Position Summary:
The Advocacy Manager develops and implements advocacy campaigns, civic and voter engagement, and ballot measure efforts to mobilize AAPI communities at local, state, and national levels.
About Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA)
Chinese for Affirmative Action was founded in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy in the United States. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander community. We advocate for systemic change that protects immigrant rights, promotes language diversity, and remedies racial and social injustice.
At the grassroots level, our community building work nurtures the ability of immigrants to participate fully in civic life. These activities include direct services, leadership development, and civic engagement with limited-English proficient newcomers and immigrants on issues that impact our community. At the systemic level, CAA leads advocacy, communications, and movement building work to improve public policy and shape public discourse. We produce community-based research, publish policy analyses and recommendations, influence opinion through media, organize to engage elected and government officials, and nurture a range of progressive coalitions.
In 2014, CAA helped to launch the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) network that focuses on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans committed to social justice. Including CAA, there are currently 12 partnering member groups with unique strengths. Fiscal sponsorship, administrative, and operational support is provided centrally for all of these groups so they can focus on their core programs. Staff hired at CAA will be employees of AACRE.
In 2020, CAA was one of the founding organizations of Stop AAPI Hate (SAH), a U.S.-based coalition dedicated to ending racism and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAs & PIs). SAH strives to advance the multiracial movement for equity and justice by building power for our communities, working in solidarity with other communities of color, and advocating for comprehensive solutions that tackle the root causes of race-based hate.
Position Description
The Advocacy Manager plays a critical role in driving policy and other social change through effective campaign management, community engagement, coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and both in-person and online/offline advocacy.
In addition, this role manages civic and voter engagement, including on ballot measure efforts, by designing and implementing voter contact and base-building programs that mobilize AAPI communities to register, volunteer, and vote.
The Advocacy Manager identifies change opportunities, helps develop and leads the organization’s participation in key campaigns, and manages partnerships with a diverse set of community and coalition partners, sometimes across multiple states or nationally. The Advocacy Manager also supports narrative change efforts to shift public perception and attitudes.
This position integrates issue advocacy with civic and voter engagement strategies, including volunteer recruitment and management, identity-based and in-language outreach, and cross-team coordination to ensure successful execution and evaluation of campaigns.
We play a significant leadership role in the Stop AAPI Hate coalition and the Advocacy Manager manages campaigns that include multi-state and federal anti-hate policy reform and defending Constitutional rights. This role also advances core civil rights issues including language access, immigrant rights, economic justice, education equity, and community justice.
The Advocacy Manager collaborates closely with the Policy, Programs, and Communications teams, and the Legislative Director, on CAA's broad strategies to advance our policy advocacy goals and long-term vision, as well as with Data contractors to execute targeted outreach and voter engagement programs.
Key Responsibilities
Advocacy and Campaign Leadership and Management
Develop and manage high-impact advocacy and civic engagement campaigns in collaboration with CAA and SAH staff and partners to advance organizational goals, build community power, and secure policy wins
Build and facilitate diverse and effective coalitions and lead coordination with partner organizations on shared advocacy goals and strategies
Identify strategic opportunities for both issue advocacy and voter engagement, integrating online, offline, and field tactics
Build and manage diverse and effective coalitions and lead coordination with partner organizations and other stakeholders on shared advocacy and civic participation strategies authentic and meaningful partnerships (local, state and out of state) with other community-based organizations, government officials, leaders, and other stakeholders through the development and implementation of stakeholder engagement plans to drive campaign goals towards policy wins
Organize and manage convenings, press conferences, and other online and in-person events to support advocacy, civic engagement, and movement-building efforts, including planning from internal communications, budgeting, logistics, and program design and implementation
Build and facilitate diverse and effective coalitions and lead coordination with partner organizations on shared advocacy goals and strategies
Represent CAA and SAH as a spokesperson in public forums including direct advocacy actions, workshops, conferences, direct to camera, and donor engagement opportunities
Partner with Policy team to conduct policy analysis on legislation and translate policy goals into actionable campaign strategies
Civic and Voter Engagement
Lead planning and implementation of voter contact programs through C4 and related civic engagement efforts, including voter registration, education, persuasion, and turnout campaigns
Design and manage multilingual, in-language, and identity-based outreach strategies to engage AAPI voters
Recruit, train, and manage volunteers, and identify and develop volunteer leaders to conduct phonebanks, textbanks and other voter outreach tactics
Build systems and workflows to support volunteer onboarding, training, retention, and leadership development
Execute targeted outreach using dialer/texting platforms and digital tools
Track metrics and evaluate program performance (contacts made, volunteer engagement, conversion, turnout impact), using data to refine strategy and improve effectiveness
Coordinate with vendors and consultants supporting operations, engagement, and outreach
Media
Develop and implement media and mobilization strategies, producing written content for campaigns, media, social media, and other digital platforms in collaboration with Communications team
Regularly engage in advocacy digital engagement development through the creation of social media toolkits, calls to action, and amplifying CAA/SAH priorities through social media posts
Grants, Contracts and Management
Manage vendors and contractors ensuring they meet project requirements and contractual compliance
Contribute to fundraising and development activities for programs such as supporting grant reports and attending fundraising events
Assist in preparing and monitoring team budgets to ensure alignment with program and organizational goals.
