Job Announcement: Policy Specialist for Children's Alliance

Posted: July 6, 2011

The Children’s Alliance Policy Specialist is a dynamic position, whose primary role is to assist the Deputy Director with a variety of programmatic responsibilities. The position involves a diverse range of work in multiple program areas relating to child and family policy, and works with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment on everything from long-term strategy to new project implementation. This position assists the Children’s Alliance to actively respond to opportunities for advancing positive, racially equitable child and family policies at both the state and federal levels.

This is a 32-37.5 hour/week position, based in the Seattle office. Ability to work a flexible schedule is required, with some evenings and weekend availability required, particularly during state legislative sessions. Health, dental, and retirement benefits included. This position reports to the Children’s Alliance’s Deputy Director and is a member of the organization’s policy staff. Salary is $47,000/year, based on full time work.

Major responsibilities:

Lead Children’s Alliance federal advocacy work: manage contracts and relationships with funders and federal partners, integrate activities into the program staff of the Children’s Alliance, and provide leadership on federal activities

Provide public policy advocacy support to Deputy Director on a range of child and family policy issues. This includes but is not limited to policy analysis and monitoring, strategic advice, recommendations, and implementation of activities for children’s health, early learning, child hunger and nutrition policy, child welfare, juvenile justice issues, and others as needed

Provide support to Deputy Director on child poverty related advocacy efforts, including but not limited to strategic analysis and management of logistics Provide support to Deputy Director for a variety of responsibilities including new project development aspects of Children’s Alliance

Provide an additional point of contact to partners and advocates interested in the activities of the Children’s Alliance, including but not limited to representing the Children’s Alliance in community meetings, meetings with other advocates, and responding to outside requests for information Miscellaneous tasks as needed

Qualifications:

A minimum of 2 years professional experience in the policy advocacy arena Demonstrated understanding and ability to articulate Children’s Alliance’s mission, values, and approach to child advocacy Ability to work effectively in multiple arenas, on a range of tasks and levels Understanding of state-based child and family policy

Passion for and interest in supporting the work of a child advocacy organization Experience with racial equity policy analysis and advocacy and commitment to undoing institutional racism

Excellent written and verbal communications skills Persistence, resourcefulness, and positive demeanor Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to simultaneously handle multiple tasks

Please submit letter of interest, resume, and affirmative action form (optional, available at http://childrensalliance.org/about-us/jobs) to:

Hiring/Policy Specialist, Children's Alliance 718 6th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98104 FAX 206.325.6291 EMAIL job@childrensalliance.org

Candidates encouraged to apply by August 7, 2011. Children's Alliance is an equal opportunity employer working toward a culturally diverse and culturally competent work place.