Head of Policy

The Department of Angels collaborates with communities affected by the 2025 Los Angeles fires, supporting recovery efforts, advocating for policy solutions, and amplifying the voices of survivors.

We’re a small, growing team. Our work is collaborative, fast-moving, and rooted in the belief that recovery is more than rebuilding structures; it’s about restoring community strength, building resilience, and creating opportunity.

Policy analysis and advocacy prioritization: Review proposed and active legislation and other public policy at the local, state, and federal levels; analyze complex policy language and assess alignment with organizational priorities; and provide clear, recommendation-driven analysis on where the organization should and should not invest its advocacy resources. This includes making go/no-go recommendations on specific legislative opportunities and advising organizational leadership on the strategic tradeoffs of engagement.

Organizational policy positions: Own the development of organizational advocacy positions. Drawing on legislative research, expert input, and community priorities, formulate clear policy stances and present well-reasoned recommendations to leadership. This role requires not just synthesizing others’ perspectives, but forming and defending independent views on complex policy questions.

Assessing recovery policy landscape: Across all levels of government, monitor evolving developments in legislative, regulatory, and executive policy relevant to post-fire recovery, including news reports on policy issues. Across fire-impacted communities, continually assess policy needs of survivors.

Policy strategy development and execution: Further the development of and lead the execution of the organization’s policy-focused strategy to champion solutions that reflect the recovery priorities of impacted communities.

Policy advocacy at local, state, and federal levels—from concept through implementation: Lead advocacy strategy for enacting the Department of Angels’ community-centered policy platform through private and public means to local, state, and federal government decision-makers. Support managing external contractor(s) to seek federal appropriations for recovery. Ensure enacted policies are implemented in ways that deliver for community members on their desired terms (e.g., ensuring appropriated federal funds are properly apportioned and actually reach the communities).

Convening expert working groups: Convene and lead working groups composed of civil-society experts across industry, academia, and policy. Draw on their research and input to inform the Department’s own policy positions and advocacy strategy— synthesizing and analyzing expert perspectives into organizational recommendations.

Coordinating expert and grassroots stakeholders: Coordinate the overlapping efforts of expert and grassroots groups, synthesizing their input to develop the Department’s policy recommendations. Ensure community voices authentically inform—and are reflected in—the organization’s advocacy positions and priorities.

Resource development and strategic communications: Work with the Department’s leadership to develop policy-related resources for impacted communities, such as plain-language explainers distilling legislative proposals and their impact. Represent the Department to amplify its advocacy platform through public events, private meetings, and other outreach.

Community engagement on policy issues: In close coordination with our internal team, help create platforms for meaningful and authentic community engagement around potential policy solutions.

A relevant bachelor’s degree (e.g., in public policy, public affairs, or law) with at least 10 years of relevant policy- and advocacy-related professional experience or a relevant master’s (or higher) degree (e.g., in public policy, public affairs, or law) with at least 7 years of policy-related professional experience.

Demonstrated leadership experience in policy and legal analysis, policy advocacy, or related fields.

Proven experience developing and executing successful policy advocacy strategies, with a track record of influencing policy at the federal, state, or local levels.

Demonstrated political judgment and the ability to evaluate the strategic value of specific public policy opportunities, including making clear recommendations about where the organization’s engagement is and is not worth the investment. Comfort making and defending advocacy recommendations—not just researching and presenting options—is essential to this role.

Strong ability to convene and lead working groups, facilitate collaboration, and engage diverse stakeholders in complex policy discussions.

Strong team leadership, management, and mentorship skills, with experience in working with volunteer leaders, particularly subject-matter experts.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear, actionable content for a range of audiences.

Passion for community empowerment, social justice, and building resilient communities.

Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to simultaneously manage multiple initiatives and deadlines.

Deep substantive understanding with experience in disaster recovery policy issues and community resilience preferred.