Staff Supervision
Oversee and supervise CAA Advocacy Coordinator including setting clear goals and expectations, assigning and prioritizing work, providing regular coaching and feedback, and supporting professional growth.
- Ensure that supervisory practices align with organizational policies, provide developmental and corrective feedback, and implement AACRE guidelines for progressive discipline if necessary
Develop team workplans and systems that promote accountability, collaboration, learning, and sustainable workloads.
Conduct regular performance evaluations and address performance or workplace issues consistent with organizational policies.
Foster a collaborative team environment that encourages initiative, thoughtful experimentation, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Organizational Leadership
- Lead cross-functional projects involving multiple teams or departments.
- Contribute analysis, recommendations, and strategic thinking about emerging political, policy, community, and movement-building opportunities.
- Help strengthen collaboration between CAA and Stop AAPI Hate, Stop AAPI Hate Action, and external organizations.
- Contribute to a positive and inclusive organizational culture grounded in our values.
Other Duties
Contribute to other fundraising and development activities for the organization as needed
Perform administrative duties as required for position
Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall mission of the organization
Contribute to positive work environment in alignment with organizational values
Required Qualifications
Strong commitment to the mission and values of CAA and Stop AAPI Hate, including a commitment to social justice, equity, and civic engagement
Experience and cultural competence working in the AAPI community in a social justice context
At least 5-6 years of professional experience in organizing, and/or advocacy, civic engagement, and/or electoral or voter engagement campaigns – ideally with experience working on progressive local or national advocacy causes and/or political or electoral campaigns
At least 2-3 years of experience recruiting, training, and managing volunteers or grassroots leaders
Experience coordinating multi-channel outreach (phone/text/digital)
Demonstrated experience with planning events with over 100 people, preferably with high-profile public officials in attendance
Excellent interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders and community leaders
Demonstrated experience and comfort with public speaking
Strong writing and editing skills, including experience writing direct response advocacy emails, social media, and related communications
Ability to work with changing priorities and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a timely manner
Proactive, self-motivated problem solver who can take initiative and use sound judgment
Ability to work in person at the CAA office in San Francisco, and attend Bay Area or regional activities as needed.
Desired Qualifications
Experience with VAN (Voter Activation Network) and campaign tools, data, and technology preferred
Experience with texting platforms, dialers, and volunteer management systems
Familiarity with in-language community reach
Knowledge of digital engagement best practices is important
To Apply
Apply by submitting an application and uploading a cover letter and resume through the AACRE Careers page or to: https://bit.ly/AdvocacyMgr. In your cover letter, describe your interest in the position and the organization, and highlight relevant experience. Please note that incomplete applications that do not contain a cover letter or a resume will not be considered.
CAA shares fiscal sponsorship with Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). Staff hired by CAA will be employees of AACRE.
AACRE is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment where everyone is valued and discrimination has no place. We are committed to serving the rich diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and strongly encourage women, trans and gender expansive individuals, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with conviction or arrest records, and those living with disabilities to apply.
AACRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We consider all qualified candidates for employment regardless of age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
We are committed to supporting our employees to thrive in service of our mission by providing generous benefits, which include 100% health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employee coverage and 65% for dependent coverage; employer-funded health reimbursement account; paid time off; and professional development stipend.
Please visit https://caasf.org for more information.
