Policy and Communications Analyst

Description :

Executive Headquarters (117 West 124th St)

$60000 - $65000 / year

Position Summary : The Office of Public Policy at Children’s Aid is seeking a resourceful, creative, and mission-driven individual to promote public-sector support for programs, services, and policies that benefit children, youth, and families living in poverty.

• The Policy and Communications Analyst reports to the director of public policy and will be responsible for supporting Children’s Aid’s policy agenda;
• researching public policy and legislative issues; writing policy documents; attending and testifying at public hearings;

liaising and representing Children’s Aid on key coalitions at all levels of government

The Office of Public Policy advances the mission of Children’s Aid to assist children, youth, and families to realize their full potential by strategically aligning internal and external policy and practice.

Through research, coalition engagement, and mobilization, we lead legislative and budget advocacy at all levels of government and cultivate spaces for innovation, learning, and knowledge sharing.

Essential Duties :

Policy & Legislative Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Track, analyze, and synthesize budget, legislative, and policy updates relevant to Children’s Aid, including pertinent city, state, and federal hearings, budget information, and advocacy alerts.
• Support content development for policy-related communications with Children’s Aid programs, development, marketing and communications, and executive leadership.
• Assist in facilitating and leading cross-divisional internal working groups on key issues.
• Develop and maintain expertise in assigned areas of responsibility.

Research, Writing, and Communications

• Assist with the development of the organizational policy agenda through research and identification of issues (budget, legislative, or regulatory) in key areas supporting Children’s Aid’s Divisions and Departments.
• Create written materials for budget and legislative testimonies, letters of support, and other mobilization activities.
• Engage in rapid response to policy developments as needed, including drafting articles, op-eds, blog posts, and social media posts.
• Facilitate communication strategies to build public awareness and engagement on advocacy issues.
• Help in researching, writing, and editing content for distribution.
• Ensure existing communications materials are kept up to date and contribute to the development of key messaging tailored to target audiences.
• Assist in copyediting and proofreading reports, newsletters, one-pagers, blog posts, etc.

Advocacy and Relationship Building

Develop materials that will aid in educating and mobilizing volunteers, parents, and youth on key budget, legislative, and policy issues (i.

e. petition collection, letter writing, social media campaigns, etc.).

• Assist with the coordination of logistics for legislative events (including advocacy days, rallies, testifying at hearings, and legislative visits).
• Assist in building and managing relationships with government agencies and legislators on behalf of Children’s Aid.
• Assist in building and maintaining key relationships with select coalitions and alliances at all levels of government.
• Collaborate with other coalition partner experts in policy, communications, and advocacy, including identifying crosscutting issues and projects.

Team Supports

• Support the training on policy and legislative issues for the agency’s staff, youth, and families as needed.
• Assist with the management of policy interns as needed.
• In-person collaboration is an essential function of the job
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s Degree preferred in Policy or related field
• 3 years of experience in policy, research, advocacy, or government.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) a plus.

Key Competencies :

• Knowledge of the policy landscape in child welfare, health policy, and anti-poverty, at the City and State level.
• Experience in managing or coordinating initiatives with proven results.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong project management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, creative, and takes the initiative to solve or anticipate problems.
• Strong relationships with government agencies and elected officials at all levels are a plus.
• Commitment to and passion for Children’s Aid’s mission and work.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.

Children's Aid will not to tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender / sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted.

Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

Requirements :