External Policy and Advocacy Manager

ABOUT US 

Inatai Foundation is a growing 501(c)(4) philanthropic organization committed to working with communities to shift the balance of power to ensure racial justice and equity across Washington and beyond. We are hiring an External Policy and Advocacy Manager to join our expanding team. 

Cultivating a staff team that embodies the diverse experiences of Washington communities is essential to these aspirations. We strongly and sincerely encourage applications from people of color; individuals who are immigrants, bilingual, and multicultural; d/Deaf people and people with disabilities; members of LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. 

Visit our About Us page to learn more about our work, approaches, and values. You may also browse our Join Inatai page to understand our hiring process, work culture, and benefits.  

POSITION SUMMARY

The External Policy and Advocacy Manager advances Inatai’s public policy agenda by managing external political relationships and strategies in collaboration with community leaders and organizational partners. This role supports the implementation of Inatai's board-adopted state and federal policy priorities, annual legislative agenda, and policy-related grantmaking, all grounded in the Foundation’s commitment to equity, racial justice, and a statewide power-building approach. The Manager must build authentic, accountable community relationships across Washington, possess strong policy expertise, and excel in research, writing, communication, and timely strategy execution within a fast-paced, evolving environment. 

The External Policy & Advocacy Manager manages and executes Inatai’s external political and advocacy strategies with community-based leaders, partner organizations, and statewide networks. This role significantly influences Inatai’s capacity to advance its public policy agenda, effectively shaping and supporting the development of the Foundation's annual state legislative priorities, federal policy initiatives, and policy-related grantmaking. Through relationship-building and strategic advocacy, the Manager directly contributes to Inatai’s broader mission of achieving equity and racial justice across Washington. 

This is a full-time, exempt position. Inatai is proud to be a statewide organization, and we know there are talented leaders everywhere in our state. As we grow and learn, we know that we are better partners to communities and more strategic Grantmakers when we have team members rooted in place and bringing their lived and learned experiences to our work. We are prioritizing the following geographies to ensure we are fully living up to our commitments to geographic equity.  

• The Olympic Peninsula, with special attention to Jefferson, Clallam, and Grays Harbor counties 

• North Central Washington, with special attention to Douglas, Chelan, Okanogan, and Kittitas counties 

• Northeastern Washington, with special attention to Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry and Lincoln counties 

In addition to these regions, we would like to give priority to candidates based in Adams, Asotin, Cowlitz, Lewis, Mason, Skagit, Skamania, and Whitman counties.  

We currently have offices in Seattle and Pasco. Team members connected to an office are expected to work in the office. Team members may be permitted – with supervisor approval – to work remotely up to two days per week. Periodic early morning, evening, and weekend hours will be required, and statewide and regional travel should be expected. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

External Engagement with Washington Communities for Public Policy Advancement 

• Develop and lead statewide engagement strategies with grant-funded leaders, organizations, networks, and communities throughout Washington, sharing Inatai’s policy priorities and learning communities' policy goals and visions. 

• Serve as a detailed-oriented liaison between divisions of the Strategy & Impact team (Communications, Targeted Support), Learning & Community Engagement (LCE), and Grantmaking on external policy communications and community relationships, including drafting internal memos, tracking engagement progress, and ensuring compliance. 

• Facilitate internal and external meetings, prepare detailed briefing and debriefing memos, and coordinate regular communications with the Policy & Advocacy team to keep Inatai executives and staff informed of community interactions and outcomes. 

Development and Implementation of Community-Informed Policy Strategies 

• Collaborate closely with the Policy & Advocacy Director, Deputy Director, and Internal Policy & Advocacy Manager to develop Inatai’s annual legislative agenda, ensuring alignment with community input and the Foundation’s strategic goals at state and federal levels. 

• Track, document, and produce detailed-oriented memos capturing relevant news, policy developments, and advocacy outcomes involving grantee organizations, providing timely analysis and compliance oversight. 

• Facilitate internal policy strategy meetings, trainings, and presentations to Inatai executives, staff, and board members, ensuring preparedness and clear communication of strategic community-informed objectives. 

Support and Management of Policy & Advocacy Grantmaking 

• Actively participate in the task force for Inatai’s Campaigns, Litigation, Issues, and Policy (CLIP) targeted support fund, coordinating closely with internal Policy & Advocacy staff to ensure detailed alignment and compliance with grantmaking processes. 

• Work collaboratively with the Internal Policy Manager to create strategic meeting agendas, detailed memos, and internal tracking of CLIP grant proposals and policy-related funding recommendations. 

• Prepare detailed internal communications for executives and staff about grantmaking activities, award outcomes, and community impact, while facilitating regular internal meetings and debrief sessions for compliance and learning. 

