Application: Policy Specialist

Our Streets is seeking an organized and detail-oriented Policy Specialist who will lead anti-displacement planning and policy work related to our highway removal campaigns, engage in transportation and housing policy processes at the city and county levels, and support broader Policy and Advocacy initiatives across the organization.

The ideal candidate is collaborative, able to work in a fast-paced environment, flexible, willing to learn, and brings a strong commitment to equity and shared leadership, and is excited to contribute to a growing, values-driven organization.

About Our Streets

Our Streets works to lead the nation in putting people first by transforming transportation and infrastructure in the Twin Cities, the metro region, and the state of Minnesota. We envision streets and neighborhoods that are vibrant places to live, work, and play—designed for people, not cars—and rooted in public health, climate resilience, and racial and economic justice. Our work creates bold, people-centered futures that repair past and present harms caused by unjust transportation decisions. We elevate community voices—especially those most harmed or historically excluded—through grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and transparent, community-led action. Together, we build shared power and pursue concrete, systemic change.

Position Overview

The Policy Specialist plays a key role in advancing Our Streets’ mission by leading anti-displacement planning and policy work for our effort to reimagine Olson Memorial Highway, engaging with transportation and housing policy at the state, county, and city levels, and supporting broader local advocacy initiatives across the organization. This position supports organizational goals through strong collaboration, disciplined systems, and values-aligned leadership.

The Policy Specialist works closely with the Policy Manager and contributes to a horizontal leadership culture in which staff are empowered to lead, take responsibility, and grow in their roles.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic, community-centered nonprofit environment and is committed to building sustainable systems in service of justice-centered work.

• Annual Salary: $69,000
• Flexible Work Hours
• Flexible Location (Hybrid)
• Paid Time Off
• Cell Phone Reimbursement
• Bike/Walk/Transit Stipend
• Health, Dental and Vision Stipend
• Sick and Safe Time

Core Responsibilities

Anti-Displacement, Housing Policy, and Organizing (30%)

• Monitor and track local housing, development, and anti-displacement proposals along the Olson Memorial Highway to advance the Bring Back 6th campaign’s anti-displacement priorities and policy recommendations.
• Collaborate with Our Streets staff, technical partners, and community partners to refine anti-displacement, housing, and community benefit benchmarks in Bring Back 6th report and related policy frameworks.
• Engage regularly with community members and local partners on anti-displacement, housing, land-use, and community-benefit priorities to ensure that resident needs and lived experiences are centered in policy development and advocacy strategies.
• Research and analyze anti-displacement policy models from other highway removal or major infrastructure projects in other contexts.
• Engage with community members and local partners on anti-displacement, housing, land use, and community benefits priorities continually to ensure resident needs and lived experiences are centered in policy design and approaches.
• Build relationships with relevant stakeholders to facilitate policy design, development, and implementation.
• Work with our events and communications teams to develop workshops, engagement, fact sheets and educational materials to support these efforts.

City and County Policy Engagement (30%)

In Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Ramsey County, and Hennepin County: 

• Advancing the Streets for People campaign priorities by engaging with committees, task forces, and public initiatives related to equitable transportation and infrastructure.
• Develop advocacy strategies for municipal and county budget cycles in collaboration with the Policy Manager and Advocacy Manager.
• Attend relevant City Council and County Commission meetings to monitor and advocate for policy priorities.
• Develop and administer nonpartisan candidate questionnaires and voter education materials to inform the public about candidates’ positions on transportation, climate, and community development issues relevant to Our Streets’ mission.
• Host “office hours” and town hall-style events to foster resident engagement with local elected officials.
• Build relationships with city and county staff in transportation, planning, and housing-related departments.

Advocacy and Policy Support (20%)

Advocacy

• Manage sign-on letters from elected officials to support policy positions or grant applications.
• Train community members to engage effectively in various public policy processes. 
• Support grassroots mobilization efforts (phone banks, email campaigns, constituent outreach). 
• Support the development of action alerts and advocacy messaging to communicate public policy developments in a transparent and accessible way.

Policy

• Research transportation, housing, and anti-displacement funding mechanisms, policy precedents, and implementation models to support Our Streets’ campaigns and policy positions.
• Analyze the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Metropolitan Council, and local government reports and planning documents. 
• Support development of policy white papers, public comments, issue briefs, and position statements.

General (20%)

• Continuously work to understand the priorities, concerns, and aspirations of the communities we partner with and work alongside.
• Assist with developing content for printed materials, digital content, presentation slides, and events related to transportation issues.
• Attend Our Streets events to represent advocacy campaigns and support community engagement efforts.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, justice, and community-centered work.
• Relevant experience in public policy, community engagement, urban planning, grassroots organizing, and/or government 
• Strong communication, writing, organization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and willingness to learn other internal systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and roles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in nonprofit, advocacy, or community-based organizations.
• Familiarity with public policy, organizing, or movement-building work.
• Experience with budgeting, reporting, or compliance systems.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (as applicable).

Work Conditions

• Hybrid work environment.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
• Ability to attend community events, meetings, or field activities.
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, and lift up to 40 lbs as needed.

How to Apply

Your resume should reflect relevant experience, including paid, volunteer, and academic work. Your cover letter should describe your interest in this role, your connection to Our Streets’ mission, and how your experience prepares you for this position.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Our Streets is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; people with disabilities; transgender and nonbinary people; and others historically excluded from nonprofit leadership.