Senior Policy Manager

Description

Organization Overview
The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders
prioritize their well-being and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The
Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. We
serve and advocate for the largest, most diverse generation in America: the 74 million children and
youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25, with particular attention
to those living in poverty and communities of color. CDF partners with policymakers, aligned
organizations and funders in this service. The Children’s Defense Fund is the only national, multi issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice by
wielding the moral authority of programmatic proximity and community organizing to inform public
policy. For more information visit www.childrensdefense.org

Position Summary
CDF-MN’s Policy and Research Director is responsible for guiding, developing, implementing, and
evaluating CDF-MN’s, advocacy and research work as it relates to our policy strategy. This position
will lead the development of CDF-MN’s public policy and legislative strategies, work with external
partners to promote CDF-MN’s policy agenda, and develop and support communications efforts
designed to activate and mobilize CDF-MN constituents. This position represents the organization at
the highest levels and negotiates major consequential policy proposals, with significant impacts on
the organization’s reputation and overall effectiveness. This position also leads our KIDS COUNT and
data analysis efforts. The Policy and Research Director will provide supervision of the Policy
Associate position and work closely with CDF-MN policy team to support our outreach, community
organizing and federal policy efforts. This position requires some travel and flexible hours during the
legislative session. See all CDF-MN program descriptions at our website at: www.CDF-MN.org

Qualifications

Responsibilities

Policy and Legislative Affairs

• Build and lead CDF Minnesota’s public policy strategy which includes policy development and bill drafting, meeting and negotiating with legislators, spearheading coalition activities around direct and grassroots advocacy, representing the organization at speaking engagements, in the media and with decision-makers.
• Lead and coordinate CDF-MN electoral and voter education work including voter guide development and dissemination, candidate forum support, and support of CDF-MN’s Day of Social Action. Convene, lead, and/or support on various coalition work related to CDF-MN legislative and policy priorities.
• Legislative and policy analysis responsibilities include:
• Design family input processes and incorporate feedback in development of policy priorities
• Serve as a content expert on key issue areas at the state and national level o Meet with legislators, state agency staff and community on key issues
• Lead negotiations on state legislative and administrative priorities
• Oversee contractors providing legislative, content or convening support
• Write legislation in collaboration with legislative authors and co-authors and counsel
• Deliver written and oral testimony at committee hearings
• Analyze the impact of proposed budgets and legislation and advocate on CDF Minnesota’s positions

• Grassroots organizing responsibilities include:

• Organizing media and grassroots activities during the legislative session to educate constituents regarding legislators’ positions on key issues and generate constituent activity surrounding key issues;
• Organizing CDF sponsored forums or other community gatherings to provide legislative updates, issue education, voter education, etc.
• Recruiting authors and drafting op-eds.
• Develop and execute plan to include collaborating organizations in specific policy domains • Track national policy issues impacting children in Minnesota.
• Conduct interviews with media, speak at or otherwise participate in press conferences, and write social media content related to priority issues
• Speak at CDF and non-CDF events such as KIDS COUNT Coffees, conferences/conventions and speaking engagements pertaining to children and       families.
• Meet with other nonprofit stakeholders to form, join or manage coalitions
• Ensure CDF-MN meets advocacy and lobbying compliance as a 501 c3 organization.
• Participate in meetings with CDF National and other state office on federal policy is

 Research and Data Analysis

• Oversee the KIDS COUNT project including: support development of KIDS COUNT data book – content development, editing and outreach, help with grant writing and reporting for AECF, use KIDS COUNT tools and attend AECF events as needed.
• Produce KIDS COUNT products designed to educate legislators, including issue briefs or profiles by legislative district, a Legislator Academy focused on working family issues and Thriving Children, Thriving MN Blog Posts.
• Provide research and analysis on policy issues as well as coordinate this across content
  experts internal and external to CDF-MN
• Work with other key CDF-MN staff to identify research needs, produce research reports and
  conduct policy analysis.
• Design and manage process and contributions from staff and contractors; make final
  content/design decisions w/ED approval; draft written sections
• Serve as primary contact for the KIDS COUNT Project with Annie E. Casey Foundation and
  support both reporting and grant writing efforts on the yearly grants
• Make final decisions on data & format; develop and implement dissemination plan
• Develop plan for vision and components (w/team input) of KIDS COUNT and other research
  projects
• Review data and conduct quality controlMonitor and make recommendations for national reports most relevant to MN;
• Draft national report press release to include MN perspective and data

Leadership and Management

• Provide oversight and management of contractors working on policy and research efforts
• Work with CDF-MN State Director to support and align in state office policy strategy
• Includes updates to staff and advisory board, writing newsletter articles, attending staff meetings and supervising interns
• Assist State Director in prospecting new donors, drafting content for grant proposals, participating in site visits, maintaining relationships with foundations.
• Assist with celebrations and fundraisers.
• Integrate policies and practices for racial equity and lived experience into program portfolio and policy agenda.

Communications:

• Write email communications tied to advocacy, action alerts and press releases.
• Write social media communications such as: website, Facebook, Twitter, etc...
• Work with CDF National communication team to coordinate communications with the broader organization on policy issues and policy campaigns.
• Work with CDF-MN team to develop and implement communications strategies related to CDF-MN’s policy and legislative priorities.
• Work with development, operations staff to ensure public policy communications coordinates with overall CDF-MN communications efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

We’re seeking candidates who excel in relationship-building, are results-oriented, are committed to leadership development and race and economic equity and have strong project management skills. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• A master’s degree • Knowledge of and experience working through the legislative process
• Policy Development and analysis • Ability to work in and lead coalition efforts, working in partnership with other organizations.
• Experience managing contractors and volunteers. Docusign Envelope
• Experience with data analysis and research
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among stakeholders
• Ability to take initiative and manage a project including creating a work plan, identifying deliverables and meeting deadlines
• Can demonstrate effective project coordination.
• Experience working on issues related to racial and economic equity.
• Content expertise in childcare, work supports, and anti-poverty efforts.
• Experience and knowledge of social media platforms and tools, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, The Action Network, petition vehicles, video production preferred.
• Experience with grant writing and reporting.
• Strong oral and written communications skills and working effectively and building relationships with others.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritize and conduct multiple tasks in a fast paced environment.

Competencies

• The Senior Policy Manager should demonstrate competence in the following:
• Demonstrated experience, accountability to and cultural fluency with communities of color, American Indian communities and under-resourced communities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-racial settings
• Highly organized and efficient, able to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Ability to develop research questions and use statistical software to conduct original analysis of datasets to illuminate child well-being and public policy responses
• Analyze and apply racial equity in the social sector
• Decision-making that prioritizes proximity to the policy and community awareness
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness and builds a ‘One CDF’ culture.
• Have fun: Bring a sense of inquisitiveness and humor as well as the flexibility to the work.

Personal Characteristics

• Orientation to and background of servant leadership
•  A deep commitment to improving the lives of children as expressed in CDF’s mission statement
• Ability to serve as an advocate and exemplar for the vision, values, and mission of the Children’s Defense Fund
• Demonstrated strong relational skills.
• A team player but with the ability to work independently.
• Brings empathy, passion, and humor to the work
• Willingness to work flexible hours as needed.

Salary : $72,956 - $87,547