Jobs

Description:

United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) is a policy and social change organization representing New York State neighborhood settlement houses that reach 765,000 New Yorkers from all walks of life. A progressive leader for more than 100 years, UNH is stewarding a new era for New York’s settlement house movement. We mobilize our members and their communities to advocate for good public policies and promote strong organizations and practices that keep neighborhoods resilient and thriving for all New Yorkers.

UNH seeks a Policy Analyst focused on child and family wellbeing, to be an integral part of our Policy and Advocacy team at a crucial time for young children and their families in New York. The Policy Analyst will have responsibility for leading UNH’s advocacy work to advance issues promoting child and family wellbeing, with a specific portfolio that includes early childhood education, economic security and benefits, food insecurity, and preventive services.

UNH plays a leading role in advocating for policies and funding at the City and State level, and grounds its work in the best practices of experts across the settlement house network. The Policy Analyst will be the organization’s subject-matter expert in early childhood education, with an emphasis on the range of early childhood education programming operated by settlement houses. The Policy Analyst’s work will analyze and advocate for funding, policies, and programs that support the positive development and education of New York City and State’s youngest children. While the majority of time will focus on early childhood issues, the Policy Analyst will also monitor and advocate for policies and funding that protect and enhance economic security and benefits, address food insecurity, and ensure access to preventive services, which are growing portfolio areas for the organization.

The Policy Analyst reports to the Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy and will also work with the Director and UNH’s Executive Director to shape strategies to advance advocacy goals. The Analyst will be a key member of the Policy and Advocacy team, working closely with department staff to advance UNH’s overall advocacy agenda.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Meet with and convene settlement house staff in order to learn about and understand community supports needed around child and family wellbeing, and provide opportunities for collective advocacy and peer support. This includes facilitating UNH’s Early Childhood Issues Group;
• Advocate with elected and appointed officials for funding and programs that support these populations. Strategies include planning and participating in legislative meetings, writing and delivering testimony at public hearings, organizing rallies, collecting and sharing data and stories, responding to concept papers in advance of procurements, and more;
• Analyze and track community needs and policy trends over time;
• Craft timely policy briefs, analysis and other materials that advance advocacy goals. This includes work with UNH’s Senior Research Analyst on data collection and analysis for external-facing products;
• Develop and enrich collaborative relationships with colleague organizations and participate in relevant coalitions; and
• Support and contribute to the overall advocacy and goals of the Policy and Advocacy Department such as offering trainings, organizing UNH lobby days, and other events.

UNH recognizes that by adopting a racial equity framework, and by openly acknowledging and challenging racial inequity through our work, we can play a more deliberate and intentional role in combating explicit and implicit racial biases as well as systemic racism. We believe diversity and inclusion enrich our work so that we may better strengthen our communities. Therefore, every UNH job description includes the following:

• Each UNH employee is encouraged to seek ways in their work to thoughtfully act towards our long-term goal of ensuring that race no longer predicts the quality and trajectory of an individual’s life nor the quality of life in the communities where we live and where settlement houses operate.

The successful candidate should demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Commitment to improving healthy development (education, nutrition, social-emotional learning) for young children and other populations;
• Interest in emerging trends in these fields;
• Strong writing, communication, and time-management skills, including the ability to take initiative, prioritize duties, pay attention to detail, and work independently;
• Two years of relevant work experience and a Bachelor’s degree; considerable experience may substitute for a degree;
• Knowledge of New York City and State government;
• Commitment to racial and social justice, with an understanding of the needs of communities served by settlement houses and ability to incorporate a racial equity frame in policy analysis and advocacy efforts; and
• Ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, experience, and judgment.

The most competitive candidates will also demonstrate several of the following skills and experience:

• Strong facilitation skills and experience in facilitating groups or coalitions;
• Experience with research and data analysis; and
• Some previous knowledge of issues relating to child and family wellbeing.

Note that this position will be following a hybrid work schedule. Applicants must have an ability to commute to our office in Lower Manhattan, as well as travel throughout New York City during business hours and occasionally to Albany.

This position pays a salary of $70,000 per year. UNH offers a competitive benefits package with excellent medical, dental and retirement plans, and is committed to growth within the organization. UNH has made a commitment to apply a racial equity lens to our work. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and welcome applicants of diverse backgrounds including race, ethnic culture, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, and physical abilities.