For more than 20 years, the Sikh Coalition, a national community-based, civil rights organization, has defended Sikh civil liberties in the courtroom, classroom, community, and halls of Congress. Whether it’s working to secure safer schools, combat and prevent hate and discrimination, create equal employment opportunities and access, or empower local Sikh communities, the Sikh Coalition’s goal is pushing towards a world where Sikhs, and other religious and racial minorities in America, may freely practice their faith without bias and discrimination.
The Sikh Coalition is a nonpartisan civil rights nonprofit with approximately 20 full-time staff and over one hundred volunteers that operates on a $2.4+ million budget with complete financial transparency. Our funding comes from private foundations and individual donors. We receive no direct funding from any government agencies.
For more information please visit www.sikhcoalition.org.
Position Summary:
The Sikh Coalition is seeking an individual, located in the Washington D.C. area, to lead our federal policy portfolio.
The ideal candidate will possess a deep commitment to the below objectives, coupled with the expertise and acumen necessary to effectively manage and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders in government and civil society. A crucial aspect of this role involves the synthesis of complex legislation and policy, requiring the ability to distill intricate legal and policy information into clear, actionable insights. Additionally, the role demands the provision of strategic policy recommendations that align with the organization’s goals and the broader interests of the Sikh community.
The successful candidate will serve as a key representative of the Sikh Coalition, articulating the concerns and perspectives of the Sikh community in diverse forums, including policy roundtables, meetings with legislators, and media engagements.
Key Areas / Responsibilities:
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Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: Develop and maintain relationships with government officials, policymakers, and key civil society actors. Effectively engage with these stakeholders to advance the Sikh Coalition’s advocacy goals and initiatives;
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Policy Analysis and Synthesis: Analyze and synthesize complex legislative and policy documents. Provide clear, concise summaries and strategic insights to inform the Sikh Coalition’s advocacy strategies, including written and oral reports, letters, policy briefs, presentations, reports, and talking points;
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Strategic Policy Recommendations: Utilize an in-depth understanding of policy and legislative processes to provide strategic recommendations on policy solutions that align with the Sikh Coalition’s mission and objectives;
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Advocacy Campaigns and Initiatives: Plan, develop, and execute advocacy campaigns and initiatives. Ensure these are aligned with the organization’s goals and effectively communicate the Sikh community’s needs and concerns;
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Community Engagement and Representation: Act as a spokesperson for the Sikh Coalition in various forums, including meetings, conferences, and media appearances. Engage with the Sikh community to understand their concerns and represent these effectively in advocacy efforts.
Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities
The ideal candidate for the role will have:
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Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Law, or a related field.
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A Master’s or Juris Doctor degree is preferred but not required;
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Project management experience;
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Minimum of 3 years of experience in advocacy, policy analysis, government relations, or a related field;
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Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining relationships with government officials and civil society actors;
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Strong understanding of legislative and policy-making processes;
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Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
The ideal candidate will also exemplify the Sikh Coalition’s values:
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Belief in the Sikh Coalition values of truth (sach), service and humility (seva), and persistence (sangarsh) as being critical in how we pursue creating change;
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Respect for the faith-based roots of the organization and sensitivity to the specific cultural needs of the community;
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Commitment to consensus-building and shared decision making as a process, coupled with the ability to make decisions and bring together the whole team on delivering against them; and
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A commitment to social justice and a strong interest in social justice education and community empowerment.
Compensation:
This is a full-time, remote, exempt salaried position and compensation will depend on the role and be commensurate with experience in the $75,000 – $85,000 range. Benefits include:
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Medical, dental, vision fully covered for employees (option to contribute to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) available);
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Retirement savings (equivalent to a 401K plan) with a company contribution match;
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Generous vacation and sick leave, including compensation time when weekend work is required;
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Paid parental leave; and
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Commitment to professional development and growth (e.g. applicable professional membership dues may be eligible for reimbursement).
TO APPLY: Please submit a current resume and a substantive cover letter highlighting your interest and relevant experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Sikh Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Sikh Coalition is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental handicap, political belief, marital status, age, veteran status, ancestry, caste, medical condition, genetic characteristic, pregnancy, registered domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, reproductive health choices, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state and local laws.
