Careers

Why Work at RespectAbility?

RespectAbility Staff and Fall 2022 Apprentices

Fully remote working environment with flexible hours
Minimum full-time salary $60,000 with pay equity policy
Health care coverage starting day 1
Strong emphasis on work/life balance with flexible paid time off policy for full-time employees
Office closures throughout the year for all employees, including 1-week summer break, 1-week winter break, and recognition of 12 federal/national holidays
Professional development opportunities
Majority of team members and Board identify as disabled
Welcoming accommodations policy
Friendly, fun-loving, and dedicated team

Open Positions

The National Leadership Program

Director of Federal Policy

Reporting to the Senior Director of Policy and Workforce Development and serving as an integral member of RespectAbility’s Policy and Workforce Development Department, the Director of Federal Policy is a full-time position responsible for working with the policy team, board members, advisors, volunteers, and partners to achieve the policy and advocacy goals outlined in RespectAbility’s strategic plan.

The Director of Federal Policy leads public policy analysis, advocacy, and implementation on key laws, regulations, and actions of material importance to the operations of RespectAbility. The Director of Federal Policy provides the substantive expertise and direction needed to achieve the organization’s public policy goals; influences state and federal elected bodies, elected officials and administrative agencies. They will build systems, processes, and tools to track, measure, report, and communicate on legislative activity, priorities, progress in real time for internal and external stakeholders. They are charged with public policy development for a broad range of policy issues and will work will all members of the policy team to advance our public policy and advocacy priorities and positions, and overall strategic positioning.

Core Responsibilities

All employees of RespectAbility will conduct themselves in accordance with its Core Tenets:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Collaboration
Commitment to Performance Metrics

Key Responsibilities

Program Support

Build and manage overall federal policy agenda and goals, including tracking, identifying, and seizing opportunities to affect legislative, regulatory, and administrative action
Develop legislative strategies and positions supporting RespectAbility’s objectives, which include development of policy briefing documents, legislative testimony, amendments, comments, and policy white papers as needed
Build or strengthen relationships of trust with public officials and other stakeholders to create opportunities to educate and advocate on key issues
Collaborate with partners, including federal government, disability and service organizations, businesses serving not-for-profit organizations, and employers to identify and implement key systemic and policy issues solutions to barriers for success
Devise strategies and opportunities to educate any impact decision-makers on the key issues identified facing people with disabilities, both informally and in the legislative and regulatory process
Collaborate with state counterpart to standardize approaches to issues, as well as align multistate/federal practices
Produce documents from advocacy letters to regulatory comments to reports and instructional and education materials
Work with the Senior Director in building and managing departmental budget
Conduct internal and external trainings and webinars as requested
Assist in department recruiting and hiring
Attend and present at relevant conferences and public facing events as needed
Other duties as assigned.

Resource Development

Fundraising/Grants
- Partner with the Development team to engage in qualification, strategy, and relationship building with national foundations and corporate funding entities, with a view toward sustained transformational giving over time
- Steward and support the development and growth of partnership opportunities to deepen engagement and meaningful collaboration between the organization and funders
- Record key data touch points on programmatic efforts and support overall departmental grant reporting requirements
- Support individual giving campaigns

Communications

The Director of Federal Policy will maintain necessary internal and external communication to meet the scope of work for which they are responsible.

External communications may include:

Regular communication with stakeholders by means of weekly department newsletters
Providing additional communication, as needed, to promote confidence in our leadership and their ability to move the mission and maintain partnerships
Maintain timely communication with internal and external stakeholders through email, phone, and other forms of communication
Collaborate with RespectAbility’s communications team for overall messaging and to advance policy goals

Management

Train and supervise direct reports, which may includemanagers and associates, and will include apprentices in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program
Complete performance reviews for direct reports on a semi-annual basis
Participate in all RespectAbility’s meetings and relevant program activities
Assist in managing budget for the department

Qualifications

This position is remote, but a candidate residing in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area is preferred
Thorough understanding of and experience influencing legislative/political processes
Established network of political and federal and/or state agency contacts
Proven track record of government relations accomplishments
Strong written, and verbal communication skills and experience creating and effectively delivering factual, relevant, and easily understandable talking points and other messaging
Ability to interact effectively and build relationships with a wide range of external audiences
Strong commitment to the mission and vision of the organization, including diversity, equity, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
Ability and willingness to work flexibly and remotely in a fast-paced, fast-growing, dynamic, nonprofit environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn other systems and tools
5+ years of relevant experience in state or federal government, government relations, or direct lobbying
3+ years of ascending responsibility in a managerial or departmental leadership role
Bachelor’s degree or Advanced degree required

Salary range: $80k to $95k. To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to [email protected].

