State Director New York

Position Description Position: State Director, Children’s Defense Fund New York

Reports to: National Director, Movement Building

Supervision of: New York Office Staff Collaborate with: State and Regional Directors, Children’s Defense Fund New York Advisory Council, Freedom School Leaders,

Liaise: Parents, Youth, Community Leaders, Policymakers, Advocates, Activists

Hiring Range: $130,830-160,266

Pay Grade: 15A

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Number of Hours/Week: 35

Organization Overview

The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. We serve and advocate for the largest, most diverse generation in America: the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25, with particular attention to those living in poverty and communities of color. CDF partners with policymakers, aligned organizations and funders in this service. The Children’s Defense Fund is the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice by wielding the moral authority of programmatic proximity and community organizing to inform public policy. For more information visit www.childrensdefense.org

Position Summary

This leadership position's main responsibility is developing an effective public policy advocacy and program strategy to advance child well-being in New York. The leader is responsible for creating multi year human capital, fund development and program plans to execute the strategy, campaigns and managing staff and volunteer teams in pursuit thereof. The role’s secondary responsibility is to align between the strategic, programmatic, and operational efforts of the New York State Office and other settings of the Children’s Defense Fund. The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of executive leadership and/or senior management in the social sector, commitment to child well-being and racial equity, and fundraising experience.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy

• Work with National Director of Movement Building to execute and monitor program plan in New York.
• Lead the coordination of state and local efforts in New York to align with Children’s Defense Fund mission, vision, and theory of change.
• Provide volunteer management for New York Advisory Council.
• Identify and build coalitions with key partners and constituencies within the State.
• Serve on Children’s Defense Fund’s National Leadership Team to maintain organizational communications and cohesion.
• Act as State spokesperson leveraging proactive, earned media approach to advance CDF vision and strategy.
  
  

Program Management and Evaluation

• Develop and lead the pursuit of the New York State Office’s multi-year policy advocacy and research agenda.
• Collaborate with NY Team to coordinate grassroots organizing, campaigns and collaboration with organizations and coalitions within the State.
• Manage protocols and policies for leadership development and mobilization in targeted constituencies.
• Oversee the development, tracking, and reporting of goals, outcomes, and performance metrics for the New York State Office
• . Ensure collaboration with Public Affairs team to develop, implement, and improve policy advocacy strategy.
• Ensure collaboration with Communications team to coordinate all media, press releases, social media posts to ensure consistency of CDF brand
• Ensure collaboration with CDF Freedom Schools team to coordinate direct service partnerships in the State.
• Participate and steward team participation in organizational development efforts.
  
  

Operations and Administration

• Work with National Director of Movement Building to budget and monitor State Office to ensure sound fiscal and system management.
• Develop human capital plans to achieve program and operations objectives, then hire, deploy, and support staff.
• Develop and retain a team of high-performing staff to execute the strategy and key functions.
• Coordinate with Institutional Advancement to plan and implement an integrated fundraising program to meet the New York State Office and organization’s fundraising goals
  
  

Qualifications

Education And/or Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of senior management or executive leadership. A minimum of a bachelor's degree. Master’s degree in social work, Public Policy, Public Administration or related field is preferred. Years of education may be considered for experience.
• Track record of earned leadership and trust among diverse constituencies.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: cultural organizing, community organizing (youth, faith community, or parents is a plus), policy advocacy, racial equity, or base-building.
• Successful experience managing a high-performing team of staff and community members.
• Working knowledge of program planning, organizational structure, budgeting, and administrative operations.
• Nuanced understanding of the fundamentals and challenges of the non-profit sector.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Service as social sector executive director with governance, fiscal and personnel management accountabilities.
• Significant leadership in child advocacy, policy and/or philanthropy in New York state.
• Successful community organizing and public policy advocacy for child well-being and/or racial equity.
  
  

Competencies

• Racial equity analysis and application in the social sector.
• Community awareness and prioritization of proximity to inform decision-making.
• Results-driven management style.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Relationship and consensus building with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to set and manage priorities and manage competing demands.
• Ability to build and successfully navigate in a fast-paced, outcomes-driven, and entrepreneurial environment.
• A well-organized individual with high ethical standards.
• A self-directed individual who is an independent thinker and a team player.
• Analytical ability is required to gather and summarize data for reports, find solutions to business challenges.
  
  

Personal Characteristics

• Orientation to and background of servant leadership
• Passion for CDF's mission and purpose and ability to communicate this passion to others
• Ability to serve as an advocate and exemplar for the vision, values, and mission of the Children’s Defense Fund
• Demonstrated strong relational skills Type of work environment associated with the job
• Indoor, office setting