Senior Director, Child Poverty Policy and Research

Company: First Focus Of Children
Location: Washington
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Senior Director, Child Poverty Policy and ResearchWashington, DCWashington, DC March 27, 2025First Focus on Children is seeking a full-time Senior Director for Child Poverty Policy and Research. The position will take the lead in engaging in advocacy related to programs that impact child poverty and the promotion of evidence and research as to how cutting child poverty in the U.S. would have a favorable impact on the lives of children, their future, and our nation.The position provides leadership in running the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in the U.S., which includes coordinating with child advocacy groups at the national, state, local, and international levels to promote lessons learned and innovative best practices to cut child poverty. The position would also allow the person to be engaged in or lead another policy issue of their choice, such as child nutrition, immigration, or housing policy.First Focus on Children is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. First Focus leads a comprehensive advocacy strategy, with its hands-on experience with federal policymaking and a commitment to child advocacy.Essential Functions

• Co-develop and advocate for a comprehensive agenda with others at First Focus on Children toward the goal of ending child poverty in the U.S.
• Work with others or take the lead on another policy issue internally and in collaboration with other organizations, such as on child nutrition, immigration, or housing policy, to address these and other issues related to child well-being and success.
• Actively participate in coalitions, and with local, state, and national advocates and policymakers to promote child health and child well-being in Congress and the executive branch.
• Lead the work of CPAG in partnership with national, state, and local child advocates and researchers to eliminate child poverty.
• Analyze legislative and regulatory policy proposals for their impact on cutting child poverty and improving the well-being of children and their parents.
• Develop, promote, monitor, and help to implement new or revised policies and system change strategies designed to comprehensive agenda for children and families.
• Actively advocate for these policies with the executive branch and, before Congress on behalf of our 501(c)(4) affiliate - First Focus Campaign for Children.
• Represent First Focus of Children outside of the organization at meetings and speaking engagements.
• Write reports, briefings, fact sheets, blogs, and other written material for dissemination to various audiences.
• Participate in achieving shared goals with senior management team in strategic planning, budgeting and fiscal management, compliance, external relations, and other leadership activities.QualificationsTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Language Ability: Ability to produce concise, persuasive, and grammatically correct written communication. Ability to make effective and persuasive oral presentations to the President, other senior leadership, and external audiences, including potential donors, community and state leaders, elected officials, and partners.Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and propose relevant recommendations. Manage the organization's public policy work.Leadership Ability: Ability to work across the organization and with child advocates, including former foster youth, at the federal and state levels to build teams and effectively accomplish specified goals and deliverables.Education/Knowledge/Skills
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent (Master's preferred) with 3-5 years increasingly responsible experience in child health policy.
  • Understanding of child poverty and related policy issues.
  • Understanding of the federal policy-making process in Congress and the executive branch, being adept with key tools in advocacy and policy change, understanding the political landscape, and being able to work on issues that require bipartisan support to lead to policy change.
  • Knowledge of issues facing children and families, especially experience in child poverty policy.
  • Leadership capacity to convene and mobilize a diverse community of stakeholders.
  • Experience interpreting actions of the federal government in relation to their practical implementation at the state and local level.
  • Advanced communications skills, including public speaking, persuasive writing, and negotiations.
  • The maturity and confidence to work internally and externally to promote legislative and regulatory policy agendas.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision; self-starter.
  • Knowledge of and/or interest in learning about and leading another children's policy concerns to help ensure First Focus is able to cover the full array of policy issues of importance to children and to address the needs of children on a comprehensive basis.Salary Range$70,000 - $110,000 commensurate with experience.To ApplySubmit a cover letter outlining your interest in the position and your resume to with "Child Poverty Policy and Research Job" in the subject line.
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Keywords: First Focus Of Children, Washington DC , Senior Director, Child Poverty Policy and Research, Executive , Washington, DC