Advocacy Director (Full-Time)

Salary: $120,000–$140,000/yr

Job Description

The America Forward Advocacy Director leads advocacy and government relations strategy and execution across America Forward’s issue areas; directs the organization’s policy efforts in early learning, family literacy, K-12 education, youth mental health & wellbeing (including substance use disorders), and national service; and meaningfully participates in external engagement efforts, including fundraising, communications, and field leadership.

The Advocacy Director is an expert advocate and coalition leader who is adept at turning ideas into action; committed to collective advocacy, top-quality advocacy training, and 1:1 advising; and skilled at partnering with high-performing non-governmental organizations, federal and state policymakers, and philanthropic foundations.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead America Forward’s collective advocacy and government relations strategy across America Forward’s core issue areas, including congressional advocacy, federal department and agency engagement, and select state advocacy. Serve as a lead representative of America Forward to policymakers and engage in extensive direct advocacy and education efforts with policymakers in coordination with the America Forward team and members of the America Forward Coalition.
• Lead America Forward’s early learning, family literacy, K-12 education, youth mental health & wellbeing (including substance use disorders), and national service policy development and collective advocacy work, including Congressional meetings, briefings, and Hill Days.
• Direct the America Forward Coalition’s Early Learning, K-12 Education, and Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Task Forces. This includes developing bi-annual policy platforms that include innovative policy proposals that reflect the priorities of the America Forward Coalition.
• Lend expertise and leadership to the America Forward Advocacy Institute and participate in a suite of capacity-building offerings (including webinars and in-person trainings) designed to build the advocacy skills of Coalition members. This includes coaching individual Coalition organizations to help build their advocacy capacity to execute on their bespoke policy goals.
• Lead the execution of America Forward grants relating to education, youth mental health & wellbeing, family literacy, and national service. This includes meaningfully engaging with institutional funders, participating in drafting grant proposals, and managing grant deliverables.
• Lead select institutional fundraising efforts and support the Executive Director in institutional and individual funder engagement efforts.
• Participate actively in field leadership efforts to advance America Forward Coalition priorities, including convenings and public communications.
• Serve as a representative of America Forward to thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders, and expand America Forward’s external presence by speaking publicly at national, state, and local conferences and events.
• Contribute to America Forward’s communications and message development/branding efforts for America Forward’s early learning, K-12 education, and youth mental health policy work.
• Partner effectively with a group of expert external consultants and experienced lobbyists.
• Build strong and effective relationships with Coalition members and network partners.

To Apply: Candidates should apply at this link: https://america-forward.breezy.hr/