Advocacy and Policy Manager

Founded in 1989, the Asian American Federation (AAF) is one of the strongest leadership voices advocating for better policies, services, and funding that lead to more justice and opportunity for Asian immigrants, one of the most historically under-resourced communities in New York City. As an umbrella leadership organization, we represent 70 community-based organizations serving 1.5 million Asian New Yorkers, the fastest-growing population in the city.

Overview:

Reporting to the Associate Director of Advocacy & Policy, AAF is seeking an experienced and motivated Advocacy and Policy Manager to help advance AAF’s policy and advocacy priorities across New York City and New York State. The Manager will independently manage assigned advocacy portfolios, campaigns, and external partnerships within the strategic direction established by the Associate Director and organizational leadership. This person will translate advocacy priorities into coordinated action by developing work plans, managing projects and relationships, monitoring policy developments, producing substantive advocacy materials, and ensuring consistent follow-through from planning through execution. The ideal candidate brings experience in public policy, advocacy, government relations, coalition-building or community-based nonprofit work and is comfortable working across organizations and communities to turn complex policy priorities into coordinated action. This role is well suited for someone who combines strong policy and advocacy skills with excellent project management, communication, and relationship-building abilities. This person will exercise meaningful ownership and judgment in their day-to-day work while partnering closely with the Associate Director on organizational positions, significant political considerations, and broader advocacy strategy. This position is grant-funded, and employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding.

Key Responsibilities:

Policy Monitoring and Analysis

• Track and monitor relevant New York City and New York State legislation, budget developments, hearings, agency actions, and policy initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze city and state budget proposals, negotiations, and funding opportunities affecting AAPI communities and nonprofit service providers.
• Assess policy developments to identify opportunities, risks, and implications for AAF, its members, and the communities it serves.
• Draft clear, substantive advocacy and policy materials, including policy summaries, briefing materials, talking points, hearing testimony, advocacy letters, and internal updates.
• Prepare policy summaries, recommendations, briefing materials, hearing testimony, and internal updates for leadership and staff.
• Recommend potential advocacy or organizational responses and next steps based on emerging policy developments and community priorities.

Advocacy Campaigns and Public Affairs

• Lead or play a senior role in the planning, coordinating, and executing advocacy campaigns, including city and state budget advocacy, public awareness initiatives, legislative initiatives, and other policy priorities.
• Manage advocacy actions and activities such as rallies, hearings, sign-on letters, advocacy days, public comments, partner outreach, meeting with policymakers, and stakeholder meetings.
• Lead assigned components of AAF’s city and state budget advocacy efforts, including funding campaigns, stakeholder engagement, testimony coordination, and coalition mobilization.
• Develop project plans, coordinate stakeholders, manage timelines and deliverables, and ensure effective follow-through throughout the lifecycle of assigned campaigns.
• Identify and recommend tactics that advance AAF’s advocacy goals while responding to changing policy and political conditions.

Coalition and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a bridge between AAF’s member organizations and the policymaking process by gathering community knowledge, identifying shared concerns, and translating member perspectives into coordinated policy and advocacy priorities.
• Develop and facilitate listening sessions, policy discussions, working groups, convenings, advocacy actions, government meetings, and other opportunities for member organizations to participate meaningfully in AAF’s advocacy work.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with member organizations, coalition partners, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead or play a key role in coalition meetings, working groups, and collaborative advocacy efforts, helping build alignment and move shared priorities forward.
• Manage partner communications, follow-up, and information sharing across assigned coalitions and advocacy initiatives.
• Represent AAF in coalition meetings, community forums, and external stakeholder convenings, as appropriate.

Government Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, government agencies, and other public-sector stakeholders relevant to AAF’s advocacy priorities.
• Represent AAF in meetings with policymakers and government stakeholders, communicating organizational and community priorities clearly and effectively.
• Monitor government relationships and engagement opportunities and recommend strategies for strengthening AAF’s access, visibility, and influence.
• Coordinate preparation and follow-up for government meetings, ensuring commitments, next steps, and relevant information are effectively tracked and communicated.

Project and Systems Management

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve AAF’s advocacy systems, including legislative trackers, policy calendars, partner databases, contact lists, campaign plans, and advocacy records.
• Establish repeatable workflows for policy monitoring, coalition engagement, campaign execution, internal approvals, cross-department coordination, and evaluation to strengthen consistency, accountability, and institutional knowledge across AAF’s advocacy work.
• Independently manage timelines, deliverables, follow-up, and stakeholder coordination for assigned advocacy initiatives and projects.
• Track advocacy activities, outcomes, and partner engagement metrics and contribute to organizational and grant reporting.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Collaborate with multiple teams and leadership to ensure advocacy strategies are aligned with broader organizational priorities.
• Incorporate community feedback, member perspectives, research, and programmatic insights into advocacy strategies and campaigns.
• Share relevant policy developments, analysis, and advocacy opportunities with colleagues to support informed organizational decision-making and knowledge-building.
• May supervise interns, fellows, and temporary project staff, or a junior Advocacy team member.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Public Administration, Urban Affairs, Social Work, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 4-5 years of relevant professional experience in advocacy, public policy, government relations, and nonprofit public affairs.
• Familiarity with policy areas such as immigration, community safety, language access, economic inclusion, and related issues.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit coalition work and advocacy and community organizing and policymaking.
• Familiarity with New York City and/or New York State government, legislative, and budget processes.
• Experience developing or maintaining legislative tracking, stakeholder management, campaign management, CRM, or related advocacy systems.
• Excellent written communication skill.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and competing priorities with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to analyze complex policy issues and translate them into clear, accessible information and actionable recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, solve problems, exercise sound judgment, and independently move work forward while recognizing when consultation or escalation is appropriate.
• Commitment to community-centered advocacy and comfort working with diverse immigrant and community-based organizations.

Compensation & Benefits

This position is based in New York City, with a hybrid work environment. The salary range for this position is $91,000 – $97,000. To uphold organizational parity and pay equity, AAF will use a non-negotiable salary structure that takes into consideration the entire breadth of a candidate’s experience, employment, and education to arrive at their base salary. In addition, AAF provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employee health care; dental and vision coverage; life insurance; as well as a 403(b) plan with 3% employer match and generous paid time off.

To Apply

Please email cover letter, resume, and writing sample with [Last Name] Advocacy and Policy Manager in the subject line to HR@aafederation.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the right candidate is found. No phone calls, please. The Asian American Federation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.