Policy & Public Affairs Associate

Position Summary:

Are you a highly motivated and organized individual with an interest in public affairs? If so, Democracy Forward Foundation (“Democracy Forward”) is seeking a Policy and Public Affairs Associate to support our Policy and Public Affairs (PPA) team. This role will manage projects that promote and communicate our policy goals, engage stakeholders, and drive advocacy strategies. This role requires a detail-oriented project manager who can provide project tracking, occasional content creation, and organizational support to the team. While this role will primarily support the communications vertical on the team, they may also occasionally support other verticals including digital, press, and policy.  
This position is full-time. Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence eight (8) times per month (averaging 2 times per week) to effectively support the nature of the role. 
The Policy and Public Affairs Associate will report to the Communications Director and work closely with the entire Policy and Public Affairs team.

Key Responsibilities:

Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department.

Media Monitoring and Communications Support:

• Partner with members of the Policy and Public Affairs team to conduct ongoing media monitoring and track coverage of Democracy Forward’s litigation and policy work.
• Research press mentions of Democracy Forward’s cases and initiatives and assist with compiling twice-daily internal press clips distributed across the organization.
• Assist with the preparation of weekly press coverage graphics and summaries to help internal teams understand how Democracy Forward’s work is being covered in the media.
• Conduct research to support the development and maintenance of press lists, including identifying reporters covering relevant national, state, and trade beats.
• Serve as a backup to stage, test, and post online press releases.

Newsletter and Digital Content:

• Support the development of Democracy Forward’s biweekly newsletter.
• Research topics, develop outlines, and draft newsletter content in coordination with the communications team.
• Identify and curate relevant press coverage, photos, and graphics for newsletter editions.
• Draft social media content in coordination with the digital team.

Research and Web Content Development:

• Draft and update case pages and web content to help communicate Democracy Forward’s litigation and advocacy work to the public.
• Translate complex legal concepts and case developments into clear, accessible language for non-legal audiences.
• Support team research projects by monitoring congressional hearings, tracking relevant policy developments, and updating internal trackers.

Project Management:

• Lead on coordination of PPA Board meeting preparation and submission.
• Support efforts to streamline and make more efficient PPA milestone reporting processes.
• Provide additional administrative support to the team as needed.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

Required:

• 1-3 years experience in public policy, public affairs, communications, project management or a related area.
• Interest in democracy, law, public policy, and nonprofit advocacy work.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy ideas into clear, accessible language. 
• Well-developed collaborative and interpersonal skills including demonstrated self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Mailchimp, WordPress, and EveryAction.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, policy research, or communications work.
• Familiarity working or volunteering in mission-driven, nonprofit, or advocacy environments.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• This role may require occasional travel for team retreats, conferences, or organizational meetings.
• This role may involve sitting for extended periods and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

The salary for this position is $72,100 plus excellent benefits. This role is overtime eligible. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Democracy Forward Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage people of color; LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply. Please note that all lawyer positions require a law degree and active membership in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia. 

Not sure you meet all of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement.  If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to mission-based legal and policy work, returning to work after a gap in employment, or simply looking to transition or take the next step in your career path, we welcome the opportunity to have you on our radar.  Please include in your cover letter the nature of your interest in legal and policy work promoting democracy and progress and what you hope to bring to our team and the role for which you are applying. 

Democracy Forward is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to recruiting@democracyforward.org or 833-391-4732.