Careers >> Policy and Legislative Affairs Director
Policy and Legislative Affairs Director
Summary
Title:Policy and Legislative Affairs Director
ID:1089
Department:Minnesota
Campaign Start Date:09/24/2019
Location:St. Paul, MN
Description

Policy and Legislative Affairs Director

Job Description

Children’s Defense Fund – Minnesota (CDF-MN), a nonprofit, child advocacy organization, seeks a highly skilled and dedicated individual for the full-time, salaried position of Policy and Legislative Affairs Director. We are looking for an individual to oversee our public policy and legislative advocacy efforts of the organization to advance solutions that help children.

Organization Background

The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind ® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

 

Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN) is a policy organization focused solely on the needs of children. CDF-MN pays particular attention to the needs of our most vulnerable children -- children of color and American Indian children, children from low-income families and children with disabilities. We support all children through policy and advocacy, research, outreach and youth development. CDF-MN provides a strong, effective, and independent voice for all the children who cannot vote or speak for themselves. We champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, advance equitable solutions supporting children of color and American Indian children, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation. We build the capacity of organizations and community members to best serve and advocate for low-income children as well as children of color and American Indian children.

Position Overview:

CDF-MN’s Policy and Legislative Affairs Director is responsible for guiding, developing, implementing and evaluating CDF-MN’s legislative and broader advocacy efforts as well as oversee the communication strategy related to the 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 legislative agenda and develop and support communications efforts designed to activate and mobilize CDF-MN constituents. The Policy and Legislative Affairs Director will work closely with CDF-MN policy team to support our KIDS COUNT, 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

Responsibilities:

Policy and Legislative Affairs

  • Build and lead CDF Minnesota’s public policy strategy which includes meeting with legislators, spearheading coalition activities around direct and grassroots advocacy, finding legislative coauthors, and speaking engagements
  • Coordinate and Facilitate CDF-MN Policy Team meetings
  • 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.
  • Support the KIDS COUNT project including: support development of KIDS COUNT data book – content development, editing and outreach, help with grant writing and reporting for the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF), use KIDS COUNT tools and attend AECF events as needed.
  • Provide legislative representation and policy analysis.
  • Convene, lead, and/or support on various coalition work related to CDF-MN legislative and policy priorities.
  • Legislative and policy analysis responsibilities include:
    • Coordinating and organizing state legislative priorities
    • Meeting with legislators on key issues
    • Meeting with legislators in target districts to develop legislative leadership around child care and health care specifically
    • Seek legislators to carry and co-author legislation
    • Testify 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.
  • Track national policy issues impacting children in Minnesota.
  • Serve and work with the Policy Team to lead efforts regarding public policy issues and media around key issues.
  • Work with Outreach Coordinator, Senior Organizer and KIDS COUNT Coordinator to identify research needs, produce research reports and conduct policy analysis.
  • 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 or join 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 issues.

Communications:

  • Manage email communications tied to advocacy, action alerts and press releases.
  • Support 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.
  • Develop a yearly communications strategy 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.

 

Overall:

  • Includes updates to staff and advisory board, writing newsletter articles, attending staff meetings and supervising interns.
  • Assist Development Director in prospecting new donors, drafting content for grant proposals, participating in site visits, maintaining relationships with foundations.
  • Assist with the annual Beat The Odds scholarship celebration and fundraiser.

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 bachelor’s degree
  • Knowledge of and experience working through the legislative process
  • Ability to work in coalition, and working in partnership with other organizations.
  • Demonstrated experience, accountability to and cultural fluency with communities of color, American Indian communities and under-resourced communities
  • Experience managing contractors, staff and volunteers.
  • Experience with data analysis and research
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of health care, early childhood needs and public support programs
  • A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among stakeholders
  • Ability to work in multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-racial settings
  • Empathy, passion, and humor to the work
  • Highly organized and efficient, able to multi-task and meet deadlines
  • Experience and knowledge of social media platforms and tools, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Hootsuite, petition vehicles, video production preferred
  • Exhibit positive behavior and attitude; model a mature and professional demeanor; possess excellent written and verbal skills
  • Ability to take initiative and manage a project including creating a work plan, identifying deliverables and meeting deadlines
  • Experience working on issues related to racial and economic equity
  • A deep commitment to improving the lives of children as expressed in CDF’s mission statement

 

Personal characteristics

The Policy and Legislative Affairs Director should demonstrate competence in the following:

  • Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to think about advocacy, public policy and communications.
  • Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization – must be able to work with people of all ages and backgrounds, skills and abilities.
  • Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques for multiple audiences.
  • Foster Teamwork: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
  • Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule to monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
  • Understanding: Understand and appreciate the mission and work of CDF-MN and how public policy affects children and families.
  • Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
  • Have fun: Bring a sense of inquisitiveness and humor as well as flexibility to the work.

 

To apply submit writing sample, cover letter and resume. We recommend using Firefox or Chrome when applying. Please contact Bharti Wahi at bwahi@childrensdefense.org with any questions.

 

The Children’s Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer.

 

 

This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications