Director, Local & State Advocacy and Engagement

Position: Director, Local & State Advocacy and Engagement

Location: Remote/Nationwide

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: The estimated salary range for this role is $102,310 - $133,000. This represents UUSA's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to organizational budgets, qualifications, experience, specialized skills, and training.

Position Description:

Reporting to the Vice President, Community Alliance on Child Rights, the Director will lead implementation of UNICEF USA’s advocacy and engagement objectives. This position will lead in the development and implementation of UNICEF USA’s grassroots organizing structure, including skill-building for local advocacy in municipalities and at the state level to achieve UNICEF USA’s objectives. This position will be responsible for identifying aligned opportunities to prioritize certain public policy issues at the local and state levels and will work collaboratively with Youth & Volunteer Engagement, Municipal Partnerships, Research and Evaluations, and Public Affairs groups within the organization.

Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Lead the state and local policy development and alignment opportunities and seek opportunities to collaborate on these efforts internally and externally.
• Lead strategy, expansion and improvement of internal processes regarding local and state policies and collaboration with Public Affairs team.
• Direct and mentor assigned team members on local and state advocacy best practices regarding legislative monitoring, analysis, research, messaging, and relationship building.
• Support the creation of grassroots regional events in support of UNICEF clubs and volunteers (with a youth focus) and in collaboration with regional board engagement strategy.
• Develop a plan and strategy collaboratively to identify the geographic targets (e.g., municipalities and states), key audiences, etc. for effective calls to action in key areas and on priority issues.
• Liaise with internal teams (public affairs, marketing & communications, IT, etc.) to develop compelling message triangles, deliver brand-aligned content and provide timely updates on the issues, and outreach to constituents to support organization priorities.
• Lead engagement with the US NGO community on issues relevant to UNICEF, ensuring UNICEF’s voice in NGO coalitions and providing updates on NGO concerns to UNICEF HQ.
• Represent UNICEF USA in advocacy meetings and events with other national committees of UNICEF where appropriate.
• Under direction of Vice President of the Community Alliance for Child Rights and in partnership with Public Affairs division, support coordinated advocacy initiatives on U.S. policy and budget issues that engage UNICEF volunteers, and influence the U.S. Congress and Administration (e.g., Hill Days).
• Develop advocacy plans and materials for local and state legislation relevant to UNICEF’s mission, including advocacy alerts for websites and social media.
• Train (online and in-person) and advise UNICEF supporters and staff in engaging with government officials around UNICEF’s advocacy priorities throughout the year.
• Advise on policy issues and grassroots advocacy opportunities at the state and local levels, including making recommendations on proposals from UNICEF volunteers.
• Draft and edit content (blogs, articles) related to UNICEF USA’s public policy and advocacy work at the local and state levels.
• Support the team and the programs with administrative tasks as assigned, including monitoring and reporting of lobbying efforts at the local and/or state levels as necessary.
• Supervise and manage policy and advocacy staff. 
• Ability to travel 10-15% during certain times of the year.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay. UNICEF USA values diverse experiences and we’re always looking for people who will add to our culture and further our mission. If you are excited about this role and unsure about whether your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UNICEF USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. UUSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at peopleandculture@unicefusa.org.