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Job Title: Director of Public Policy & Advocacy
Status: Regular, Full Time
Compensation: $90,000 - $115,000 DOE
Program:Public Policy & Advocacy
Classification: Exempt
Home Office: Seattle, WA 98144 / Hybrid
Application Requirements: To be considered, applications must include resume and a letter of interest that includes a statement regarding the applicant’s commitment to racial equity.
Are you interested in a role where you make a huge difference for youth living in the foster care system? Do you want to have a role in lasting systemic change? Do you care deeply about giving young people and equitable start in life? If so, The Mockingbird Society and this role may be for you!
ABOUT THE MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY
The Mockingbird Society (TMS) is a non-partisan advocacy organization focused on transforming foster care and ending youth homelessness. We do this by creating, supporting, and advocating for racially equitable, healthy environments that develop youth and young adults at risk of or experiencing foster care or homelessness.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Status: Regular, Full Time
Compensation: $90,000 - $115,000 DOE
Program:Public Policy & Advocacy
Classification: Exempt
Home Office: Seattle, WA 98144 / Hybrid
Application Requirements: To be considered, applications must include resume and a letter of interest that includes a statement regarding the applicant’s commitment to racial equity.
Are you interested in a role where you make a huge difference for youth living in the foster care system? Do you want to have a role in lasting systemic change? Do you care deeply about giving young people and equitable start in life? If so, The Mockingbird Society and this role may be for you!
ABOUT THE MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY
The Mockingbird Society (TMS) is a non-partisan advocacy organization focused on transforming foster care and ending youth homelessness. We do this by creating, supporting, and advocating for racially equitable, healthy environments that develop youth and young adults at risk of or experiencing foster care or homelessness.
POSITION SUMMARY:
- Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Public Policy & Advocacy is responsible for the development, oversight, and supervision of TMS’s Public Policy & Advocacy program.
- As a member of the leadership team, the position will help develop the vision and advocacy strategies for TMS to achieve its mission of transforming foster care and ending youth homelessness.
- This successful candidate will have a deep commitment and passion for the welfare of youth experiencing foster care and/or homelessness, along with relevant lived experience, credibility, and proven effectiveness in engaging the community and/or legislators for transformative change.
- The candidate will also exhibit a personal and demonstrated commitment to equity and anti-oppression practices in their previous work or community-based experiences.
- The Director will lead the development of the policy agenda and corresponding advocacy strategies in collaboration with TMS youth participants, community partners, and other key stakeholders including staff and board members.
- The Director will represent the agency in local, state, and national coalitions and serve as a collaborative strategic advocacy partner to service providers and other advocates.
- The Director and the Executive Director will collaborate closely to ensure that state policy priorities are realized.
- The Director will also oversee research on new policy innovations as well as implementation of recently adopted laws, policies, and procedures.
- This position will work closely with the Development & Communications team to ensure policy messages are clearly and consistently communicated with funders, supporters, and other key audiences.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administration and Supervision
- Serve on the organization’s senior management team and help guide organizational strategy through development and implementation of strategic plan priorities.
- Lead regular Public Policy team meetings and strategy sessions.
- Provide supervision of Public Policy team members, including 3 FTE, interns, and contractors (when retained).
- Manage relationship with Mockingbird’s contract lobbyist.
- Conduct annual planning with the Public Policy team and senior leadership team.
- Work in collaboration with the Development & Communications team regarding Public Policy materials to inform grant commitments and engage the Mockingbird community in grassroots advocacy.
- Partner with the Youth Programs team to plan and execute two large annual events.
- Develop and oversee short- and long-term strategies for evaluating TMS’s Public Policy work.
- Develop and oversee Public Policy & Advocacy program budget; comply with all state and other public disclosure reporting requirements.
- Participate actively in agency’s collective work to become an anti-racist organization, including seeking out opportunities for personal professional development, supporting the creation and execution of racial equity screening tools for policy work, and engaging in regular reflection and assessment of internal and external policies, practices, and procedures with a race equity lens.
Internal Policy:
- Guide exploratory research into new policy initiatives, monitor policy reforms, and research best practices to achieve the TMS mission.
- Provide expert consultation to TMS programs (Mockingbird Youth Programs and Mockingbird Family) on policy development and implementation.
- Oversee strategic touchpoints with the youth chapters and connect youth with other expert policy advisors in the field.
- Lead the Public Policy program in refinement of annual issue development and advocacy cycle through a racial equity lens and in partnership with youth participants and leaders.
