California Legislative Advocate

California Legislative Advocate

Full Time, Exempt

Remote, based in Sacramento

Position Summary

Economic Security California seeks a Legislative Advocate to serve as our boots on the ground in Sacramento, driving forward a bold agenda to address California's affordability crisis and expand economic security for all Californians. This role offers the opportunity to shape legislative strategy, build powerful coalitions, and advance transformative policies—including guaranteed income, progressive tax credits, and efforts to check corporate power and reshape markets—that put money directly in people's pockets, curb the forces that try to take it out – and make the California dream attainable for everyone.

As our Legislative Advocate, you'll work closely with the Director of Economic Security California to develop and execute our legislative agenda, represent the organization with legislators and coalition partners, and ensure we're strategic and effective in every advocacy effort. This is an ideal position for someone passionate about economic justice who wants to be at the forefront of advancing exciting and impactful policy in one of the most dynamic and important venues in the country.

Economic Security California is a state affiliate of the Economic Security Project and encompasses the work of Economic Security California Action. As this role will primarily be representing Economic Security California Action in Sacramento, residency in the Sacramento area is required for this role.

About Us

We believe in an America where everyone has the freedom and stability required to thrive. We are strongest when people are the authors of their own lives. But the inequalities in wealth and power created by bad actors, structural racism, and outdated ideas on how the economy should work have left us all more insecure and less resilient. We can make a different set of choices.

The Economic Security Project advocates for ideas that build economic power for all Americans. We legitimize bold ideas by supporting cutting-edge research and elevating champions, win concrete policy victories for the communities that need to see change now, and provoke the conventional wisdom to shift what’s considered possible. Our team of academics, organizers, practitioners and culture makers disburse grants, run issue campaigns, develop creative interventions and research products, and convene to encourage investment and action from others. Our state affiliate, Economic Security California, applies a distinctive California lens to our core strategies, leveraging our issue expertise and on-the-ground partnerships to advance ideas and policies in a state context.

We pick our fights based on our analysis of where strategic mobilization of people and resources could turn emerging trends into concrete policies. Our current efforts include putting cash into people’s pockets with a guaranteed income and policies like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; and keeping corporations out of them by checking the unprecedented concentration of economic power with antimonopoly action. We believe these fights will get us closer to a world where families can pay the heating bills and make the rent with some left over, where consumers have choices and small businesses, a fighting chance. A future where we all have a chance not to just survive, but thrive with the resources, agency and dignity needed to build the lives we want.

Our Track Record

We’ve convened thousands in briefings, workshops, and marquee events to strategize and set the agenda for a more just political economy. We passed policies in over seven states to modernize the tax code, won over $1 trillion in checks for families in response to the pandemic, and spearheaded the federal fight for a guaranteed income for kids in the form of the expanded Child Tax Credit. These cash-based policies reduced poverty in the middle of a recession, in the words of one observer, “defying gravity”.

And we’ve built the field by investing over $25 million directly into groundbreaking research; pilots and task forces; coalitions and campaigns; new initiatives and organizations; and trend-setting narrative and cultural interventions to advance racial and economic justice and reset the conversation. As a result, ideas that were once considered impossible are now at the center of a vision for an economy where people are the authors of their own lives.

We’ve worked alongside thousands across the country exercising political muscle, moral imagination, and on-the-ground experimentation. It’ll take this and so much more in the years ahead; we are in a broader fight for a multiracial democracy and an economy that works for all. Our task is to deliver and we’re looking for talent to join us in the fight.

Our Team & Culture

Our successes are due in large part to the diverse team we’ve assembled from a wide range of fields – from campaigners to policymakers to activists to academics. We’re building an organization that supports and resources our staff to drive forward work that is critical to our mission.

We are committed to creating a best-in-class staff experience that promotes growth and performance, which requires a culture of active problem-solving, feedback, communication, and accountability. As a fully remote organization, ESP staff can work from anywhere in the country. We actively support and encourage people taking time away from work, including two weeks of full office closures and a six-week sabbatical at 5 years of service, in addition to our standard PTO. You can find more information on our full benefits offerings below.