RespectAbility is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. We value a diverse workforce and strive to be a fully inclusive and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, record of arrest or conviction, or other legally protected characteristics. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex people, people of marginalized genders; people with disabilities; protected veterans; and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for a job, they may request it orally or in writing. Please contact Human Resources by email or phone: Tonya Koslo at [email protected] or 202-517-6272.

Senior Policy Associate

Reporting to the Senior Policy Advisor and Senior Director, Policy & Workforce Development, this Team Member is responsible for working with our team, board members, volunteers, advisors, and partners to achieve the policy and workforce development goals outlined in RespectAbility’s strategic plan. The person in this position will play a critical leadership role of RespectAbility’s Building Better Futures Initiative (BBFI). This project is an innovative collaboration between employers and labor, nonprofit and government, educators, and Vocational Rehabilitation to pilot innovative employment pipelines for entry-level people with disabilities in High Road jobs, as defined by the State of California.

The Senior Policy Associate will support the policy team to promote the widespread use of RespectAbility’s recommendations on all our Workforce Development efforts, including, but not limited to job seeker supports, employer adoption of best practices, school-to-workforce transitions, disability entrepreneurship, and more. They will work with all members of RespectAbility’s Policy and Workforce Development Department to implement strategies and opportunities to educate any impact decision-makers at the federal, state, and local levels.

This position will hold the responsibility of being the primary project lead on the Building Better Futures Initiative and contribute to advocacy and education efforts both informally through relationship building and through the legislative/regulatory process.

Core Responsibilities

All employees of RespectAbility will conduct themselves in accordance with its Core Tenets:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Collaboration
Commitment to Performance Metrics

Key Responsibilities

Programming:

Advise and train workforce development boards on regional plans to plant the seeds for progress
Ensure knowledgeable partners through training of people with disabilities, allies, coalition partners, and sector experts to equip them to educate and advocate decision-makers and others
Build and participate in coalitions of labor, management, government, and/or nonprofits to build solutions to workforce challenges
Lead optimization of pipelines to employment for people with disabilities by removing barriers through cooperation between workforce development boards, employers, labor, vocational rehabilitation, and educational institutions
Collaborate with partners, including state and local government, disability and service organizations, businesses serving not-for-profit organizations, and employers to implement key systemic solutions to barriers to success
Professionally represent the organization by attending virtual and/or in-person events, developing content for publication, and supporting civic engagement
Attend all regularly scheduled meetings: 1:1 with supervisor, team meetings, partner meetings, coalition meetings, advisory council meetings, and others as needed and identified
Work with and support our Policy Associates and Apprentices in their assignments.
Plan, assist with, and deliver training and presentations
Other duties as assigned

Resource Development:

Support the policy team in communication with funders and donors.
Assist the development team to articulate the successes and value proposition of our workforce development efforts to pique the interest of additional funders
Record key data touch points on programmatic efforts and support overall departmental grant reporting requirements.

Communication:

At all levels, the Team Member will be responsible for maintaining the professional and timely communication required by the role and by the level. This requirement will evolve, but will include certain specifics:

Regular communication with team members and staff
Maintain regular communications with existing partners to facilitate timely progress
Reaching out to people at all levels of industry, labor, nonprofit, and government to recruit their participation in our workforce development efforts
Working with the communication department to craft external messaging regarding BBFI and our broader workforce initiatives
When appropriate, publicly represent RespectAbility to promote BBFI and our broader workforce initiatives

Administration:

Complete all general responsibilities of RespectAbility employees, including but not limited to:

Maintaining a work and meeting schedule that promotes collaboration across the many areas and time zones of the organization
Submitting time sheets and other administrative paperwork in a timely manner
Attending regularly scheduled meetings

Qualifications

Must reside in Los Angeles or within a reasonable proximity. Will also consider candidates who are willing to relocate and have considerable experience in California.
At least three years of full-time professional work experience
Minimum of two years of combined experience in workforce development and/or public policy, job development and job coaching, or systems change/advocacy experience.
Strong existing network in the workforce policy space with the ability to expand that network by building connections to promote meaningful partnerships with diverse external stakeholders preferred.
Strong track record in building networks and relationships among diverse populations
Strong commitment to the mission and vision of the organization, including diversity, equity, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
Commitment to people with disabilities/disability issues as well as a strong interest in issues of intersectionality and other marginalized communities.
Able to meet all deliverables and outcomes on tight and critical timelines as outlined for projects.
Collaborative, detail-oriented, initiative-taking, and honest professional with a sense of humor and a proven track record of success.
Excellent writing and communication skills, including grammar and spelling.
Ability and willingness to work flexibly and remotely in a fast-paced, fast-growing, dynamic, nonprofit environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn other systems and tools.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (as described in the cover letter)
Experience doing administrative work

Salary range: $65k to $85k. To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Please make sure that the subject line includes the words “Senior Policy Associate.” Resumes without cover letters may not be considered.