- Supervise King County advocacy program, providing high level strategic oversight for creation & execution of goals and strategies to elevate youth voice in the regional approach to addressing youth and young adult homelessness.
- Provide timely and actionable updates to the board of directors on the development and execution of TMS policy priorities and other relevant policy developments.
External Policy:
- Represent TMS on select statewide, local, and national coalitions; attend conferences and speaking engagements as necessary; convene and facilitate ad hoc workgroups and coalitions to advance agency priorities.
- Convene and chair statewide coalition of providers, funders, and advocates, the WA Coalition for Homeless Youth Advocacy (WACHYA), guiding the development of an annual advocacy agenda, coordinating member advocacy, and working in collaboration with contract lobbyist to execute the agenda.
- Identify, develop, and maintain community partnerships with fellow advocates, service providers, and funders.
- Seek out and promote opportunities for youth leadership and expertise in the policy space, in collaboration with Youth Programs staff and young leaders themselves.
- Develop and steward key policy stakeholder (include legislators, legislative staff, and agency staff) relationships, primarily in state government.
- Act as TMS’s lead strategist on policy work in Olympia, including providing & coordinating direct testimony, serving on issue-specific workgroups, coordinating the work of retained lobbyists, and meeting directly with lawmakers at strategic points before, during, and after legislative sessions
- Track the implementation of child welfare and youth and young adult homelessness laws, budgets, policies, and procedures and, in consultation with the Executive Director, determine how best to advocate in implementation efforts.
- Identify and develop opportunities to elevate TMS’s unique expertise to decision makers and other key audiences including work sessions, legislative briefings, and community forums.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Juris Doctor or Master’s in social work, Public Administration, Human Services, Social Sciences, or related field preferred; at least five years of progressive experience in a Public Policy analyst or advocacy role, or equivalent experience.
- Ability to lead and to act as coalition partner with community partners, elected officials, and representatives of local, state, and national government agencies.
- Experience advancing policy initiatives through the state legislative process.
- Experience in managing government relations, including position analysis, stakeholder relations, communications, and influencing policy change.
- Persuasive public speaker, presenter, and writer; ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences.
- Strong and consistent leadership; able to create effective work teams; delegate responsibilities; listen and provide constructive feedback; manage projects and meet deadlines; and maintain effective and positive relationships with coworkers.
- Ability to manage performance by coaching, mentoring, decision-making, team building and producing results through employees; experience working with youth leaders (ages 14-24) a plus.
- Strong negotiation skills: ability to help foster decisions and build consensus where conflicting opinions exist.
- Ability to manage talent, ensure training and development; and evaluate performance of staff; 5+ years management or supervisory experience preferred. Experience managing budgets and technical skills in using Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Upon date of hire, must be able to pass a Washington State and national criminal history check.
- Access to reliable transportation, a valid WA state driver’s license, and adequate insurance.
- Frequent travel to Olympia, WA required during the legislative session.
- Occasional travel to partner locations and conferences.
- Compliance with all agency policies regarding COVID-19 as well as state mandated vaccination policy.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $115,000 depending on experience and qualifications. In addition, The Mockingbird Society offers:
- 100% employer-paid premiums for Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
- 2 Weeks Vacation for the first year. Vacation accrual increases with each service year (until the 5th year).
- 2 Weeks Sick Leave.
- 10 paid holidays.
- 2 floating holidays for full-time staff.
- Office closure/paid holidays from Christmas through New Year’s Day.
- Simple IRA with 3% Employer Match.
- Employee assistance program .
EMPLOYMENT POLICY
The Mockingbird Society is an Equal Opportunity employer. Employment is based upon individual qualifications without regard to race, culture, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disabilities, political ideology, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. We welcome all applicants, especially individuals with experience as caregivers, alumni of foster care, and those who have experienced youth homelessness. We recognize that women are statistically less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet 100% of the qualifications. If you do not meet all the qualifications, we hope you will still consider applying.
HOW TO APPLY
Send resume and letter of interest form to tmsjobs@mockingbirdsociety.org with “Director of Public Policy” in the subject line.
The Mockingbird Society is committed to actively creating racial equity and eliminating the impact of intersectionality by embodying the changes we want to see in our work. Applicants are required to include a statement regarding how they would support and further this goal in their cover letter.
Due to our desire to most effectively use our time in service to our mission, we ask that prospective candidates follow the instructions above; no calls, please.