Training, Convening, Event Planning, and Grantee Travel Coordination 

• Co-lead planning and execution of 3-5 annual policy and advocacy-focused trainings, convenings, and conferences for grantees, including detailed agenda design, compliance management, and coordination with the Internal Policy & Advocacy Manager. 

• Provide policy-related training sessions for Inatai’s team members and grantees to enhance their understanding and ability to engage effectively with policy strategies and priorities. 

• Coordinate grantee travel logistics, event documentation, detailed tracking, and preparation of follow-up memos and communications, ensuring effective event management and internal debriefing processes. 

Additional Responsibilities  

• Regular travel, including frequent trips to Olympia during the state legislative session, to advance Inatai’s legislative strategy, and attend and actively participate in Inatai-sponsored grantee events statewide. 

• Support the planning, development, and facilitation of periodic regional and statewide convenings with grantees, assisting with event execution, stakeholder engagement, and detailed-oriented documentation, including facilitation of internal and external meeting sessions. 

• Actively participate in monthly Strategy & Impact Team meetings, contributing in various roles (e.g., facilitator, notetaker, agenda coordinator), and consistently prepare internal communications, slide decks, memos, and presentation materials for All-Teams meetings that clearly communicate Policy & Advocacy priorities and updates to the broader organization. 

• Provide strategic input and actively contribute to organization-wide initiatives and special projects as required, strengthening cross-departmental relationships and alignment. 

• Contribute one’s own ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences to the emerging culture of the Foundation 

• Assume other responsibilities and explore new opportunities that arise with the evolving needs and aspirations of the Foundation 

Work Experience 

• Minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience in public policy, advocacy, government affairs, or community organizing, with significant experience specifically in Washington State contexts. 

Specialized Knowledge  

• Demonstrated expertise and understanding of state, local, federal, and Tribal policy landscapes, particularly in areas related to racial justice, equity, community organizing, and advocacy. 

• Experience managing policy-related grantmaking, including proposal analysis, compliance tracking, and stakeholder communications. 

• Experience in designing and facilitating policy-related trainings, workshops, convenings, or conferences for community partners, grantees, and/or board members. 

• Skilled at event planning, agenda development, and detailed event execution. 

• Experience working for and/or with community-based 501(c)3 and (c)(4) organizations in Washington state 

• Experience working with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint), MS Teams, Adobe (Acrobat DC), Monday.com, and Calendly. 

Additional Skills 

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities concurrently 

• Ability to work remotely as necessary 

• Strong active listening skills 

• Proven ability to establish, manage, and sustain authentic, accountable relationships with diverse community organizations, grantees, policymakers, and stakeholders statewide. 

• Experience managing relationships with elected officials, governmental agencies, and community coalitions is highly desired. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting detailed memos, briefing documents, internal communications, and presentations for diverse audiences, including executives and board members. 

• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and adept at project management, compliance tracking, and internal documentation. 

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with frequent deadlines. 

Additional Qualifications 

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly throughout Washington state, including frequent presence in Olympia during the state legislative session (approximately 3-4 months annually). 

• Availability to periodically attend evening and weekend events. 

• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to racial justice and equity, with a clear understanding of Inatai’s mission and strategic vision. 

• A deep commitment to equity and racial justice and strong alignment with our organizational values and 50-year vision 

• Ability to authentically connect the Foundation’s mission and aspirations with one’s own personal experiences 

• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships and work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities 

• Demonstrated capacity for self-reflection 

• Strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills combined with the ability to listen deeply and authentically 

• Enthusiasm for traveling throughout Washington and engaging with communities that may be different from your own (travel is estimated at 45-60% for this position) 

COMPENSATION

In addition to a positive and flexible work culture, we attract, retain, and motivate exceptional people with an equitable and competitive compensation package. Salary ranges are set according to an explicit compensation policy, and relevant data are reviewed when setting ranges for each position. The salary range for this position is $98,000 to $120,000. A compensation enhancement is provided to employees with indigenous or advanced language proficiency in more than one language that they utilize to advance the Foundation’s work across Washington.  

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes fully paid medical/dental/vision coverage for employees and dependent children (and partial coverage for partners and spouses), a 10% retirement contribution, generous time off (29 days of flexible paid time off, eight paid holidays, and a year-end office closure from December 25 to January 1), paid family and medical leave (12 to 18 weeks), a transit pass (where available), and support for ongoing professional development.  

TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and a cover letter expressing your specific interests through our online application portal. Priority will be given to applications submitted by May 15th, 2025. You will receive an automatic acknowledgment of your application once you submit your materials, and you can expect updates from the Foundation every two to three weeks once the priority deadline has passed.