Vice President for State Network Strategy

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.

CBPP combines rigorous research and analysis, strategic communications, and effective advocacy to shape debates, affect policy, and inform effective implementation both nationally and in states. It works closely with a broad set of national, state, and community organizations to design and advance policies that promote economic justice; improve health; broaden opportunity in areas like housing, health care, employment, and education; and lower structural barriers for people of color and others in communities that continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. CBPP promotes policies that will build a more equitable nation and fair tax policies that can support these gains over the long term. CBPP also shows the harmful impacts of policies and proposals that would deepen poverty, widen disparities, and worsen health outcomes.

CBPP’s 35-person State Fiscal Policy (SFP) division’s primary responsibility is supporting the State Priorities Partnership — a powerful network of state policy advocacy leaders working for racial and economic justice through equitable state tax and budget policies in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. CBPP launched the network more than 30 years ago , and today it is one of the leading networks working at the nexus of power building and policy change by centering the needs of diverse communities, building local and national partnerships, and employing strategic communications fueled by timely , nonpartisan research. SFP provides consulting, coaching, technical assistance , and other resources to maximize each group’s internal organizational effectiveness and influence over state policy. SFP also supports the Partnership by organizing convenings, affinity groups, issue-based cohorts, and other forms of community building. T eams within SFP include those focused on advancing the Partnership’s interests through philanthropy , supporting Partnership groups’ organizational health and effectiveness, and advancing the Partnership’s impact through policy analysis, strategic communications, and campaigns.

The Partnership’s work is more vital today than ever before. States and localities collect more than one-third of all taxes in the United States and spend half of all domestic public-sector dollars. Their policy choices make a crucial difference in our lives and play an important role in determining whether longstanding structural inequities will be overcome, remain the same, or worsen . The next few years will be crucial in states with major opportunities to greatly expand income supports , health care access, childcare supports , family leave, and more. The next few years will also be highly consequential in states that have enacted or are considering tax and budgetary policies that would shift even more wealth and power to a privileged few. Partnership groups will play a key role in efforts to reverse these harmful policies and to build towards a future in which state policies support people in marginalized communities to realize lives of joy and abundance.

To support this work, CBPP seeks a Vice President for State Network Strategy . The ideal candidate will be a strategic and equity-focused leader with strong advocacy skills and successful fundraising experience. The Vice President will collaborate with network leaders to implement a clear vision and strategy for the Partnership and lead teams that support network governance, strengthen state organizations, actualize the network’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, cultivate and expand funding sources to sustain and transform the Partnership’s power, and prepare the next generation of state fiscal policy leaders. In accomplishing this work, the Vice President will share leadership with the Partnership’s steering committee and national funder table .

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for State Fiscal Policy, the Vice President for State Network Strategy will sit within CBPP’s leadership group. In this capacity , they will help to build a healthy organizational culture by ensur ing that policies are responsive to both the evolving needs of staff and the shifting political and policy environment. This position will also work closely with other leaders within SFP to deepen collaboration across sub- teams and increase our impact . 

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Partnership ’s steering committee and funders , as well as SFP’s fundraising team, to increase the Partnership’s financial sustainability and promote its work to funders, partners , and other stakeholders.  
• Collaborate with SFP’s two other Vice Presidents to ensure that team goals and cross-team efforts align with the Partnership’s vision and direction and advance CBPP’s mission . Carry out SFP ’s commitment to a healthy, equitable , and inclusive work culture by modeling and encouraging collaboration that is liberatory, inclusive, and creative .
• Promote and help fundraise for a wide array of equity and inclusion-focused network initiatives, including efforts to center antiracism, equity, and inclusion in policy work and to build community among staff with various identities. 
• Serve as a national spokesperson for both the Partnership and CBPP at events involving some of the nation’s leading advocacy organizations, policymakers , and philanthropic leaders. The Vice President’s role as spokesperson will focus particularly on speaking engagements that allow them to promote the Partnership and its work.
• Engage in strategic conversations across SFP, CBPP, and Partnership leaders around the Partnership’s crucial tax and budget advocacy work and its role in the ecosystem.
• Provide strategic leadership for SFP’s efforts to strengthen policy and advocacy leadership pipelines building on the highly successful State Policy Fellowship program . The Vice President will provide vision and overall leadership for this program .
• Contribute to the vision for the Partnership’s marquee convenings , including the biannual Impact and Connect conferences, which engage hundreds of advocates and policy leaders across the country ; help to ensure that events advance the network’s goals.
• Manage up to three sub-team leads and support them in managing their staff; help guide team members’ professional growth and development. The sub-team leads supervised by this Vice President focus primarily on fundraising for the Partnership and improving the internal work cultures and organizational effectiveness of Partnership groups .
  
  

Qualifications

• At least ten years of relevant experience in a combination of policy impact work, partnerships, movement building, fundraising, and/or national network engagement.
• Understanding of policies and programs that dismantle structural barriers to equity and opportunity. Ability to clearly and consistently articulate a sophisticated understanding of racial equity and structural racism, their impact s on policy, and the centrality of this analysis to policy change. Ability to integrate that knowledge into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of polic y decisions on racial , class, and other identity groups .
• Exceptional leadership skills and a highly collaborative management style that centers equity and inclusion . Awareness of multiple group identities and their attendant dynamics ; empathy , compassion , and the ability to build and sustain authentic, productive working relationships with colleagues, including CBPP staff, Partnership staff, and external partners , across race and other group identities .
• Demonstrated experience cultivating philanthropic relationships. 
• Experience working in a network/federated environment ; strong commitment to collaboration and partnership. 
• Exceptional ability to effectively navigate misunderstanding and conflicts, assess risks, take initiative, and seize opportunities.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills, particularly the ability to communicate in compelling ways to a wide range of stakeholders about the importance of policy change, racial equity, and advocacy campaigns.
• Ability to communicate clearly and directly with funders, national partners, and others; match intent and impact in interactions ; provide positive and developmental feedback; and resolve conflicts and misunderstandings.
• Exceptional ability to respond to multiple demands and competing priorities in a complex, fast-paced policy environment. 
  
  

CBPP currently operates on a hybrid work schedule that includes at least two days per week in-person at our Washington, D.C. office. We will consider remote candidates for this position, but all candidates should expect to travel at least four times a year for SFP and/ or Partnership events. Remote candidates should also expect to travel to our D.C. office at least four times per year in addition to other travel . While a remote candidate would have some flexibility around their regular working hours, they would be expected to attend meetings during core Eastern Time business hours and to meet Eastern Time deadlines.

This position reports to the Senior Vice President for State Fiscal Policy .

Terms of Employment: full-time, exempt.

Bargaining Unit Status: This is not a bargaining unit position.

Compensation: The salary range for the role is $1 75 ,000 to $200,000 annually, with the exact salary to be determined based on total relevant experience. Excellent benefits (including health insurance, vision and dental coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement, MERP, and DCAP) and generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday schedules.

Please upload a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please include a discussion of what draws you to CBPP 's mission.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and welcomes diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages all qualified persons to apply regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, credit information, pregnancy or parental status, family responsibilities, personal appearance, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry or national origin, union activities, disability, or other status protected by applicable law.