Sr. Policy Analyst

Description

About Voices for Virginia’s Children
Voices for Virginia’s Children champions public policies and legislation that achieve positive and equitable outcomes for young people. We envision a Virginia in which our systems center young people, ensuring their ability to realize their brightest potential is no longer predictable by race, socioeconomic status, or geography. Voices’ current strategic plan can be found at https://vakids.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VFVC_StrategicPlan24_Booklet_FINAL-1.pdf.

For more information about Voices work, visit www.vakids.org

About the Position:
The Senior Policy Analyst will lead Voices’ policy advocacy campaigns across its strategic goals in family economic security and child welfare, in alignment with Voices’ belief that the strongest predictor of family involvement in the child welfare system is poverty. The Senior Policy Analyst will drive statewide, systems-level change in Virginia’s family support systems through advancing policies such as a state-level Child Tax Credit, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, and improving and expanding public benefits, including TANF, SNAP, and Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) programs. The position will also advance transformative policies in the child welfare system through increasing legislative support for robust parent legal representation in family court and expanding support for older youth transitioning to adulthood.

Job Duties

Job Duties:
• Policy Leadership: You will lead our policy work in domains related to family economic security and child welfare, working collaboratively with policy and engagement staff to create a multi-disciplinary policy agenda. You will provide policy analysis expertise to internal and external partners.
• Community Relationship Building: You will lead Voices’ Foster Care Policy Network and participate in other coalitions for economic security. You will serve as the main Voices liaison for partner organizations on issues of child welfare and economic security. You will provide support and technical assistance to partner coalitions and state workgroups to contribute to mobilize change and create collective community impact.
• Strategic Communications: You will work with the Director of Communications on developing and executing communications that further advocacy objectives. These may include policy briefs, one-pagers, blogs, etc. You will also conduct and participate in trainings and presentations on education and advocacy related to child welfare and family economic security.
• Racial Equity: You will promote racial equity across all dimensions of your work, ensuring that policies put forward are assessed for their impact on all races.

Skills Required

Required Qualifications:
• Excellent verbal and written communication: Strong ability to effectively communicate complex ideas. Confident and persuasive in public speaking.
• Experienced lobbyist: Deep knowledge of the state legislative process and policy making with a minimum of 3 years’ experience working in state-level policy advocacy.
• Exceptional Collaborator: Ability to work collaboratively with others with different backgrounds, beliefs, and values. Engages in conflict productively.
• Ability to effectively analyze data and research to identify trends and solutions.
• Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice. Actively centers equity and inclusion and promotes equitable practice and solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Proven experience in managing high-performing teams.
• Highly organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in the family economic security and/or child welfare domains.
• Experience with media/communications.
• Experience with community engagement.

A Note to Potential Candidates: Research shows that women, LGBTQ+ identified people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Additional Info

Location: This role will be based in Richmond, VA. Voices has a hybrid work schedule with an in-office day on Wednesdays in Richmond required. Additional in-person days in Richmond are required during the General Assembly session.

Benefits: We are a talented team motivated by the significance and impact of our work. Voices values its employees and their lives beyond work, and we maintain a flexible and supportive workplace. We aspire to create an environment where our team can thrive as it works to support a thriving Virginia. For example, we provide:

• Excellent health insurance with fully covered health, dental, and vision employee premiums
• Access to health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 30 days of PTO and 12 paid holidays; paid parental leave
• A retirement plan with 3% contributions from employer (no required match)
• Professional development stipend
• Monthly remote work stipend; and a flexible, hybrid work environment

Application Review Date: We’ll start reviewing applications after February 28, 2025 when the application closes. While our review process can take some time, this doesn’t mean you’re not being considered; please be patient as we carefully evaluate each candidate.

Application Instructions: Complete the required application questions here then submit your resume and a list of three references in an email to megan@vakids.org with “Sr. Policy Analyst Application” in the subject line.

Voices for Virginia’s Children is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. We recognize that the children and families of Virginia are unique in their backgrounds, beliefs, opportunities, and challenges. We strive to embody and embrace that in our work, believing that our unique identities allow us to create a brighter future for Virginia’s children. Through our efforts, we engage diverse perspectives and inform equitable and just policy solutions that transform children’s lives and may dismantle systems of oppression. All applicants must be committed to sustaining and furthering these efforts.