Director of Advocacy

Position Summary:
The Director of Advocacy will lead the day-to-day management and strategic support of a statewide Runaway and Homeless Youth Coalition while advancing policy analysis and advocacy efforts on issues affecting children, youth, families, and communities across New York State.

This role combines coalition leadership, stakeholder engagement, public policy research, and advocacy strategy. The Director will work closely with member organizations, state and local government partners, youth, advocates, and organizational leadership to identify policy priorities, coordinate collective action, analyze legislation and regulatory developments, and support effective advocacy initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Runaway and Homeless Youth Coalition Leadership and Coordination

• Lead a statewide Runaway and Homeless Youth coalition.
• Coordinate coalition meetings, workgroups, committees, and work of the coalition.
• Develop agendas, meeting materials, presentations, and follow-up communications.
• Facilitate collaboration among coalition members and support consensus-building around policy priorities.
• Lead coalition advocacy with government partners (federal, state, local).
• Maintain ongoing communication with coalition members and external partners.
• Execute coalition goals, action items, and strategic initiatives.

Policy Analysis and Advocacy

• Monitor and analyze state and federal legislation, regulations, budget proposals, and policy, particularly pertaining to child welfare and juvenile justice.
• Prepare policy briefs, issue analyses, legislative summaries, talking points, and advocacy materials.
• Assess the potential impact of policy proposals on member organizations and the populations they serve.
• Develop recommendations and strategic options for coalition and organizational leadership.

Advocacy and Government Relations

• Support development and implementation of legislative and policy advocacy strategies.
• Prepare testimony, public comments, briefing materials, and advocacy communications.
• Coordinate advocacy campaigns, meetings with policymakers, and coalition mobilization efforts.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with government agencies, elected officials, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Represent the organization in external meetings, conferences, and public forums.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, social work, political science, public administration, law, or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in public policy, advocacy, coalition management, government relations, or related work.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing legislation, regulations, and public policy.
• Experience facilitating meetings and managing diverse stakeholder groups.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate it effectively.

• Collaborative, detail-oriented, and mission-driven.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of New York State runaway and homeless youth, child welfare, juvenile justice, and human services landscape.
• Experience with policy advocacy communications.

• Experience working with coalitions, associations, membership organizations, or advocacy networks.

• Reporting Structure: Reports to President & CEO, with close collaboration with policy staff.

Location / Work Environment: In Person (NYC) with some flexibility to work remotely.

Physical Qualifications:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for a prolonged period of time during a work shift.
• Constantly positions and move self to perform essential job duties.
• Constantly operates computer and related equipment.
• Frequently moves material weighing up to 25 pounds across and around work areas with or without assistance.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

No Phone Calls or Third-Party Recruiters, Please.

Disclaimer: COFCCA does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms / employment agencies / third-party recruiters for any of its employment opportunities. Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of COFCCA about this opening. All resumes submitted by search firms / employment agencies / third-party recruiters to any employee at COFCCA via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search firm agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property COFCCA; no fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by COFCCA as a result of the unsolicited referral or through other means.

Interested candidates: please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].