applications from people impacted by incarceration as well as from traditionally underrepresented communities.

Salary : $85,000 - $0