Program Specialist – Policy & Advocacy

Position Summary

The Program Specialist is responsible for day-to-day decisions that impact specific activities related to strategies focused on advancing organizational strategies to ensure children, youth, and families have access to knowledge, skills, supports, or resources to thrive. The Program Specialist will assist with project planning, coordination, and implementation, community engagement, training and evaluation tasks. The position often focuses on specific areas, such as afterschool programming, primary prevention, child welfare reform, or policy and advocacy, depending on the specific program assignment.

Supervision

The Program Specialist will report to the VP of Policy & Advocacy

Job Duties

 I.     Program Implementation

• Assist with the implement of programs focused on prevention, youth development, advocacy, or community health.
• Assist with the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of program events and activities.
• Facilitate quality improvement efforts through assessments, coaching, and targeted support.
• Provide technical assistance by supporting working groups, professional development, and training sessions to enhance the knowledge and skills of community members and professionals.

II.     Partner Relations

• Assist with building and maintain relationships with community partners and stakeholders.
• Assist in advancing initiatives and programs through outreach, research, and information tracking.
• Engage with diverse communities and service providers to expand program reach and impact.

III.     Event & Network Coordination

• Organize and promote educational events, symposiums, and community presentations.
• Manage logistics for events and various program activities.

IV.     Data & Database Management

• Maintain accurate program data in internal systems.
• Track program performance metrics and develop actionable improvement goals.

V.     Advocacy

• Mobilize ACT partners and advocates in timely legislative outreach, including testimony and lobbying opportunities, letter writing campaigns, days of action, and visibility events.
• Assist in monitoring and tracking key local, state, and federal legislation and committee hearings.
• Support the compilation and analysis of data and research on policy issues.
• Assist with executing advocacy components of various ACT annual awareness campaigns.
• Assist with communication of advocacy updates, managing action alerts, and in the creation of advocacy-related materials such as press releases, op-eds, blog posts, letters, and policy briefs.

VI.     Administrative Responsibilities

• Participate in internal and external meetings.
• Develop expertise in key focus areas and perform other administrative duties as assigned.
• Performs other duties as needed and assigned.

Education & Experience

• Associates Degree required, Bachelor’s Degree preferred in education, social work, youth development, public health, human services, or related field or 5 years of full-time work experience in a role with responsibilities similar to those outlined in this job description.
• A Professional level Child and Youth Care Credential or Alaska SEED Level 6 is considered equivalent to an Associate's Degree.

·       Familiarity with working in a non-profit (501(c)(3)) environment.

·       Familiarity with and love of living and working in Alaska.

Skills & Abilities

·       Good presentation and public speaking skills.

·       Commitment to race, equity, and inclusion as evident through efforts to improve the health, education, and economic opportunities of children of color.

·       Ability to foster partnerships and engage with diverse communities.

·       Knowledge of project management.

·       Competence using the following platforms (or similar): N/A.

·       Ability to make decisions, engage in critical thought and problem solve.

·       Polite and professional listening, verbal, and written communication skills.

·       Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills.

·       Ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple, simultaneous, complex tasks.

·       High degree of integrity, honesty, confidentiality, and maturity.

·       Willingness to travel including within Alaska and its rural regions.

·       Proficient in the Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, etc.).

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

·       The work of this position is primarily performed in an office building environment.

·       While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to understand and be understood by utilizing one or more of the following (speech, hearing, seeing, writing), to get oneself or objects from point A to point B and use a computer and telephone.

·       The position may require sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time at a desk, in meetings, or during travel for work.

·       The position may require the ability to travel to fulfill the duties of the role including air travel.

·       The position may require occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of equipment, materials, luggage, etc. up to 50 pounds.

Benefits Package Summary

·       Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance (up to 85% covered for eligible employees, including dependent(s))

·       Group Life, Short Term & Long-Term Disability (100% covered for eligible employees)

·       Personal Time Off (PTO) (starts at 18 days/year) & Holidays (16 days/year)

·       401K (up to 6% match and 2 years vesting)

·       Hybrid work option includes (3) days a week required in the Anchorage office (Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday) and (2) days a week optional at home (Monday/Friday)

·       Paid family leave (for eligible full-time employees)

·       For a full description of our Benefits Package, please go to our employment page.

Who are we?

At the Alaska Children’s Trust (ACT), we believe every child can grow up safe, happy, and able to achieve their dreams. As the lead organization focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect, we strive to ensure children, youth, and families have the knowledge, skills, support, and resources to thrive. We achieve this by fostering intentional partnerships across our state, publishing key data and research to show inequities faced by Alaska’s children, raising funds and committing resources, and advocating for change.

Learn more about who we are and what we do at our website, on YouTube, or social media (Facebook, Instagram).

Notes

• Diversity is a core component to the work at ACT. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions.
• Jobs are dynamic, and assignments/priorities may change at any time without notice. It is not intended or implied to be an employment contract but is a communication tool to explain the responsibilities, advertise the job, and identify performance measures and potential training needs. This description does not imply or create a contractual relationship. ACT is an at-will employer.

Interested, qualified applicants may send their cover letter and resume to:

Alaska Children’s Trust, info@alaskachildrenstrust.org

Position open until filled.

First review of the applicants will be: March 31, 2025