Director of Policy & Advocacy

RISE Academy•Omaha, NE

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and External Relations, the Director of Policy & Advocacy will develop and lead the organization’s advocacy and public policy initiatives to reduce the population of incarcerated individuals and eliminate the barriers people endure upon returning home after incarceration in Nebraska. The Director of Policy & Advocacy is responsible for establishing a solid advocacy and policy infrastructure to advance criminal justice reform that creates systemic change for people who have been impacted. Legislation, policy, grassroots organizing, public education and strategic communication are strategies that will be implemented to achieve RISE’s policy priorities. The Director of Policy & Advocacy is responsible for building relationships with key stakeholders, partners, policymakers and community members to significantly influence advocacy initiatives and advance large-scale reform policies. About RISE RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways and lower recidivism. The mission of RISE is to break generational cycles of incarceration. RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non-profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.

Requirements

Four (4) to Five (5) years of experience in policy, advocacy, ballot, and/or legislative campaigns required.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Experience working with and/or on behalf of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.
Knowledge of the criminal justice system, legislative and administrative processes at the local, state, and federal levels, with Nebraska-specific experience strongly preferred.
Ability to work effectively in collaborative efforts with others, experience in coalition building, and proven success leading teams, projects, and people towards action.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion values and ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Exceptional organizational skills; detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
Demonstrated experience in taking initiative, solution-focused, with the ability to be flexible in a fluid and fast-paced environment.
Experience with facilitating group discussions and strategic planning.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, or other comparable office software.
Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
Willingness to travel across Nebraska, the Midwest region, or other parts of the country as necessary.
Commitment to the RISE vision that “all people will find freedom from cycles of incarceration.”
Must be willing to work flexible hours, occasionally working evenings and weekends
Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance
RISE is a background-friendly employer and seeks to employ those who have lived experience within the system we serve; background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.

Nice To Haves

Planning and implementing effective political and organizing strategies preferred.
Master’s degree preferred.
Knowledge of the criminal justice system, legislative and administrative processes at the local, state, and federal levels, with Nebraska-specific experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Design RISE’s advocacy and policy infrastructure by developing policy goals and policy agenda and implementing strategies that include legislative, policy, research, coalition building, public education, grassroot organizing, and strategic communications.
Plan and execute statewide and local campaigns to advance criminal justice reform through federal, state and/or local legislation and policy.
Serve as RISE’s main registered lobbyist.
Manage and oversee all policy & advocacy, policy research and project specific staff for this department, including interns and policy fellows.
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, partners, policymakers, and community members to establish a coalition of organizations and individuals working towards criminal justice reform through collaborative efforts that include grassroots organizing.
Develop a communications strategy that includes writing advocacy letters, providing expertise to policymakers, and maximizing traditional and social media outlets to advance legislative and policy changes.
Monitor the policy environment, lead legislative tracking, maintain fluency in policy issues regarding the criminal justice system, and engage directly with state and local legislative bodies.
Build support for priority bills, work to defeat harmful bills and amendments, seek legislation or policies that help reduce incarceration and eliminate reentry barriers, and research/analyze the state and local implications of nationally passed legislation.
Track lobbying time and expenses, file reports, and maintain compliance with state and federal rules.
Prepare written/oral presentations to educate all staff, board members, and partners (internal and external).
Assist with identifying and writing grant proposals and fundraising opportunities for policy and advocacy efforts.