Assistant Director, Public Policy

Executive Headquarters (117 West 124th St)

$110,000 - $115,000/ year

Position Summary: The Assistant Director, Public Policy will play a vital role in the daily management and strategic operations of the Office of Public Policy. The Assistant Director will report to the Director, Public Policy and will assist in spear heading the organization's government relations, community engagement and advocacy strategy. They will also oversee administrative operations of the office as well as serve as the principal liaison for Children's Aid's senior leadership on external relations issues. This role calls for a talented and versatile professional with strong project management skills and leadership skills, who is able to successfully drive initiatives forward and work internally and externally with others in a collaborative, supportive, yet direct manner. This individual will also be able to capture the essence of Children's Aid programs and values and play an integral role in developing the agency's public policy agenda and advocacy strategy at the local, state and national levels.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• With the Director, lead the development of Children's Aid's policy, community engagement, and advocacy agenda.
• Plan and implement the legislative and government relations strategy, and forge and maintain relationships with key public officials and their staff.
• Represent Children's Aid publicly on policy matters (including, but not limited to, coalitions, partner organization coordination, creating and delivering public testimony, and press events).
• Support research and synthesizing policy-related developments across the political landscape and assist in developing multi-dimensional recommendations.
• Collaborate in leading information gathering/sharing and position vetting on policy matters to ensure agency-wide policy and advocacy coordination and integration.
• Partner with the Marketing and Communications team on the development of policy-related op-eds, letters to the editor, and other press/messaging materials.
• Assist with implementing digital advocacy campaign plans to advance the policy agenda and engage and grow the advocates' list; work collaboratively with the Marketing and Communications Team to develop strategies and implement tactics; coordinate campaigns with other program areas and activities.
• Manage internal infrastructure for discretionary requests and other government funding opportunities, and facilitate the coordination of participation in community-level events with elected officials, government agencies and community organizations.
• Support the management of multiple site-based Advisory groups.
• Guide the annual departmental work planning and goal setting efforts.
• Supports the daily management and operations of the team to maximize impact.
• Assists with managing external lobbyists at the State and City levels.
• Establish internally strong working relationships with the development, marketing, and fiscal teams.
• Oversee the Community Building Summer Internship Program (CBSI).
• Supervise community engagement, advocacy, administrative support staff and interns.
• Ability to travel at least 25 percent during the year.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Education, Public Health or related area required.
• At least six years' experience in government, public policy, advocacy or related work.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
• Understanding of and experience working on state, local and national legislative and budget processes.
• Content knowledge in one or more of the following areas a plus: early childhood education, K-12 education, health, youth development, and foster care.
• Strong managerial and organizational skills; self-starter with ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to network, easily adaptable to changing context.
• Strategic, creative thinker with strong sense of integrity.
• Strong knowledge of and commitment to Children's Aid issues a plus.
• Bilingual (Spanish & English) a plus.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.