Sr. Advocacy Director

About ZERO TO THREE

Founded in 1977, ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development. Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society with the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential.

Our Core Values Statement: We believe that how we do our work is as important as what we do. To learn more about ZERO TO THREE, please visit our website at zerotothree.org.

Our Commitment to Diversity

ZERO TO THREE is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring, advancement, and professional development. It is dedicated to diversity in its work, its staff, and community partners. This is an exceptional opportunity for a professional who shares our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and supports our mission to enhance outcomes for all children.

Summary

The Policy Center at ZERO TO THREE, a nonpartisan, research-based resource on infant and toddler development, is seeking a Sr. Advocacy Director. The Sr. Director will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy that coordinates and integrates the efforts of the advocacy and government relations teams, in collaboration with the communications team, to support and advance ZERO TO THREE’s mission of giving all babies and toddlers a strong start in life. The work will advance ZERO TO THREE’s policy agenda through the creation and implementation of national and state advocacy campaigns, including related materials and events, state and federal government relations strategies, and relationship- and coalition-building efforts with a variety of stakeholders, grassroots organizations, and partners, including Congress and the Administration.

This role involves supervising government relations analysts and policy analysts, collaborating with internal leadership and external consultants, and advancing a comprehensive, equity-centered policy agenda.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

The Sr. Director will lead the development of a multi-faceted strategy that effectively coordinates and marries advocacy outreach and government relations work with targeted and focused communications to deliver a comprehensive federal and local approach to the implementation of ZERO TO THREE’s policy agenda. They will collaborate with team members, internal colleagues, external government relations consultants, and relevant stakeholders to develop policy positions that reflect ZERO TO THREE’s values and commitment to racial equity and that are grounded in early childhood development science.

The Sr. Director will plan and ensure the successful implementation of annual high-profile advocacy events at ZERO TO THREE’s Annual Conference and on Capitol Hill. They will ensure all advocacy efforts comply with relevant laws and ethical standards and reflect transparency and accountability. They will lead their team in developing and fostering strategic partnerships and coalitions at the state and federal levels to drive and maximize impact and to seek input from families, early childhood professionals, stakeholders, and community partners.

Team Leadership and Supervision

The Sr. Director will possess the experience and knowledge needed to supervise a team of experienced policy analysts and government relations professionals with strong experience and deep subject matter expertise in their respective issue areas. The Sr. Director will provide the level of mentorship, engagement, and support needed to build and retain a proactive team and will leverage the subject matter expertise of team members to develop and build strategies, campaigns, and issue advancement.

Policy Analysis and Planning

The Sr. Director will possess a deep understanding of the policy arena and how policy relevant to ZERO TO THREE’s policy agenda is informed, shaped, and crafted through the ongoing, dynamic interplay of key national and local stakeholders, including legislators, government agencies, community and grassroots leaders, and partner organizations.

The Sr. Director must possess a strong understanding of Congressional and regulatory processes, its challenges, and idiosyncrasies, particularly regarding the federal budget and annual appropriations process. They will establish processes to develop goals and priorities, and will work with team members to continuously monitor, analyze, and assess proposed and existing relevant federal and state legislation and activities of federal and local agencies.

Execution and Communication

The Sr. Director will continuously work to identify opportunities to cultivate, build, and expand productive and strategic relationships with new champions for ZERO TO THREE. They will be a strong and active member of relevant coalitions and groups and will identify ways to strengthen those relationships and partnerships to further amplify and advance the profile and relevance of ZERO TO THREE’s agenda.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 10 years relevant advocacy and policy experience, including experience on Capitol Hill, government relations, lobbying, or related role.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge and facility with influencing and advocating at federal and local levels.
• Strong management and supervisory skills, including experience providing reflective supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communicator with demonstrated ability to effectively explain and amplify ZERO TO THREE’s reach and engage different audiences.
• Ability to travel, including occasional overnight stays.

Compensation & Benefits

This position’s salary is estimated to be mid $130,000s to high $160,000s depending on experience, geo-location, budget, and other comparable and similarly scoped internal positions. In addition to salary, ZERO TO THREE offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, HRA, retirement contributions, generous leave benefits and more.