Senior Policy Advisor

The Commission

The Community Police Commission (CPC) envisions communities and Seattle’s police working in alignment with shared goals of safety, respect, and accountability. We listen to, amplify, and build common ground among communities affected by policing in Seattle. We are a small, but dedicated, team championing policing practices centered in justice and equity.

The Job

We are recruiting applicants who combine research, analysis, and policy development skills with a passion for, and understanding of, racial equity and social justice. For the Senior Policy Advisor, we need someone who is respectful, open, and accountable in their work and how they engage with and elevate input from community members experiencing harmful police practices.

This is not a job that guarantees a lot of lead time or warning, oftentimes necessitating that you reprioritize, while tracking and moving long-term projects forward. It can change from day to day and week to week, based on new developments, emergent policies, initiatives, or requests from partner organizations, community members, elected officials, commissioners, or because of critical incidents. Time management, organization, and being able to shift quickly, with energy and focus is valuable.

You will need strong and intentional listening and communication skills to engage and gather input, synthesize information, and create briefing documents, reports, and presentations that align policy strategy and advocacy. You will be working to identify systemic issues and ways that policies and practices can be improved to support the CPC’s mission and its goals.

Your top priorities include

• Policy development and advocacy prioritizing impacted community voices
• Active contribution to systems’ development and strategic planning implementation
• Staffing and supporting Commissioner workgroups

To be successful, you are committed to

• Racial equity and social justice
• Equitable, culturally competent, accessible, and inclusive engagement
• Inviting feedback and listening, especially when it is challenging
• Transparency and clear communications based on the needs of the audience
• Building trust and strong relationships
• Elevating community voices, concerns, and needs

To be effective in this role, you have the following

• Strong track record for detailed research and policy analysis
• Demonstrated racial equity and social justice analysis skills
• Collaborated with community members to improve public services, policies, or practices
• Worked successfully with a board, commission, or similar community-led group
• Used your listening, written, and oral communication skills to tailor and make information accessible to audiences with varying levels of power and access
• Created and shared policy/practice recommendations using a variety of formats
• Adapted to changing priorities, and supported teammates and organization goals
• Advocated for change to systemic systems that perpetuate inequity

Successful applicants will have experience demonstrating strategic research and policy analysis skills that center equity and anti-racist practices. We are looking for candidates that can demonstrate the skills listed above through a combination of their work, education, and life experience as demonstrated in their resume, cover letter, and answers to supplemental questions.

This experience should be complemented by demonstrated ability in most of the following areas:

• Broad written and oral communication skills, including representing their team or organization with a variety of audiences
• Cross-cultural community engagement
• Advocating for BIPOC communities
• Successfully having difficult and courageous conversations about race and antiracism
• Navigating political nuances
• Working in a dynamic, diverse, fast-paced environment

This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, Exempt. The full pay range for this position is $51.88-$77.22. Our target salary is $60.00 - $ 62.00 per hour.

Why Work for the City of Seattle? At the City of Seattle, public service is more than a job; it’s a chance to shape the future and make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone who works, lives, or plays in our city. With 12,000 employees across 40+ departments and 1,100 job titles, we are united by a common purpose: to create a Seattle that is vibrant and welcoming for all.

Whatever your role, you’ll help power a forward-looking city that leads by example — inclusive, innovative, equitable, and community-focused — while joining a diverse team committed to solving challenges and making a lasting impact together. Join us in building a Seattle that thrives!

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management. Commission meetings occur monthly. Staff work in the office together on most Tuesdays and every Wednesday. Engagement events can occur in the evening and on weekends.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, holiday, and sick leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the Community Police Commission and this job in particular
• A PDF of your current resume

This position is open to applicants who meet the qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.