WHO WE ARE
Communities on the margins of opportunity deserve a trusted partner on their journey towards financial growth and stability. As a locally invested, collaborative partner in social justice and financial equity, Community Vision provides nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises with strategic investment and guidance, to deepen work, scale impact, and strengthen our communities.
We know that supporting community-owned and community-governed projects creates shared prosperity and builds collective, and self-directed, economic and political power. This position will put you at the forefront of exciting organizational growth and the re-envisioning of how we carry out our work; creating greater efficiency internally and deeper impact externally.
Community Vision is dedicated to anti-racist practices and to building an anti-racist organization. This includes treating colleagues with respect, supporting the vision of the organization, and acting as ambassadors of our values.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Director of Policy and Impact develops and implements strategies to drive policy initiatives and create measurable impact in alignment with the organization’s mission and goals. This position requires a deep understanding of policy advocacy, government relations, and the social impact of financial services in underserved communities.
This pivotal leader will center Community Vision’s policy and advocacy work on racial and economic equity and accountability to the communities we serve.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Policy Development and Advocacy
- Center CV’s policy and advocacy work on racial and economic equity and accountability to the communities we serve.
- Identify 3-5 priority policy issues for CV to focus on in next 1-2 years, providing a justification, and identifying what CV’s policy objectives are in relation to that issue.
- Cultivate relationships and collaborate with policymakers, government agencies, industry associations, and community partners to influence policy decisions to help inform legislative and regulatory proceedings in areas of priority.
- Research and develop a framework for mobilizing local community representatives to be part of CV’s policy process, ensuring that CV policy positions are community informed.
- Collaborate with CV’s Communications team to develop CV’s policy communications voice in support of identified policy positions and grow CV’s reputation for thought leadership related to policy activity. Draft op-eds, articles, policy support letters, and other similar writing projects to advocate for CV’s key policy positions.
- Represent CV in a variety of policy coalitions, including but not limited to coalitions such as OFN, CCCI, NMTC Coalition, and Nonprofit Housing.
- Identify priority opportunities for CV’s President to engage on policy issues, as appropriate.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws regarding lobbying and advocacy work.
- Manage work of any engaged short-term contractors for specific policy needs.
- Impact Management and Reporting
- Working with the President, VP of Capital Solutions, Compliance Manager, and other relevant staff, manage development of an impact evaluation framework for the organization based on the current and prospective strategic plan / theory of change priorities as well as compliance needs.
- Learn all of CV’s compliance reporting needs related to impact, and ensure that information is incorporated into the impact evaluation framework and data collection so that it is easily accessible by all relevant staff.
- Develop and implement frameworks and methodologies to assess the organization’s impact on the targeted communities.
- Identify a clear, streamlined set of impact data for collection and measurement for all of CV’s business lines.
- Develop and outline systems for short-term and long-term data collection. Collaborate with CV’s Business Systems Analyst, Compliance Analyst, and other relevant staff to ensure comprehensive data collection is implemented across the organization.
- Create feedback loops within the organization that facilitate program evaluation and learning from impact data.
- Update the existing Social Impact Rating Tool (SIRT) based on the current impact evaluation framework.
- Work with Capital Solutions, Catalytic Capital, and Real Estate Solutions to ensure that some form of SIRT is in use by all program departments.
- Ensure the updated SIRT (or tools) are user friendly and adopted across all business lines.
- Collaborate with the President and Executive Team team in strategic planning and decision making to ensure CV’s work is aligned with our theory of change and impact management framework.
- Work with the Executive team to develop key impact metrics to be adopted as part of the executive performance dashboard.
- Collaborate with CV’s Communications and Compliance staff to develop a template for semi-annual impact reports outlining CV’s community impact that ensures accountability to CV’s stated goals.
- Train relevant staff on updated impact and evaluation framework, SIRT, and impact data.Other External Relations Duties
- Support the Development team with funding pitches, philanthropic applications, and CDFI Fund applications related to program work.
- Provide detailed input on program activity ideas and descriptions, as well as relevant examples of CV’s past activities.
- Identify new public funding opportunities that may be available to Community Vision.
- Act as liaison/support between External Relations, Capital Solutions and Real Estate Solutions, ensuring communication and fundraising activities reflect CV’s program priority needs.
- Develop research opportunities and/or white papers related to CV’s work, to build CV’s reputation as a thought leader in the CDFI and Community Development industries.
- Work with Communications staff to author papers and/or support other CV staff and stakeholders in producing relevant content.
- Perform other duties as assigned by VP of External Relations or CV’s President.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Ideal Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public policy, economics, business, or a related field. (Master’s Degree preferred but not required)
- Proven experience in policy development, advocacy, and government relations, particularly in the community development finance sector or related fields.
- Deep understanding of the policy landscape and regulatory environment impacting low-income communities, affordable housing, small businesses, and/or economic development.Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex policy issues into actionable strategies and recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience in public speaking and representing an organization in public forums.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, funders, community organizations, and industry partners.
- Ability to build relationships internally and externally and elicit confidence by demonstrating reliability and commitment to Community Vision’s mission and values.
- Knowledge of and experience working with nonprofit community-based organizations is desired but not required.
MORE ABOUT THE POSITION
The Director of Policy and Impact is a full-time exempt position. This position reports to the Vice President, External Relations. The salary for this position is between $123,000 – $145,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include: 100% health insurance premium coverage for employees and a contribution towards dependent coverage, dental insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, transportation and cell phone subsidies, employer contributions towards retirement savings, three weeks’ vacation, and a commitment to work/life balance. Occasional evenings and out of area travel may be necessary. The position involves regular computer and telephone use plus some minimal lifting. The position can be based at either of Community Vision’s offices in San Francisco or Oakland. Community Vision currently works on a Hybrid schedule requiring 2 days per week in office.
TO APPLY
Send resume and cover letter via email to theo@thenorfusfirm.com. Subject line should read: Director of Policy and Impact. Cover letters should discuss your interest in the position and in working at Community Vision. Position will remain open until filled.
For more information on our programs and services, please visit our website at: communityvisionca.org.
Community Vision is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing applicants and employees with a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Community Vision are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations where we operate. Community Vision will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics and encourages applicants with these characteristics to apply.
