Technology Policy Director

About AAPD

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) works to increase the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national disability-led and cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for over 60 million Americans with disabilities. We do this by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation through our programs and advocacy. We are looking to hire staff who embody our mission and are invested in building the disability rights movement.

AAPD is an equal opportunity employer. Our office collaborates across initiatives to actively uplift and center the diversity of the disability community in our work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. Applicants with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

AAPD has an office headquartered in Washington, DC, but also has flexible workplace and remote work policies. AAPD follows strong COVID-19 Prevention Policies in our DC office and whenever our staff are in-person.

We offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Unlimited PTO
• Flexible work schedule
• 403(b) with 5% employer match
• 100% employer coverage of Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance for each employee and up to 2 dependents
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

About the role

AAPD is seeking a Technology Policy Director who is passionate about the role technology plays in removing barriers to independent living and community participation for people with disabilities while advocating for solid safeguards in federal policy to protect the rights, safety, and privacy of disabled people.

The Technology Policy Director will embrace an intersectional approach to advancing disability policy in pursuing justice, especially for those whose identities experience marginalization from overlapping systems of oppression. They will lead the organization’s Technology Policy Development with support from AAPD’s technology policy consultant and the Technology Policy Associate. The Technology Policy Director will work with civil society groups and other civil rights and social justice organizations to build and advance an intersectional policy agenda. They will work with the Technology Policy Associate to inform AAPD’s Technology Forum, We Will Ride Initiative, and Start Access. The long term goal of this work is to ensure that disability becomes integral to the public discourse that shapes technology policy in the US. This role may also involve research and coalition development and management.

What you'll do

Working with AAPD’s leadership team, the Technology Policy Director will be responsible for:

• Monitoring and engaging with federal agencies responsible for developing technology policy by attending briefings, filing comments, and participating throughout the federal regulatory process (OSTP, NTIA, FCC,etc.).
• Monitoring and engaging with federal agencies developing policy in response to the rapid integration of technology into all aspects of civil life and the nation’s economy Relevant agencies include HHS, USDA, FTC, EEOC, DOJ, DOL, etc.).
• Represent AAPD at meetings of civil rights and civil society organizations working on technology policy, including formal coalitions of which AAPD is a member.
• Assess the reach and expand the impact of the current technology policy work and develop a plan to increase alignment with the organization’s policy priorities.
• Apply knowledge of disability rights law and policy to center the experience of disabled people using technology in AAPD’s policy priorities, programs, and communications.
• Identify strategies for bridging work between civil rights groups, disability organizations, and technology policy organizations to ensure the inclusion of disability rights in civil rights law and policy.
• Supervise the Technology Policy Associate, who supports AAPD’s technology policy work.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience working in government, industry, academia, civil society, or advocacy community.
• 3+ years of experience working on technology policies with knowledge of disability rights, disability justice, and disability policy as well as current events affecting the disability community.
• Exceptional communication skills, both conversational and written, with experience speaking publicly and writing reports and updates to various audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with different stakeholders, including government, academia, industry, and advocacy community.
• Demonstrated ability to work in coalition with disability rights, civil rights, and civil society organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an understanding of how these frameworks impact disabled people.
• Computer experience proficiency related to Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, PowerPoint), virtual platforms (e.g. Zoom, Monday.com, Google Shared Drive), email, and research information.

The pay range for this role is:

90,000 - 110,000 USD per year (Washington, DC)