Policy and Research Manager

CHILDRENS DEFENSE FUND•Columbus, OH

6d•$69,482 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

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 The policy and research manager will lead and manage CDF-Ohio’s advocacy, movement building, and research programs ensuring that policymakers and the public receive timely, accurate, and evidence-based research information. The position will lead the development of policy recommendations informed by the lived experiences of Ohio’s youth, young adults, parents, caregivers, and faith activists, aligned to CDF’s mission, values, and strategy. The policy and research manager will also take a lead role in assisting with grant development and fundraising strategies, including prospecting as assigned by the State Director. The policy and research manager will supervise all aspects of CDF-Ohio’s research program and Ohio KIDS COUNT project. The policy and research manager will ensure that public dissemination of all research information and KIDS COUNT data is relevant, informative, and accessible. The research manager will ensure that all research data and information will inform CDF-Ohio’s development of a research agenda, research questions, policy priorities, and advocacy. The policy and research manager will supervise all aspects of CDF’s movement building strategies with Ohio’s Freedom Schools, youth, young adults, parents, caregivers, and faith-based activists, including the collection and dissemination of their lived experiences.

Requirements

A master’s degree in public policy, economics, education, social work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience relevant to the job responsibilities.
Supervisory experience of 1-3 years developing, coaching, and directing a team.
Direct experience with fund development, grant reporting, and relationship management.
Experience working with community members, advocates, policymakers, media, and legislators.
Experience using research and data management as a part of an advocacy strategy.
Fluency in the Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel), data analytic software, and ability and willingness to learn new research and data analysis software programs.
Coursework or field experience using quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Racial equity analysis and application in the social sector.
Community awareness and prioritization of proximity to inform decision-making.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to gain insights from data and research that are relevant for policymaking.
Attention to detail and be adept at critical thinking, forward thinking, and problem-solving.
Organized and able to work independently.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a team environment.
Orientation to and background of servant leadership.
Passion for CDF's mission and an ability to communicate this passion to others.
Ability to serve as an advocate and exemplar for CDF’s mission, vision, and values.
An equity and justice-oriented mindset.
A “get it done,” results-driven, proactive attitude, capable of working independently and under pressure, an ability to take initiative, set priorities, efficiently and effectively organize work, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

A doctorate degree in public policy, economics, education, social work, or related field.
Experience conducting lived experience research and organizing constituents.
Project management experience.

Responsibilities

Manage CDF-Ohio’s advocacy strategy which includes: Developing CDF-Ohio’s policy priorities, Disseminating and communicating CDF-Ohio’s policy priorities, Drafting policy and agency rule proposals, Monitoring bills and agency rules, Attending legislative and agency rule committee hearings, Preparing and presenting legislative and agency rule testimony, Negotiating with legislators and agency decision makers, Leading coalition building activities around direct and grassroots advocacy, and Representing the organization at speaking engagements, in the media, and with decision makers.
Track national policy issues impacting Ohio children in collaboration with CDF’s team and participate in CDF advocacy meetings on federal policy issues.
Serve as CDF-Ohio's lead collaborating with other nonprofit partners to form, join or manage state coalitions.
Serve as CDF-Ohio's lead collaborating with CDF’s national, state, and regional offices on policy issues impacting Ohio’s children.
Ensure CDF-Ohio meets advocacy and lobbying compliance as unit within a 501 c3 organization and state registered lobbyist organization.
Manage CDF’s movement building strategies in Ohio to build authentic relationships with constituents, organize constituents, and mobilize Ohio’s Freedom Schools® network and constituents to share their lived experiences with decision makers.
Manage the development and execution of CDF-Ohio's policy forums community gatherings and policy forums aligned to CDF’s movement building strategies.
Lead the conceptualization, development, and delivery of CDF-Ohio’s primary research responsibilities, reports, and projects.
Manage the execution of research projects including planning, participant recruitment, data collection, data analysis, data synthesis, and dissemination of findings.
As a part of developing a research agenda and products, managing the development and execution of constituent interviews, listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys to obtain data and information on their lived experiences with policies in Ohio.
Author, execute, and communicate an annual research agenda and questions in collaboration with CDF-Ohio’s policy associates, which will inform the policy agenda.
Lead the determination of quick response research topics and questions to ensure the timely delivery of research projects outside of the research agenda.
Serve as CDF-Ohio’s team lead collaborating with our policy associates and organization partners to proactively identify opportunities to present CDF-Ohio’s research products and findings through policy forums and workshops.
Serve as CDF-Ohio’s team lead to collaborate with CDF’s communication team to present research products and findings in various settings including dedicated launch events, panel discussions, conferences, press conferences, and media interviews.
Create and lead a guest-research fellows’ program.
Collaborate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and CDF-Ohio’s team to develop, execute and complete related to KIDS COUNT Ohio and the national KIDS COUNT projects.
Research data sources and verify data collection for the KIDS COUNT program.
Perform data analysis and write data profiles for the annual KIDS COUNT data release.
Create, monitor, and oversee CDF-Ohio’s webpage for the KIDS COUNT data center.
Create, monitor, and oversee the production and publication of KIDS COUNT data products in collaboration with CDF-Ohio’s team.
Collaborate with CDF’s communications team to develop a media strategy to announce KIDS COUNT data and product releases.
Represent CDF-Ohio with media communications on KIDS COUNT research and products.
Present KIDS COUNT products at meetings, conferences, and with different audiences.
Direct and supervise CDF-Ohio’s policy associates and organizer associates to meet office goals and objectives.
Serve as the primary contact and lead the development of grant applications as assigned by the State Director, in addition to supporting CDF-Ohio's overall fundraising and grant development strategies.
Support CDF-Ohio’s state director with strategic planning, key performance indicator development, and data monitoring, and other performance management operations.
Provide support for CDF-Ohio’s programs and operations.
Serve as the team lead on CDF-Ohio’s response to data and information requests from external constituents.
Coordinate with State director in conducting interviews with media, speak at, or otherwise participate in press conferences or other speaking duties as assigned
Write, review, edit, and publish opinion editorials, articles, and social media content related to priority issues and other speaking engagements.