Our internal work is deeply rooted in our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that our policies and processes are equitable and informed by a wide range of lived experiences. We invest in our people’s professional development and promote regular conversations about career goals and growth opportunities. We provide opportunities to come together in person for both strategic planning and relationship-building, and we’re always up to take a game of trivia a little too seriously.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Director of Economic Security California to develop and advance Economic Security California's campaign priorities in Sacramento.

• Represent Economic Security California Action in Sacramento, developing and deepening relationships with members of the state legislature, administration and staff, securing support for our policy agenda, and providing information in response to policymaker requests.

• Represent the organization and its priorities in a variety of contexts, including: legislative hearings (providing testimony or support), meetings with stakeholders, formal and informal coalition partners, engaging them in coordinated organizing, communications, and public education efforts.

• Work with contract lobbyists on our campaign priorities.

• Help develop Economic Security California's annual legislative agenda; analyze legislation and make recommendations on bills to support or oppose; and monitor and track relevant legislation through the legislative process, keeping team members apprised of important events, and engaging colleagues in key advocacy opportunities.

• Write and edit materials for public campaigning and inside advocacy, ranging from committee testimony to talking points to sign-on letters.

• Develop issue expertise on our policy priorities, the challenge of the affordability crisis on Californians broadly, and the impacts of our policy proposals to address it; Help to draft fact sheets, one-pagers, position letters, and other educational and advocacy materials, in consultation with research and policy colleagues

• Work closely with the Director of Economic Security California and colleagues across teams, including research, communications, development, and outside consultants, to develop and align on strategies to support priority campaigns

• Coordinate with Economic Security Project's national team on federal-state alignment, where applicable

Work Environment

The Economic Security Project is a virtual office with staff across the country. Location in the Sacramento area is required for this role.

Salary

The salary range for this position is $96,314.22-$103,056.21. The final salary will depend on experience and location. This role includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

ESP provides a robust benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical, vision, dental insurance with premiums fully covered for employees and their dependents

• Worker’s Compensation

• Long and short term disability insurance

• Basic Life Insurance with a 50K maximum

• 401K with a 3% contribution upon start date; up to an additional 1% at year-end

• Full office closures for the week of July 4, and between December 25 and January 1

• PTO - 136 vacation hours, 80 sick leave hours, 9 standard holidays, 2 floating holidays, and 20 hours of volunteer leave

• 6-week paid sabbatical after 5 years of full-time service

• Connectivity and home office stipends, and wellness use bonuses (taxable)

• Annual professional development budget

• Organization-provided computer or $50/month bonus for employees who choose to use their own

  Access to commuter and flexible spending accounts

Because the Economic Security Project values a diverse and representative workplace, people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and people of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. ESP is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Experience and Qualifications

• 3-7 years of relevant experience as a legislative aide, advocate, organizer, campaigner or policy expert or related work

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent knowledge in relevant field such as political science, public policy strongly preferred

• Demonstrated understanding of California's legislative and budget process and Sacramento political landscape

• Experience, writing and editing policy and advocacy documents such as factsheets, press releases, coalition letters, or reports.

• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex policy issues clearly and synthesize information into accessible formats (fact sheets, slides, emails) is particularly important

• Commitment to economic justice and racial equity

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Initiative and problem-solving orientation; flexibility and ability to learn quickly

• Proficiency with modern and remote workplace tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Slack, e.g.)

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Preferred Attributes & Skills

• Experience working on economic security issues, such as guaranteed income, refundable tax credits, anti-poverty policy, antimonopoly and corporate concentration issues, or related areas

• Existing relationships with California policymakers, including legislators, legislative staff, and/or key economic security and economic justice coalitions in California

• Background in progressive advocacy or campaigns