Senior Project Manager

Position: Senior Project ManagerPublic Affairs

Reports to: National DirectorPublic Affairs

Supervision: None

Hiring Range: $93800 $112560

Exempt/Non-Exempt:Exempt

Full Time/Part Time:Full Time Term-Limited (Two Years)

Number of Hours: 35

Location: Washington DC; Hybrid schedule (3 daysonsite/2 days remote)

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. The Childrens Defense Fund buildscommunityso young people grow up with dignity hope and joy. 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 Senior Project Manager (SPM) is fully dedicatedand accountable for the planning execution and management of variousPublic Affairs projects across public policy communications andday-to-day responsibilities for the ECOSYS Southern States Fund throughCDFs role SPM exercises independent judgment in managing timelines systems partner coordination and internal workflows and ensureshigh-quality compliant execution across public affairs andECOSYS activities led by CDF.

The SPM works under the direction ofand in close collaboration withtheNationalDirector ofPublic Affairand provides operational leadership across internal teams and external partners. While the role does not lead ECOSYS governance design hub management or initiativewide evaluation (which are partnerled) the SPMis responsible forensuring CDFs scope of work is executed effectively on schedule and in alignment with organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Implementation & Internal Coordination

• Own and manage daytoday project operations including workplans timelines deliverables internal dependencies and documentation.

• Designmaintain and improve internal systems used to track commitments regranting timelines deliverables and reporting requirements.

• Provide operational leadership to ensure activities are resourcedappropriatelyrisks areidentifiedearly and executionremainsaligned with CDF standards and expectations.

• Coordinate internally with GrantsandFinanceLeadership Development & OrganizingPublic Affairs State Offices and other CDF teams to ensure consistent implementation.

Partner Engagement & Communication

• Maintain consistent communication with Southern States Fund partners including scheduling preparation of materialsfollow-ups and ongoingrelationship building.

• Coordinate and support partner onboarding processes and ensure partners receivetimelyinformation updates and resources from CDF.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for ECOSYS partnerlogistics inquiries and operational needs in collaboration with LDODirector.

• Exercise professional judgment in resolving daytoday partner operational issues and escalating strategic or reputational concerns to LDO leadership asappropriate.

Regranting Support & Internal Learning

• Manage CDFs internal regranting implementation for ECOSYS including process design documentation standards timelines compliance coordination and partner communication in alignment with CDF grant management protocols.

• Synthesize partner inputs progress reports and qualitative updates to inform internal decisionmaking leadership updates and regranting cycles.

• Ensure regranting activitiesremaintimely compliant andwell-organizedwithin CDFs internal framework.

• Assistin producing internal summaries or synthesis related to regranting.

Convenings & FieldBuilding

• Coordinate the internal planning and operational execution ofCDFalignedPublic Affairsconveningsincluding multiday gatherings at Haley Farm crossstate learning sessions and state partner visitsin support ofsenior staffexternal leadership and partner engagement roles.

• Support contentandlogisticsforeffectiveconvenings: agendaand contentdevelopment participant communication materials preparation accessibility supports technology and onsite/virtuallogistics.

• Createfollow-upsummaries notes or synthesis documents from convenings for internaland externaluse ensuring continuity andfollow-throughonaction items.

Technical Assistance Coordination

• Support the coordination of technicalassistanceby helping match partner needs to TA providers working closely withinternal and externalcollaborators.

• Track TA pacing scheduling communication andfollow-upwithin CDFs internal systems.

• Ensure partners have clear instructions materials and timelines related to TA engagements.

Narrative & Policy Integration Support

• Coordinate with CDF Public Affairs and messaging partnersto support development of ECOSYSaligned narrative and policy materials.

• Manage the flow of content drafts and inputs needed for briefs talking pointsconveningmaterials or other narrative/policy products.

• Ensure narrative and policy integration activities are aligned with CDFs internal guidance and handled in coordination with LDO.

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degreerequiredwith a minimum of five years ofprogressively responsibleproject managementprogramimplementationand/or operations leadershipexperience.

• Experience coordinating multi-site initiatives partner engagement or organizing-related projects preferred.

• Experience with regranting grant administration compliance or nonprofit reporting is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or similar project management certification.

• Experience supporting convenings fieldbuilding or multi-stakeholder collaborative initiatives.

• Experience with racial equity child wellbeing community organizing or policy-adjacent work.

Competencies

• Strong project and systems management skills; ability to create andmaintainrepeatable processes.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strongrelationship buildingand partner engagement skills.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced multi-state environment.

• Commitment to racial equity and CDFs mission.

• Highly organized with strong follow-through and attention to logistical detail.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment manage complexity and balance multiple stakeholder interests within timebound initiatives.

Personal Characteristics

• Commitment to servant leadership and movement-building.

• Passion for CDFs mission and values.

• Results-driven proactive and adaptable.

• Equity-oriented and justice-minded approach to youth and community engagement.

Work Environment

• Office environment with travel to Southern states and Haley Farm as needed.

• Occasional evenings or weekendsrequiredfor convenings and partner engagement.

AdditionalInformation

CDF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description may be updated as needed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply pleasesubmita cover letterandresumeat Experience:

Senior IC