National Director, Public Affairs

Organization Overview

Childrens Defense Fund (CDF) envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish leaders prioritize their well-being and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. CDFs mission is to buildcommunity so young people grow up with dignity hope and joy. CDF core values are Justice Compassion Equity Trust and Love.

We serve and advocate for the largest most diverse generation in America: the74 million childrenand 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 alignedorganizationsand funders in this service. The Childrens 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.

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of this national leadership position is stewarding enterprise-wide efforts in policy advocacy thought leadership strategic communications and narrative buildingregardingCDFs mission vision and strategy. As CDFseeksto set a standard for child-wellbeing nationwide and build the movement to achieve it the National Director role is a critical strategic though leader toward these ends. The National Director supports the Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer in development of multi-layered multi-year strategy and workplans to support child-centered racial equity-informed strategic communications and public policy agendas. This leader manages the Public Affairs division including the policy and communications teams. The secondary responsibility of the National Director is supporting the work of the CDF Action Council 501(c)4 platform. The ideal candidate will have a successfultrack recordof results in public policy and strategic communications andpossessastute contemporary political and narrative analyses grounded by commitment to children and families.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy

• Set strategic direction for CDFs long-term national public affairs narrative brandpromiseand policy strategy alongside Vice President & Chief Program Strategy Officer with input from Directors of Policy and Communications

• Lead cross-functional team toward high stakes state policy federal policy and national communications goals for the good of CDFs mission

• Collaborate with President & CEO and Vice President/Chief Program Strategy Officer to align governance for the CDF Action Council with organizationalobjectives.

• Align programming and strategic impact with peer CDF programming through Leadership Development and Organizing and Child Policy Training Institute (CPTI) teams

• Collaborate with National Director of CDF CPTI and Alex Haley Farm toidentifypolicy research and/or narrative strategies to align with CDF CPTI National Training Programs and Haley Farm convenings.

• Develop annual workplans to translate organizational goals for public policy into a functional departmental workplan with clear metrics and milestones while tracking and reporting scorecard results to senior management.

• Integrate strategic communications with community organizing direct service and public engagement efforts.

• Deepen trust capacity and presence with key partners and constituencies through active coalition membership and leadership.

• Manage protocols and policies for policy advocacy strategic communications and lobbying.

• Set performance outcomes and engagement metrics tomonitorprogress and adjust strategies.

• Remain current and serve asin-house expert on leading and promising public policy and communications strategies augmentingexpertiseof existing teams.

• Work with Vice President Chief Strategy Officer to develop and manage annual departmental budget to support functional departmental workplan ensuring achievement of revenue and spending goals.

• Set goals create work plans andfacilitateperformance improvement for Public Affairs Team

• Develop andretaina team of high-performing staff to execute the policy and communications strategy.

• Identifyopportunities for professional learning and professional growth for all team members.

Program Management and Evaluation

• Oversee the development tracking and reporting of policy advocacy and communications program goals outcomes and performance metrics.

• Lead sourcing application and tracking for relevant grant and funding opportunities to meet Public Affairs and organizational goals.

• Develop human capital plans to achieve programobjectives then hire deploy and support staff.

• Work closely with Vice President to budget andmonitorprogram to ensure sound fiscal and system management.

• Collaborate with National Director of CPTI toidentifyresearchoutcomesand initiatives to align with public campaigns. Collaborate closely withNationalDirector of CPTI to design and coordinate communications recruitment and storytelling strategies from direct service constituencies and partnerships.

• Participateand steward team participation in organizational development efforts.

Public Policy and Strategic Communications

• Direct the development and implementation of public policy and political advancement strategy for CDFs policy agenda including research partnerships and reports targeted outreach and communications strategic and tactical plans.

• Strengthen and socialize national values-centered narrative of child wellbeing with support of research partnerships policyexpertiseand community insight to further mobilize movement for children.

• Ensure the development of disciplined and innovative external communications across diverse platforms from CDF to the public through the development of unified communications and marketing plans with complementary editorial calendars and staff accountabilities.

• Track shifting conditions (demography economy politics geography) and challenges/opportunities across arenas for change (electoral legislative judicial administrative communications corporate) which impact and inform CDFs policy and political strategy.

• Support the development of action campaigns including developing effective campaign plans coordination of campaign activities and actions and recruiting coalition allies.

• Collaborate with National Director of CPTI toidentifyresearch to align with public campaigns.

• Analyze/assess public affairs efforts based upon data collected and implement corrective measures asrequired.

• Serve asliaisonwith federal and national values-aligned partners to advance CDFs vision.

• Monitoremerging needs among CDFs base and key stakeholders including students and youth alumni FreedomSchoolparents and faith community leaders.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelors Degreewith 10 years of related and/or supervisory experience

• Masters degree in Public Policy Public Administration Social Work or related field is preferred. Years of education may be considered for experience.

• 6-8yearssenior management experience with managing a high performing team of staff and volunteers.

• A minimum of 5 years of combined experience in public policy communications public relations and/or politics.

• Track recordof earned leadership and trust among diverse constituencies.

• Expertisein one or more of the following areas: policy analysis policy advocacy coalition-building child well-being and/or racial equity.

• Experience as lead staff for policy campaign research or communications on the state or national level.

• Successful experience managing a high-performing team of staff and community members.

• Working knowledge of program planning organizational structure budgeting and administrative operations.

• Experience with evaluation or participatory action research (experience with Salesforcea plus).

• Nuanced understanding of the fundamentals and challenges of the non-profit sector.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven success in campaign development and performance development.

• Successful public policy advocacy community organizing and/or narrative strategy for child well-being and/or racial equity.

• Strong Experience on-the-record with external audiences across mainstream community and digital platforms

• Relationships with policy leaders at mission-aligned national organizations and government agencies

• Leading the process from ideation development to publication of major policy reports and/or narrative campaigns.

Competencies

• Excellent skills in management and leading teams toward high-stakes outcomes

• Racial equity analysis and application in the social sector

• Community awareness and prioritization of proximity to inform decision-making

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Relationship and consensus building with diverse stakeholders

• Ability to build and successfully navigate in a fast-paced outcomes-driven and entrepreneurial environment

• A well-organized individual with high ethical and professional standards

• A self-directed individual who is an independent thinker and a team player

• Analytical ability isrequiredto gather and summarize data for reports find solutions to business challenges

Personal Characteristics

• Orientation to and background of servant leadership

• Passion for CDFsmission and purposeand ability to communicate this passion to others

• Ability to serve as an advocate and exemplar for the vision values and mission of the Childrens Defense Fund

• Demonstratedstrong relational skills

Work Environment: Indoor office setting.