Student Engagement Associate (Sacramento; hybrid remote and in-person)
Public Advocates is excited to announce our search for a STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE on our Higher Education Team based in our Sacramento office.
For over 50 years, Public Advocates has been at the forefront of social justice movements in California as a bold and highly regarded civil rights law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination.
Our Higher Education Team leads in groundbreaking student-centered post-secondary policy, advocacy and enforcement in California. We build broad support for the team’s legislative, legal and policy priorities by working closely with organized student groups, leaders and campuses.
PA’s Higher Education Team provides legal, policy and advocacy leadership on critical issues by:
- Elevating and amplifying student voices and experiences to build student power in policy and advocacy on their local campuses and state policy making.
- Litigation and Administrative Advocacy
- Policy & Legislative Advocacy
- Partnerships and Coalition building with policy-aligned partners, coalitions, and community stakeholders.
About the Team: We are a results-driven team built on trust, communication, and humor where team members are supported with time and resources to support PA’s Higher Education portfolio and their own professional development.
Summary
The Student Engagement Team will work with the Higher Education Team to support and develop the team’s student engagement vision.
Our new team member will:
Work in close collaboration with the Director of Higher Education and the rest of the Higher Education Team.
Responsibilities
- Student Engagement
- Community Partnership & Coalition Building
- Communications & External Relations
- Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging
Qualities and Skills Sought
- At least 1 year of experience organizing and/or advocating, preferably for student issues
- Knowledge and understanding of California higher education policy issues as appropriate
- Ability to connect with, energize and spur college students, families and communities to action
- Experience building effective partnerships w/variety of partners
- Thoughtful, inclusive and mature approach to problem-solving
- Excellent attention to detail and follow-through
- Ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks and projects
- Strong written and oral communication skills and, specifically, the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively about policy issues to various audiences
- Excellent organizational skills
Desired Qualifications:
- BA/BS degree or equivalent experience
- Ability to communicate in written and spoken in a language other than English
Compensation & Work Setting
This position will be based out of our downtown Sacramento office. At the time of this posting, our office-based staff are currently adhering to a hybrid-model of remote and in-person work. Our Sacramento office is located a few short blocks from the Capitol, and is convenient to public transportation (we offer access to tax-advantaged commuter benefits). Some travel would be likely within California, including to our main San Francisco office as well as to locations around the state or possibly nationally.
Competitive salary range $52,000 to $59,000 salary will be based on relevant experience.
Benefits include full health and dental insurance for employee and eligible family members; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; life and long-term disability insurance; generous vacation; 403(b) retirement plan; parental leave; professional development budget; and paid sabbatical after 7 years.
Public Advocates adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy, effective December 1, 2021, that requires all employees to either establish that they have been fully vaccinated (this now includes the first booster) or obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation. While we have not yet updated the policy to include the second or subsequent boosters, such a revision will be forthcoming. All staff are expected to abide by this policy and subsequent revisions.
Application Instructions
Applications welcome immediately; position open until filled. Priority review will be given to applications received by Friday March 24, 2023.
To be considered, applications must include: 1) a cover letter that a) explains your specific interest in this role (see also Background Information below), 2) a resume; 3) names and contact information of three references, at least two of whom have directly supervised your work. Submit your application (and/or questions) by email to: StudentEngagement@publicadvocates.org
Public Advocates reflects the rich diversity of California. Two-thirds of our employees and 60% of our
Board members are people of color. Our senior leadership team also reflects our commitment to
diversity. Four of six members — including our President & CEO — are people of color, and three of six members are women.
Public Advocates seeks to fill this position with someone who shares our values, including our
organizational commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion. We encourage all interested individuals to apply — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or anyone
belonging to any other federal or state protected category. Read our Diversity Vision Statement.
