About AAPF

Founded in 1996, The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists, and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. We utilize new ideas and innovative perspectives to transform public discourse and policy. We promote frameworks and strategies that address a vision of racial justice that embraces the intersections of race, gender, class, and the array of barriers that disempower those who are marginalized in society. AAPF is dedicated to advancing and expanding racial justice, gender equality, and the indivisibility of all human rights, both in the U.S. and internationally.

 

Duties and Responsibilities Include: 

The Director of Public Policy will be responsible for strategizing, planning, and managing the day-to-day implementation of AAPF’s public policy agenda. In this leadership role, the Director’s duties will include: 

 

Policy Strategy, Planning, and Implementation

• Participate with other senior staff in strategic and operational planning to develop and implement effective public policy. The Director will create functional strategies and objectives, as well as budgets, timelines and deliverables to support the programmatic infrastructure, and will ensure accurate and timely internal and external reporting; 

• Conduct background research, interviews, and analysis, and proactively monitor state and federal administrative and legislative activity to identify issues relevant to AAPF’s policy positions and demands; 

• Draft key documents, including testimony, position papers, issue briefs, and policy analyses as well as responses to government requests for information and opportunities to provide feedback on proposed policies; 

• Develop and manage systems to track information about key issues and policy makers; and 

• Ensure accurate and timely internal/external reporting and statistical information for AAPF’s public policy agenda. 

 

Relationships and Network Building

• Build and maintain relationships with key elected officials and executive and legislative staff at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels to build support for AAPF’s policy goals; 

• Foster relationships with allied organizations, coalitions, influencers, and stakeholders, and represent AAPF at meetings, conferences, and public hearings to gain and share information, strategies, and messaging relevant to AAPF’s policy goals; and 

• Work with the AAPF Board of Directors to engage them in promoting AAPF’s policy positions and goals. 

 

Collaboration with Development Department 

• Identify priorities, gaps, and trends in public policy resourcing areas and make recommendations to the Development department accordingly; and 

• Support grant writing campaigns to funding organizations as requested. 

 

Collaboration with Communications and Arts & Education Departments 

• Collaborate with the Communications and Arts & Education departments in the design and implementation of media activities and events that raise awareness of AAPF’s policy agenda through mainstream and social justice press and social media.  

 

Other Duties 

• The Director of Public Policy will perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

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The Ideal Candidate should have:

• Familiarity with Kimberlé Crenshaw's work, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality;

• A deep knowledge of program/project management principles, strategic thinking and strong leadership qualities;

• A strong organizing, advocacy or social justice background;

• The ability to write in descriptive, analytical, and persuasive registers;

• An eagerness to participate in generative brainstorming sessions; 

• The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a dynamic environment; and

• A Bachelor’s degree (required); graduate or law degree a plus.

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Salary range is $75,000-$95,000 a year, commensurate with experience, education, and expertise.

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Application process:
Interested candidates should apply by sending an email to careers@aapf.org with the subject line “AAPF Director of Public Policy,” along with a resume, cover letter on why you are interested in the Director of Public Policy position, and a legal or policy-related writing sample of 5 pages. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

 

AAPF recognizes that, in particular, members of underrepresented groups may not apply for roles when they feel they do not meet the requirements in full. We encourage interested applicants to apply if they meet most of the qualifications listed in this posting.  

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AAPF is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workplace that strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

AAPF does not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination with respect to race, religion, color, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), age, physical, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal laws.