The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves women, girls, and all immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other violence. Our whole-person approach to services provides each survivor with free legal support and social services to secure their rights and build stable lives. We translate our client services work into expert training, outreach, and policy advocacy to ensure that systems, laws, and policies protect immigrant survivors from violence and exploitation. Our programs efficiently and effectively leverage donated professional services from a vast network of attorneys, medical professionals, and other experts to serve as many immigrant survivors as possible. By amplifying the experiences of survivors, our mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity. 

Tahirih is seeking a passionate, engaged, and energetic individual to support our public policy team on a temporary basis. Tahirih’s public policy work on the state and federal level is an integral and fast-growing element of Tahirih’s mission and national leadership, as we work to pass legislation and transform policies. All our advocacy initiatives are inspired and informed by the real-life needs of our clients, and through extensive consultation with other service-providers and advocates around the country.  

The Temporary Public Policy Associate will support advocacy efforts by Tahirih’s dynamic, hard-working, and innovative policy staff at Tahirih. The Associate must be a self-starter who is capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously across Tahirih’s areas of policy leadership, including with regard to ending forced and child marriage in the U.S. and ensuring that immigrant survivors of all forms of abuse have access to critical legal protections and social services. Activities include monitoring and tracking legislation and providing regular updates to the team, supporting state-level and federal public policy advocacy  engagement, providing technical assistance to policymakers, partnering with and supporting survivor advocates to advance policy priorities and raise awareness, supporting outreach and education events, researching laws and policies at the state and federal levels, drafting letters, memos, briefs and other outward facing publications, and preparing newsletters for wide distribution. 

This is a temporary position requiring 30 hours a week for 13 weeks estimated to start in February.
  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Public Policy  

• In partnership with the Director of Public Policy and program staff, support state level legislative policy advocacy across all Tahirih offices, 
• Provide expert policy technical assistance to lawmakers and advocates working on issues impacting immigrant survivors and survivors of forced and child marriage
• Monitor relevant issue coverage in the media and on listservs, particularly as to state legislative developments on our core issues 
• Read, analyze, and summarize relevant legislative proposals & amendments for non-policy staff at Tahirih
• Research and draft memos on state legislative landscapes, including potential allies and champions  
• Conduct outreach to legislators and stakeholders to share Tahirih’s resources and expertise 
• Conduct research and help draft written materials to advocate/educate (action alerts, backgrounders, talking points, advocacy updates, case story compilations, testimony etc.) 
• Support Tahirih’s policy team to hold meetings with legislators and agency officials, as well as briefings, hearings, speeches, trainings, and other events, to advance Tahirih’s policy priorities 
• Support survivor advocates to advance policy priorities and raise awareness 

Outreach/Education (National):  

• Maintain Tahirih’s FMI web presence by updating content and the resource library, posting news and other relevant announcements, and forwarding inquiries from service seekers and requests for technical assistance submitted via the website 
• Support the planning and execution of outreach events and consultations including national webinars and in-person trainings for advocates, front-line responders, legal professionals and legislators.  
• Regularly monitor news related to forced and child marriage, create and disseminate the FMI newsletter with announcements, notes, and news about forced marriage in the United States  
• Help create and edit outward facing publications and materials and assist other team members in doing the same. 

This Job Description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities that are required of the employee. The precise duties and responsibilities of the job may change over time. 

Education  

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy or related field required.  
• Master’s degree in public policy or similar area of study preferred but not required.  

Experience  

• Self-starter and team player able to carry out own work and provide policy leadership and support to advocacy efforts of highly productive, dynamic senior staff  working in the policy field 
• Nimble across disciplines and different subjects related to Tahirih’s mission, including forced marriage, child marriage, immigration, and violence against women 
• Excellent time management skills  
• Excellent research, data analysis, and writing skills, with great attention to detail 
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills 
• Strong commitment to the mission and values of Tahirih with the ability to serve as a compelling ambassador for the organization
• Experience working with survivors of violence and trauma and those from diverse cultural backgrounds 
• Keen understanding of legislative processes on the state or federal level, and ability to read, interpret, and amend legislative text  
• Commitment to Tahirih’s foundational values and mission, and demonstrated commitment to legal services, public interest law, the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and/or social justice. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  

• 1-2 years legislative policy advocacy experience at the state or federal level  
• Experience breaking down complex topics and creating materials for legal and non-legal audiences 

Compensation:  $40 per hour, as a temporary role this position is ineligible for benefits

This is a temporary role requiring 30 hours per week for 13 weeks with an anticipated start in February.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.  

How to Apply: Please submit a resume  and a cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Tahirih Justice Center is committed to equal opportunity and promotes equity and transparency as core values. Tahirih practices inclusiveness in decision making through the use of consultation with employees throughout the organization. Tahirih does not discriminate against any person on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, ability, gender, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Applicants committed to equity from all backgrounds, experiences, abilities and identities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with questions or concerns should reach out to the Director of People & Operations at HR@tahirih.org. Information about filing a charge of discrimination at the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov.