Senior Policy Advisor

State of Maryland•Anne Arundel, MD

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Introduction The Governor's Office for Children serves as a central coordinating office to support the well-being of children and families and reduce the number of children living in poverty, which requires a holistic, coordinated approach within State government and across public and private sectors at the federal, State, and local levels. The Governor's Office for Children will lead statewide efforts to build a comprehensive and efficient network of supports, programs, and services for children and their families in order to promote social and emotional well-being, reduce food insecurity, combat youth homelessness, expand access to health services, improve educational outcomes and job readiness, expand access to good jobs, and increase economic opportunity in sustainable ways in jurisdictions that historically have experienced underinvestment. The Governor's Office for Children will also work with multi-sector partners to implement place-based strategies designed to provide access to high quality education and care; connect workers to high quality jobs; enable family-sustaining income and access to affordable high quality housing, child care and health care, including reproductive, maternal, behavioral and mental health care; and increase community health and safety. General Purpose: The Senior Policy Advisor must possess the core skills and passion to support the Policy Director and Governor’s Office for Children in its mission to reduce child poverty and increase economic mobility across the State of Maryland. The Senior Policy Advisor will serve as a senior leader within the Governor’s Office for Children’s Policy Team, driving policy development and implementation of initiatives across the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet and managing staff and workstreams in their portfolio. Specifically, the Senior Policy Advisor will focus on community revitalization and the built environment, working each day to advance a policy agenda focused on ending child poverty and increasing economic mobility in Maryland. The Senior Policy Advisor brings deep subject-matter expertise to the Governor’s Office for Children. They will help staff the Children’s Cabinet; lead working groups and/or other engagements with state agencies and other partners; and conduct extensive research regarding community development and other policy areas in their portfolio. The Senior Policy Advisor will also support senior leadership in any engagements relating to their portfolio. This is a hybrid position and requires flexibility to report to locations in Annapolis, Baltimore, and other areas of the state as needed.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
At least 10 years of experience in public policy, preferably in a government or political setting
Demonstrated experience leading high-impact, cross-agency initiatives with strategic responsibility for delivery, alignment, and results
Deep subject-matter expertise in a relevant policy area, with a track record of shaping systems-level strategy and implementation
Proven ability to represent an organization in high-stakes settings, including with executive leadership, Cabinet-level officials, and external partners
Experience advising agency leadership and contributing to statewide policy agendas or strategic plans
Demonstrated success in mentoring and supervising staff, including Analysts, Fellows, or consultants, in high-performing policy or delivery environments
Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to analyze and interpret data
Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong people-management skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion in all matters
Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours, as needed

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred

Responsibilities

Strategic Policy Leadership & Expertise Own and lead policy research, development and strategy-setting within their expertise and focus area (e.g., built environment) that is central to GOC’s mission Serve as GOC’s internal and external expert in this policy area. Act as a senior source of policy expertise to state agencies, partnering with agency leadership to co-develop, test, and refine policies that advance child and family outcomes Design and advance policy solutions that address systemic challenges and drive measurable improvements in child and family outcomes Support agencies to translate priorities in the Children’s Cabinet Strategic Plan and state plan into actionable policy and delivery strategies that move the system toward measurable results
Children’s Cabinet & Interagency Leadership Support the Policy Director to track progress on relevant initiatives in the Children’s Cabinet portfolio to deliver on the Strategic Plan. Work directly with agencies to understand progress, blockers, impacts, and decision points which should be elevated to Children’s Cabinet Lead planning and follow-up for relevant Children’s Cabinet meetings, including overseeing Fellows and Policy Analysts to develop materials, coordinate with GOC and agency staff, and preparing attendees for a productive meeting Within their area of expertise, identify when new policy solutions are needed to address gaps in the portfolio, ensuring alignment with the strategic plan. Provide expert rationale for how proposed solutions will accelerate progress on the Children’s Cabinet Strategic Plan and broader state goals Lead Children’s Cabinet working groups and interagency teams related to the Advisor’s portfolio, ensuring that agency input is surfaced, next steps are clearly defined, and follow-through is executed
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication Serve as the primary point of contact for GOC’s external partners in the Advisor’s policy area Own relationships with senior agency leaders, including assistant secretaries, division leaders, and program directors. Communicate efficiently, effectively, and routinely with state agencies and other key stakeholders. Maintain regular engagement with agency partners to surface opportunities, address implementation barriers, and align around shared outcomes Represent GOC in high-level convenings, public briefings, and policy forums Lead engagement processes that gather input and shape policy development, including listening sessions, community partner roundtables, and cross-sector meetings Draft, with the support of Policy Analysts or Fellows, and deliver effective communications materials —including policy updates, talking points, and decision briefs—related to the Children’s Cabinet, the ENOUGH Act, and the Governor’s Office for Children’s policy priorities Manage and respond to issues within the Special Secretary’s portfolio
Lead the design, planning, and execution of high-priority initiatives which GOC is serving as a project manager or coordinator Manage implementation of assigned initiatives by developing clear work plans, coordinating delivery, resolving challenges, and escalating key issues. Track progress, lead course corrections, and document outcomes to support learning, scaling, and problem-solving. Lead rapid-turnaround workstreams and cross-cutting projects delegated by the Special Secretary, ensuring timely execution and strategic alignment Ensure GOC works towards successful transitions to fully agency-led execution as initiatives mature Provide direct support to the Special Secretary and senior leaders for key briefings, meetings, and external engagements related to the Advisor’s portfolio
Team Management & Collaboration Manage up to leadership, keeping senior leaders in the team GOC informed on progress. Elevate and escalate items for Special Secretary decision making and prioritization Supervise a Policy Analyst and/or Fellow, providing clear direction, performance feedback, and professional development support. Delegate responsibility for key workstreams while ensuring high-quality output Oversee Analyst and Fellow execution of support to special projects, including events, site visits and programmatic announcements Collaborate with other Senior Advisors and Advisors to support cross-team learning, coherence, and strategic integration Create a cohesive work environment by building, managing, and improving team systems and structures to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the Policy Team