About Compass

Compass is an innovative, mission-driven organization that supports families with low incomes to save for their future and access greater economic opportunity. We believe in our clients and in their ability to achieve their goals and dreams. We operate high-quality financial coaching and savings programs and pursue opportunities to shape the national approach to poverty through practice and policy change. Compass is also an emerging leader in a national effort to leverage housing assistance as a platform for economic mobility. We are looking for people who want to be part of taking our programs and our impact to the next level.

For more information, please visit us on our website, www.compassworkingcapital.org

Our mission is to partner with families with low incomes to build assets as a pathway out of poverty. We focus on reaching families led by Black and/or Latinx women.

To achieve our mission, we operate client-centered savings and financial coaching programs, deliver training and technical assistance to other practitioners, and shape policy solutions that dismantle barriers to asset building.

For more information, please visit our website, www.compassworkingcapital.org, or click hereto learn more about our strategic plan.

About The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program

Congress created the FSS program in 1990 as an employment and savings program for families in federally subsidized housing. The program combines a powerful savings incentive with service delivery to support residents in reaching their goals. It is the nation’s largest asset-building program for families with low incomes.

Since 2010, Compass has partnered with public housing agencies and other affordable housing providers to operate an asset-building model for the FSS program — the first nonprofit organization in the country to do so.

About the Job

The Policy Associate is responsible for assisting the Director of Policy in implementing organizational policy goals. This includes but is not limited to outreach activities to policy makers, scheduling meetings, following up with Congressional offices, planning and implementing lobby days virtually and in-person, external engagement work with coalition partners, outreach activities, and other duties as assigned. This position reports to the Director of Policy.

This is a full-time, exempt, and hybrid position based in the Washington, DC area. Some travel up to 10% will be required to the main offices in Boston, MA and Philadelphia, PA, in addition to other travel.

All Compass staff embody the following core competencies:

Ownership: Steps up and follows through to consistently deliver high-quality work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Champions the value of diversity and the creation of inclusive spaces.

Growth Mindset: Embraces challenges and setbacks as the fuel for learning and development.

Teamwork: Contributes actively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve shared goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work to advance Compass’ policy priorities among key decision makers in Washington, DC, especially tracking legislation and regulations, as well as meetings with legislators and regulators.
• Contribute to the development and execution of a strategy to strengthen and build alliances with partners to advance a policy agenda at the national level.
• Support efforts to position Compass as a leading voice on asset building issues at the federal level by building strong relationships with Congress, the Administration and other key stakeholders and partners.
• Assist with drafting and distributing sign-on letters, action alerts, social media tool kits, and other materials to mobilize partners.
• Maintain digital files, documentation of meetings, and other administrative responsibilities.
• Partner with the Director of Policy in planning policy meetings and events.
• Support efforts to educate coalition partners to build momentum on Compass’s policy priorities.
• Work closely with the Director of Policy to develop, execute, and report on all strategies and tactics.
• Build strong relationships with Compass's colleagues across the various teams in the organization to ensure collaboration-driven work.

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• At least 3-years’ professional work experience, including 1-2 years in relevant policymaking, legislative analysis, advocacy, or similar fields.
• Background or familiarity with the policy making, regulatory, and federal government processes.
• Familiarity with issue advocacy campaigns.
• Experience in advocacy, consensus-building, coalition-building, and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other staff and other organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work with groups and individuals across the political spectrum.
• Ability to consistently produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability and willingness to complete administrative tasks.
• Excellent writing, editing and general communications skills.
• Commitment to continued learning.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a diverse organization and with diverse stakeholders and partners.

Preferred

• Experience working with Congressional offices.
• Lived experience of the issues that Compass is working to address.

This job description is not intended to provide a comprehensive listing of all duties or responsibilities. Job duties and responsibilities may change at any time based on the needs of the organization.

Benefits

The salary range for this role is $51,000 - $59,486, commensurate with experience. We’ll promote your professional growth and development by providing access to a competitive salary and benefits package and additional employee benefits that include but are not limited to:

• Healthcare: medical, dental, vision
• Retirement plan 401(k) & match
• Life insurance & disability Insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Professional development & certification
• Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Summer Fridays, 2-hour early closure
• Office closed the final week of calendar year

Equal Opportunity Statement

Compass Working Capital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applications for all positions, without regard to age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compass Working Capital is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities receive the accommodations required for them to interview for a position on our team. Should you require accommodations, please contact hr@compassworkingcapital.org.

As a contractor of Boston Housing Authority, Compass also provides hiring preference to Section 3 residents. Section 3 Residency is defined as being an authorized resident of Boston Housing Authority or a “low-income resident” of the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex, Plymouth, Strafford (NH), and Rockingham (NH) Counties.

As a contractor of Philadelphia Housing Authority, Compass also provides hiring preference to Section 3 residents. Section 3 Residency is defined as being an authorized resident of Philadelphia Housing Authority or a “low-income resident” of the area where the HUD-assisted project is located.

For the purposes of Section 3, "low-income" is defined as 80% of the Area Median Income. To learn more information about Section 3 income eligibility, please refer to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Website.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $51,000.00 - $59,486.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: Remote