Vice President of Advocacy

Department: Advocacy
Reports to: CEO and President
Status: Full Time/ Exempt (40 hours/ week)
Salary: $144,220.00

Location: Position is based in NYC and will require occasional travel within New York State.

Overview of the Organization

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for nearly 200 groups in New York State. We envision a New York state that is stronger because all people are welcome, treated fairly, and given the chance to pursue their dreams. Our mission is to unite immigrants, members, & allies so all New Yorkers can thrive. We represent the collective interests of New York’s diverse immigrant communities and organizations and devise solutions to advance them; advocate for laws, policies, and programs that lead to justice and opportunity for all immigrant groups; and build the power of immigrants and the organizations that serve them to ensure their sustainability, to improve people’s lives, and to strengthen our state.

Our organizational values: Inclusive & Representative; Fair & Just; Accountable & Trusted.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Advocacy will serve as a core member of the NYIC’s executive leadership team, helping to shape organizational direction and ensure the successful delivery of strategic priorities. This leader will bring a sharp strategic lens, a creative and innovative mindset, and strong management capabilities to support a high-performing department.

The VP will oversee the NYIC’s Advocacy department, leading efforts to advance the organization’s immigration policy agenda at the federal, state, and local levels. They will guide projects from ideation through planning, implementation, and execution, ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals. This role requires someone who can build and maintain effective systems, manage and inspire a large team, and coordinate cross-functional strategies.

The VP will also lead NYIC’s statewide advocacy strategy, mobilizing members and partners, and leveraging organizing, civic engagement, community outreach, and political strategy to achieve meaningful policy wins.

Key Responsibilities, but not limited to:

Leadership

  • Under the supervision of the CEO and President and in close collaboration with the NYIC executive leadership team, work to identify goals, priorities, strategies, and timelines for the organization’s immigration advocacy work.
  • Provide strategic guidance and direction across the NYIC’s federal, state, and local advocacy work.
  • Set priorities and establish a shared vision for the Advocacy department that aligns with the broader organization. Develop, communicate, and execute goals that align with the organization’s vision and purpose; anticipate and prepare for roadblocks and how to overcome them.
  • Analyze the organization’s position relative to similar institutions and develop strategies based on the current position; understand how vision and purpose in other areas of the organization interrelate with their area.

Organization

  • Represent the organization to government officials and partners and in coalitions across New York State and nationally.
  • Serve as a spokesperson for the NYIC and its campaigns. Collaborate closely with the Communications team to do media outreach, including organizing press events, helping draft media alerts and releases, developing talking points, etc.
  • Lead efforts with the Development team to pursue and develop new funding prospects. Prepare proposals and reports to support development efforts and organizational fundraising campaigns such as the annual gala.
  • Collaborate closely with the Policy team to ensure strategic execution of federal, state, and local campaigns, anticipating and adapting to political and narrative shifts, and providing staff direction.
  • Advise on the strategic vision in C4 NYIC Action
  • Lead the collaboration and strategy with the Immigrant Leadership Council
  • Monitor the department budget and ensure prudent use of fiscal resources for the Advocacy department.
  • Lead efforts to launch rapid response initiatives when needed. Shape priorities for the organization’s advocacy agenda. Ensure that projects and programs have the staffing, support, and infrastructure required to succeed. Partner with senior leadership to make strategic decisions about how resources are allocated.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Lead effort to build and maintain a strong, statewide, multi-ethnic and geographically diverse group of NYIC member organizations and engage NYIC member organizations in local convenings across the state.
  • Maintain effective and timely communication related to priorities, including rapid response, with stakeholders both within the organization and outside partners.
  • Lead effort to engage NYIC member organizations to play a leadership role in effective advocacy and organizing around campaigns.
  • Lead political engagement efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, to ensure successful coordinated outreach and lobbying to elected officials on the City, State, and Federal levels.
  • Lead community engagement efforts to educate diverse immigrant community members and engage them in NYIC campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • Identify and oversee efforts to leverage other advocacy strategies to achieve campaign success.
  • Develop and manage relationships with strategic allies involved in campaigns.
  • Identify opportunities to bring new allies from diverse sectors into the Coalition’s work; form and manage strategic alliances; strengthen participation from current groups.

Management

  • Supervise and direct the Advocacy department team, including staff, fellows, and volunteers, to meet the NYIC’s goals successfully.
  • Ensure the Advocacy department’s productive collaboration with the rest of the organization.
  • Oversee the Advocacy department’s overall management, functioning, and success, including leading goal-setting efforts and ensuring adherence to NYIC’s strategic plan.
  • Manage performance, guide professional development, and provide regular key feedback for direct reports.
  • Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and selecting qualified staff. Understand and use practical interviewing questions and techniques.

Qualifications

  • At least eight to ten years of professional experience, preferably including five or more years of senior leadership experience in a fast-paced nonprofit.
  • Strong management skills, including five or more years of successfully managing a team.
  • Excellent judgment, ability to exercise strategic vision, proven ability to identify challenges/threats/opportunities - while grounded in practicality.
  • Proven expertise in the Policy portfolio and issues that affect immigrant communities.
  • Strong attention to detail, the ability to see the big picture, and the ability to understand the nuance of our programmatic and advocacy work are necessary.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with diverse partners and experience in building and leading coalitions and successfully engaging stakeholders in these coalitions.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and writing skills. Strong cultural competence and a commitment to belonging, inclusive culture, fairness, and respect.
  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify potential risks and strategies to mitigate risk.
  • A driver's license is required.
  • Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
  • Mastery of G-Suite/Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Salesforce
  • Must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the U.S
  • Occasionally moves or carries materials weighing 50 pounds or less.

Salary: $144,220**

In addition to a competitive salary, NYIC offers a full benefit plan, unlimited vacation time, paid sick leave, pretax benefits and a comprehensive retirement plan.

**The NYIC has a transparent and equitable salary structure. Starting salaries for each position are set in advance with no room for negotiation.

To Apply: Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to hr@nyic.org. All emails must have “Vice President of Advocacy” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible.

All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship, sex, age, disability or marital status.