Senior Director, State Policy and Advocacy

POSITION SUMMARY:

(Eligible for Hybrid/ 3 days in office - Alexandria, VA)

 The Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy will be responsible for leading United Way Worldwide’s support of state-specific policy advocacy efforts and providing technical assistance and training to strengthen local United Ways in developing and implementing policy and advocacy strategies. The successful candidate will work across United Way’s impact pillars that guide the organization’s policy priorities: Healthy Communities, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. They will serve as the key point of coordination for the network’s policy-advocacy capacity building efforts at the state and local levels, including national trainings, coordination with state associations and local United Ways on their advocacy initiatives, capacity building, support for elected official engagement, virtual conferences and fly-ins for local United Way staff and board members. 

The Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy will also be responsible for managing or supporting substantive public policy issues, leading cohorts of state and local United Ways to engage in issue advocacy, facilitating best practice sharing for securing state government funding, designing and facilitating trainings for state and local United Ways, and managing partnerships with coalitions and advocacy organizations. 

Candidates will be expected to have significant experience leading and executing trainings and policy events, including developing agendas, coordinating speaker outreach, supporting engagements with elected officials, creating materials, and managing logistics. You will also be expected to have some working knowledge of  the following policy areas: Healthy Communities, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency, along with strong communications and public speaking skills, project management skills, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to set vision and direction for United Way Worldwide’s support of state and local policy efforts. Duties also include producing webinars and developing how-to guides and resources.  

You will report to the Senior Vice President of Public Policy and will work collaboratively on a daily basis with other members of the Global Network Advancement Team, in addition to other departments at United Way Worldwide. In your role as Senior Director of State Policy and Advocacy, you will advise and support execution of departmental goals, strategy, operations and budget. You will communicate policy and advocacy priorities with internal and external stakeholders and work with a range of other staff within United Way Worldwide.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF POSITION: An individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed below at a satisfactory level:

1. Develop and lead the vision for United Way Worldwide’s support of state policy engagement, including equipping state and local United Ways to advance  state-level policy  aligned with the United Way network’s identified policy priorities and state-level opportunities , consisting of: state-specific advocacy campaigns, strategic relationship building with elected officials, engagement on state-specific legislation, coalition mobilization, public events, and more. 
2. Organize, participate in, and conduct trainings, webinars, and conferences to build the capacity of the United Way U.S. network, including:

• State Hill Days and local Days of Action 
• Trainings for local United Ways 
• United Way Advocacy Forum and Capitol Hill Day
• Additional national network-wide events 

1. Strengthen and enhance the United Way Policy Team’s state and local policy engagement strategy, including consultation model, communications and outreach, advocacy tools and resources, and trainings. 
2. Manage or support substantive public policy issues through public awareness campaigns, grassroots and grasstops mobilization, digital advocacy, and strategic influencer engagement.
3. Facilitate opportunities for local United Ways to build relationships with their elected officials, including through trainings on state and local elected engagement with both the legislative and executive branches.
4. Build and manage relationship cohorts of state and local United Ways to provide targeted supports, technical assistance and consultation in an effort to increase their capacity to engage in advocacy on priority issues. Support the broader United Way network to also engage. 
5. Cultivate relationships with national advocacy partners and find synergy with UWW policy and advocacy priorities.
6. Collaborate with the Network Engagement Team to help build the capacity and knowledge of United Ways to engage in public policy and advocacy.
7. Lead web and virtual meetings.
8. Other duties as assigned. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree and at least eight to ten years of advanced-level experience in a similar role. Familiarity with the United Way network and federal policy landscape is strongly preferred.  The role also requires: advanced public policy knowledge, skills and abilities; excellent verbal and written communication skills; an ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, build relationships, and work collaboratively; and excellent project management and Microsoft Office Suite skills. 

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable disabled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job. You should be able to work on-site in the Alexandria, VA location; relocation assistance is not offered. 

SALARY STATEMENT

The budgeted lifespan salary range for this position is currently $130,000 to $150,000 per year.  Salary is determined by several factors including applicant’s knowledge, ­­­skills, experience, position, equity, and market.

COMPETENCIES:

Accountability/Results Orientation 

Is accountable for the work results and performance to budget of an assigned team.  Participates in the articulation of and communicates work goals and objectives, as well as expected work results.  Assists in identifying work quality standards and training team members and accepts responsibility for the team's achieved outcomes.  Protects the United Way brand, promoting its relevance and statue to the extent possible.  Behaves ethically and honestly in all activities done on behalf of UWW and the movement.  Demonstrates a commitment to UWW’s values, including diversity and inclusiveness.

Decision Making/Risk Taking 

Evaluates available information and recommends a course of action.  Contributes own assessment of risks and implications of decisions in team decision-making efforts.  Develops and proposes effective alternative solutions.  Uses judgment appropriately in decision-making.  Knows when to shift decision making upwards.

Organization

Is highly organized and detailed in planning, managing, and executing projects and key, multi-faceted and complex initiatives, Utilizes trackers and/or other strategic organizational tools to ensure work products are constructed efficiently and effectively and easily utilized across the team to monitor and achieve goals. 

Teamwork Collaboration 

Shares pertinent information and keeps team members informed on a regular basis.  Ensures that processes, systems and resources are available and direct them properly to enable the team to efficiently accomplish its goals and objectives. Able to adapt quickly to changing conditions or performance expectations.  Able to focus on assignments during periods of change and/or uncertainty.

Relationship Management 

Embodies and promotes UWW's values and guiding principles.  Promotes a "win-win" philosophy in dealing with others.  Serves as a role model in dealing with others to accomplish organization goals and objectives.  Works effectively with United Way staff, volunteers and other stakeholders to achieve strategic direction.  Able to manage and sustain key relationships to benefit the United Way movement and/or UWW.  Formulates and communicates in an ethical and politically sensitive manner.

Communications 

Expresses ideas and concepts in a clear and concise manner.  Is persuasive and influences others.  Actively listens to others to understand their perspectives.  Seeks input and feedback on individual, team and departmental performance and environment.  Supports openness.

Innovation/Creativity 

Shares a deep commitment to the UW vision. Develops a "connected" vision for the Group.  Has a plan to meet Group vision and contribute to overall success.  Promotes a climate that values and rewards innovation and creativity.  Acknowledges and champions the efforts of others to "think outside the box". Maintains knowledge of current and emerging trends that affect United Ways, UWW and/or the non-profit sector. Demonstrates ability to analyze information and translate into specific, effective action/solutions.

ABOUT UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE

United Way Worldwide seeks diverse, qualified professionals who want to make a difference in the world. If you are passionate about your work and desire to help others achieve enhanced education, income, and health, United Way Worldwide is the place for you.

United Way Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, disability, veteran status, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, and other legally protected characteristics, in accordance with applicable laws. The EEO is the Law poster is available here: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please e-mail recruitment@uww.unitedway.org and provide the nature of your request and your contact information.

We are a charter member of Employers of National Service and encourage AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni to apply.

United Way Worldwide is located in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We offer competitive salary and excellent benefits including: health, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability, employee assistance program, 403(b) plan, tuition assistance, paid time off, family sick leave, medical appointment leave, parental/adoption leave, dress for your day, free parking, onsite gym, monthly volunteering opportunities, and more.

UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE’S DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE

We take the broadest possible view of diversity. 

We value the visible and invisible qualities that make you who you are.

We welcome that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and progress our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.

We believe that each United Way community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have equal access to solving community problems.

We strive to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of our daily work.

We commit to using these practices for our business and our communities.

Join us in embracing diversity, equity and inclusion for every person in every community.

LIVE UNITED.