$75,000 - $100,000

Organization Background

Chinese for Affirmative Action was founded in 1969 to protect the civil rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial democracy in the United States. Today, CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. We advocate for systemic change that advances equity and addresses challenges facing our community.

In 2014, CAA helped to launch the Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) network that focuses on long-term movement building, capacity infrastructure, and leadership support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders committed to social justice. Including CAA, there are currently 11 partnering member groups with unique strengths. Fiscal sponsorship, administrative, and operational support are provided centrally for all of these groups so they can focus on their core programs 

At the grassroots level, our community building work nurtures the ability of immigrants to participate fully in civic life. These activities include direct services, leadership development, and civic engagement with limited-English proficient newcomers and immigrants on issues that impact our community. At the systemic level, CAA leads advocacy, communications, and movement building work to improve public policy and shape public discourse. We produce community-based research, publish policy analyses and recommendations, influence opinion through media, organize to engage elected and government officials, and nurture a range of progressive coalitions.

More recently, CAA, along with AAPI Equity Alliance and the San Francisco State University Asian American Studies Department, launched the Stop AAPI Hate coalition to document and respond to incidents of hate at the local, state, and national levels. The mission of Stop AAPI Hate is to advance equity, justice, and power by dismantling systemic racism and building a multiracial movement to end anti-AAPI hate. This is an exciting period of growth and impact for CAA, AACRE, and Stop AAPI Hate. 

Position Overview

The Community Safety and Justice (CSJ) Policy Manager will be responsible for leading, developing, and implementing the organization’s policy work on community safety and justice issues, which includes addressing anti-AAPI hate incidents, researching alternative systems of accountability outside the criminal legal system, and building solidarity among Asian and non-Asian communities. CAA understands violence to be both interpersonal and structural and that effective solutions cannot perpetuate the criminalization of poverty, mental health, and immigration. We believe in criminal legal reform and a public health approach to preventing and mitigating harm and a cross-racial vision for community safety.

The ideal candidate should bring experience in developing and driving systemic change solutions through policy analyses, research and writing, community safety and justice content development, community education, and stakeholder engagement, preferably in the San Francisco Bay Area with an understanding of the landscape throughout California. We are looking for a strategic thinker who can build and maintain relationships with partners from a diverse range of backgrounds. The CSJ Policy Manager should have strong writing and analytical skills, with the ability to apply CAA’s vision of community safety and justice to develop policies and programs. 

This is an exempt position supervised by the Director of Policy. The CSJ Policy Manager will work both at CAA’s San Francisco office and remotely. The percentage of remote versus in-person hours will be determined by the Director of Policy; however, as a position that includes engagement on local issues, the position will include some in-person participation for external meetings, such as public forums and committee hearings.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, develop, and implement a San Francisco Bay Area regional community safety and justice policy agenda, in conjunction with CAA’s leadership, that can apply to other regions;
• Produce community safety and justice policy analyses, reports, and recommendations  for a wide variety of audiences;
• Draft community safety and justice legislation and public policies and drive policy efforts in conjunction with CAA staff, partners, and stakeholders in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, as appropriate;
• Drive narrative change work by articulating community safety and justice subject matter analysis, particularly through a racial justice and civil rights framework; 
• Represent CAA in external communications, including community meetings, public hearings, in traditional and digital media, and other spaces; and,
• Contribute to organization-wide activities and programming that support CAA’s strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Commitment to the mission, values, aspirations of CAA 
• At least 3 years of experience in policy related to community safety and justice
• Required: graduate degree in law, public policy, or related field, or equivalent combination of work experience and education 
• Demonstrated ability to be persuasive on controversial and/or complex issues, especially on matters related to the criminal legal system and alternative systems for accountability and healing
• Ability to represent CAA’s values, positions, and framing on community safety and justice issues  
• Strong awareness and analysis on community safety and justice issues impacting AAPI communities 
• Superb written and oral communications skills 
• Strong organizational and analytical skills  
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a timely manner 
• Proactive, self-motivated problem solver who can take initiative and use sound judgment 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including proven ability to work effectively with a diverse set  of stakeholders and community leaders 

How To Apply 

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to employment@caasf.org. In the subject line, please write “Policy Manager, Community Safety and Justice”. In your cover letter, please address the following questions: What about our mission or values inspires you? What has been your most impactful work and/or life experience so far, and why? For more information about CAA, please visit www.caasf.org.

CAA is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to apply.  We will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.