Chief Policy, Advocacy & Campaigns Officer (E2)

Save the Children US•Washington, DC

7d•$168,300 - $229,900•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Policy, Advocacy & Campaigns Officer (“Chief PAC Officer”) is a senior executive leader responsible for shaping and advancing Save the Children US’s government relations, policy, advocacy, and political strategy to drive transformational outcomes for children in the United States and globally. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief PAC Officer serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and a trusted strategic advisor, guiding how the organization influences public policy, mobilizes stakeholders, and positions itself as a leading voice for children. The Chief PAC Officer provides enterprise-wide leadership across federal and state government engagement, global policy alignment, advocacy campaigns, and the strategic oversight of Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), the organization’s 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate. This role ensures that advocacy, policy, and political strategies are integrated, data-driven, and aligned with organizational priorities, amplifying Save the Children’s mission impact through systemic change. The Chief PAC Officer also oversees significant financial resources and leads a large, multidisciplinary team spanning policy, lobbying, grassroots mobilization, communications, and campaign execution. This leader is responsible for defining a bold, forward-looking advocacy vision while ensuring disciplined execution, strong governance, and measurable outcomes. The Chief PAC Officer builds and sustains high-impact relationships with policymakers, coalition partners, donors, and global stakeholders, positioning Save the Children as a trusted, influential partner. Success in this role requires exceptional strategic acumen, political insight, and the ability to align complex internal and external ecosystems to deliver lasting policy change.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of relevant experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, political strategy, or related fields, including significant executive-level experience.
Deep expertise in U.S. federal and state government processes, including legislative, appropriations, and regulatory environments.
Proven track record of developing and executing successful advocacy and policy strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated experience leading large, complex, and multidisciplinary teams, with strong people leadership and organizational development capabilities.
Experience overseeing significant budgets and aligning financial resources to strategic priorities.
Strong political acumen, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and build bipartisan relationships.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with experience serving as a public spokesperson.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within or alongside nonprofit, international development, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
Advanced degree (e.g., MPA, MBA, JD, or related field)

Responsibilities

Define and lead a comprehensive, multi-year government relations and advocacy strategy aligned with Save the Children’s mission, U.S. priorities, and global policy agenda.
Establish and drive federal, state, and international policy priorities, influencing legislation, appropriations, and regulatory frameworks.
Ensure alignment of advocacy strategies across Save the Children US, Save the Children International, and SCAN to create a unified and coherent external voice.
Provide strategic counsel to the CEO, Board(s), and executive leadership on political, policy, and reputational risks and opportunities.
Leverage data, evidence, and field insights to shape policy positions and advocacy strategies that deliver measurable impact for children.
Build and maintain high-level relationships with U.S. federal and state policymakers, Administration officials, and key international institutions (e.g., UN, World Bank).
Serve as a primary external spokesperson and thought leader on policy issues affecting children.
Lead coalition engagement with NGOs, think tanks, advocacy organizations, and cross-sector partners to amplify influence and drive collective action.
Shape and execute strategies to influence appropriations, authorizing legislation, and public policy debates.
Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), ensuring alignment with broader organizational priorities.
Drive innovative, integrated advocacy campaigns that mobilize grassroots supporters, influence decision-makers, and deliver policy wins.
Ensure effective integration of lobbying, political engagement, communications, and public mobilization strategies.
Guide the evolution of SCAN into a high-impact, externally facing advocacy and political platform.
Oversee compliance with all applicable laws governing lobbying, political activity, and nonprofit/c4 coordination.
Lead, develop, and inspire a large, multidisciplinary team across government relations, policy, advocacy, and campaigns.
Establish clear goals, roles, and accountability frameworks aligned with enterprise strategy and performance expectations.
Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and high performance across teams and geographies.
Align organizational structure, talent, and capabilities to meet evolving advocacy priorities and external demands.
Champion leadership development, succession planning, and workforce planning within the function.
Oversee significant departmental and SCAN budgets, ensuring strong financial management, transparency, and alignment with strategic priorities.
Brings an established network of high-level donor, philanthropic, and funding relationships, with the ability to strategically leverage and expand these connections to advance advocacy priorities and secure sustainable resources.
Partner with development teams to secure and diversify funding streams, including major donors, foundations, and strategic partners.
Align advocacy priorities with fundraising strategies to maximize resource mobilization and impact.
Ensure efficient allocation of resources to drive measurable advocacy outcomes and return on investment.
Monitor and report on financial performance, campaign investments, and advocacy impact metrics.
Oversee c4 board relations and reporting, in partnership with Legal and Finance.
Partner across divisions (e.g., Programs, Impact & Evidence, Marketing & Growth, Legal, Finance) to align advocacy strategies with programmatic and organizational priorities.
Ensure advocacy is grounded in research, evidence, and programmatic experience to strengthen credibility and effectiveness.
Support governance and board engagement for both Save the Children US and SCAN, including reporting, strategy alignment, and compliance.
Lead strategic planning processes for Government and Advocacy, ensuring integration with enterprise planning cycles.
Establish and reinforce common principles, frameworks, and operating models for advocacy across the organization.

Benefits

Flexible schedules
Generous PTO
11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays
Hybrid working opportunities
Competitive health care, dental and vision coverage for you and your family
A variety of paid leaves: caregiver, parental/adoption, critical child illness and fertility benefits
Annual merit increases and/or additional incentives for eligible employees
A retirement savings plan with employer contributions (after one year)
15 safety and wellness days annually (if hired on or after July 1, safety and wellness days prorated to 8 days)
Mental health benefits and support through Calm and company-hosted events
Free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services through Employee Assistance Program