Advocacy Manager

Many Languages One Voice (MLOV), was founded in 2010, and our mission is to foster the leadership and greater civic participation of immigrants and refugees who do not speak English as a primary language. We believe an actively engaged community that challenges existing inequities by dominant power is key to achieving systemic change. Thus, we support our members’ leadership and amplify the voice of our most vulnerable members to find solutions to the systemic racial inequities that impact their lives.

MLOV is a leading player in the immigrant rights and justice movement in DC and regularly builds partnerships and coalitions with wide-ranging stakeholders. In addition to nonprofits and community organizations, MLOV works with government officials, agencies, businesses, and worker groups to advance power-building of immigrant communities in DC.

Advocacy Work

MLOV’s advocacy strategy centers immigrant community members who are directly impacted by the systemic issues MLOV seeks to address. The majority of MLOV members are immigrants with limited English proficiency, and first-generation children of immigrants. Currently, most of our members are Spanish speaking, however our base continues to expand to include speakers of several additional languages. 

The Advocacy Manager will help MLOV maintain and strengthen the existing relationships with partners including community organizations, community leaders, and government agencies, such as the DC Office of Human Rights and the DC Office of the Attorney General. Additionally, MLOV leads language access organizing with many immigrant serving organizations via the DC Language Access Coalition (DCLAC). The Coalition exists through the 2004 DC Language Access Act and the Coalition and its monthly meetings and organizing actions are facilitated by MLOV.

To meaningfully engage the community in MLOV’s advocacy efforts, MLOV provides leadership development opportunities through mentorship, civic engagement workshops, know your rights workshops, outreach opportunities and more. We do not see ourselves as the voice for immigrants but we help amplify this by finding opportunities for immigrant led advocacy and leadership in the community. It is integral to us that we are building long-term power and relationships with our community rather than standalone mobilization efforts.

Advocacy Manager: The Advocacy Manager is responsible for spearheading initiatives to improve language access, worker’s rights, and immigrant justice for DC’s immigrant and refugee communities. This management role will have the unique opportunity to shape advocacy strategy and implement programs to address systemic issues impacting immigrant families in DC. We are looking for a leader who can collaborate with a variety of stakeholders including community members, local non-profit organizations, DC government agencies, and DC local electeds to support organizational advocacy efforts.

The Advocacy Manager will spearhead efforts to strengthen our advocacy initiatives under the supervision of the Director of Advocacy. This role will work to launch new campaigns, build the leadership of our immigrant and limited or non-English proficient members, and develop multilingual resources. Additionally, the role will coordinate the logistics of DC Language Access Coalition (DCLAC) meetings, manage logistics of political education programs and community outreach. 

This role is a full-time (40 hours) salaried position and offers the possibility for hybrid work. The salary range for this position is between $66,000 - $72,000 per year. The position also offers benefits including 100% employer paid medical insurance, generous paid leave, and retirement plan.

An overview of responsibilities is below. Please note this overview may not fully encompass all possible duties, as the work may evolve over time in response to community needs and organizational priorities.

Program and Advocacy Management

• Support the Director of Advocacy with efforts to strategize, implement and develop new initiatives that promote the leadership development and civic engagement of immigrants in DC, for example: workshops, testifying at budget hearings, etc.
• Assist the Director of Advocacy with maintaining and leading the DC Language Access Coalition meetings by preparing the agenda, managing meeting notes, attendance, and identifying new partners.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with community-based organizations from within diverse immigrant communities in the District;
• Manage Civics for All program, which is a three session cohort-based civics/political education program, including engaging/supporting internal or external facilitators;
• Coordinate periodic focus groups of immigrants to hear about challenges they are facing in the community and at work, in order to support community-led initiatives and inform organizational strategies;

Community Outreach and Education

• Work with the Director of Advocacy to develop, design, and print physical media to be distributed during worker rights outreach activities;
• Facilitate ad-hoc workshops that prepare immigrant community members with the skills they need to effectively participate in any advocacy campaigns including storytelling, base building etc.
• In partnership with our team of community outreach and education workers, conduct targeted outreach to eligible DC residents based on occupational groups and/or geographic areas;
• Coordinate and implement worker rights related workshops and/or clinics to community members on worker’s rights, employment justice, excluded worker’s history and other related topics;
• Recruit and prepare community members to participate in organizing actions like testifying, workshops, days of action, etc.

Data, Reporting & Admin

• Develop and deliver participant surveys;
• Maintain MLOV’s internal statistics related to the advocacy programs;
• Research and compile information on economic justice legislation, language access, and policies affecting immigrants, as needed, with support from interns, volunteers, etc.;

Organizational Involvement

• Contribute to organizing org-wide community events;
• Support organizational efforts for immigrant justice, including supporting other programming as needed.

Ideal candidate characteristics:

• At least a bachelor's degree with a focus in education, political science, sociology, social work, or related fields;
• At least 3 years of experience working with immigrant populations;
• Experience providing presentations and communicating with diverse audiences, especially with immigrant communities and audiences with limited English proficiency;
• An understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and social and racial justice;
• Fluency in a language in addition to English;
• A self-starter, motivated and organized;
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Experience working on language access or labor issues, either through lived experience or an understanding of policy, is a plus;
• Ability to work in a small office environment with a positive, hard-working attitude and excitement to pitch in when needed;
• Comfort with technology and social media, including proficiency with Google and Microsoft products;
• Computer and other standard office equipment skills sufficient to prepare flyers and communicate with community members via email and text;
• Able to occasionally work evenings and weekends as necessary;

Possesses or willing to obtain the following background checks:

• Current clear check from DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR)
• Current clear check from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Background Check
• Current clear check from Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check, and
• Current clear check from National Sex Offender Registry (NSO).

Important to Know: Many Languages One Voice is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. MLOV encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to arrest or conviction, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status. Black and Indigenous people, Immigrants, and other people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who live in Washington, DC and understand its unique policy landscape.