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State Policy and Program Manager, Child Care & Early Learning
The Position
The National Women’s Law Center seeks a State Policy and Program Manager for the Child Care and Early Learning team to support the team’s work monitoring, analyzing, and advancing state policy and advocacy on child care and early learning issues.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate commitment to – and passion for – the goal of expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care and early learning as well as other policies that promote equity and the advancement of women and girls. The State Policy and Program Manager will need strong policy analysis skills, preferably around state budgets and policies, strong organizational and planning skills, and an ability to support the team’s partnerships with state advocates.
About the Organization
The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.
We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially those who face multiple forms of discrimination, including women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.
For more than 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women, and we need you with us to continue this fight.
Responsibilities
- Helps track state child care and early learning legislative and advocacy developments and implementation of state policy to inform the work of the Director of State Child Care Policy, the State Policy and Outreach Senior Manager, and the larger NWLC child care team;
- Manages a system for coordinating and tracking technical assistance provided to state advocates;
- Helps provide technical assistance to state partners on policy changes, funding changes, advocacy strategies, and other needs;
- Organizes and manages NWLC’s annual child care advocates conference under the leadership of the State Policy and Outreach Senior Manager and in consultation with the Director;
- Organizes and manages other meetings and calls with state partners under the leadership of the State Policy and Outreach Senior Manager and in consultation with the Director;
- Identifies emerging issues in the field and helps develop new research, data, policies, or other changes needed to address these issues;
- Contributes to research and other writing products on child care and early learning, including both products produced by NWLC and with external partners;
- Represents NWLC at conferences, partner events, and state-level events;
- Supports the team’s work on family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) care, assisting with researching and writing reports, planning meetings and calls, maintaining the listserv, and other activities;
- Helps coordinate the work of the state child care policy team with the work of other NWLC teams;
- Develops and maintains relationships with state and FFN advocates; and
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess:
- A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
- At least 2-5 years of relevant experience, including experience with state level policy or advocacy, or working in child care policy/other programs and policies that impact low-income women and families;
- Strong writing and analytical skills;
- Experience with event planning and coordination;
- Ability to build and manage relationships with state advocacy groups.;
- Demonstrated experience working both independently and collaboratively;
- The ability to manage competing priorities, multiple deadlines, and workflow processes involving multiple people;
- Careful attention to detail; and
- Commitment to NWLC’s mission and the goal of expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care and early learning.
Additional preferred skills and knowledge:
- Direct advocacy experience or other work with state advocacy groups, and
- Knowledge of child care and early learning policy is a strong plus.
Key Relations
The Policy and Program Manager will report to the Director of Child Care and Early Learning, but some projects and activities may be overseen by the State Policy and Outreach Senior Manager. The Policy and Program Manager may also assist the State Policy and Outreach Senior Manager in managing interns. The State Policy and Program Manager will help coordinate the state child care policy team’s work with the work of the federal child care policy team, the community partnerships team, the income security team, and other relevant program teams across the Center. In addition, the Policy and Program manager will collaborate across the Center on state work and on work with the campaigns and digital strategies (CDS) team.
Compensation & Benefits
A minimum salary of $83,000 will be provided to the successful candidate, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework.
The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation.
NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. However, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, most NWLC staff are temporarily teleworking with the option to work from our office, which is located in historic Dupont Circle (moving to Franklin Square in early 2023). We continue to monitor public health guidance and keep safety, science, and flexibility top of mind as we evaluate what reopening looks like for our team.
Classification
NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please forward a resume, short writing sample, and a cover letter. In the cover letter, please describe your professional background and detail your level of experience analyzing policies and knowledge of and interest in child care issues. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment. Please send application materials via e-mail to: StatePPMgrCCEL2022@nwlc.org and include the position title in the subject line. Applications accepted until position is filled.
The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; people of all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans.
Reasonable Accommodations
As noted above, NWLC welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email us at [email protected].