Senior Manager, Child Welfare Policy

Job Title: Senior Manager, Child Welfare Policy

Location: Remote (Washington, DC region preferred; fully connected home office required)

Reporting to: VP, Public Policy

Compensation: $66,000 - $76,000

Background:

Family Equality advances legal and lived equality for current and future LGBTQI+ families through building community, changing hearts and minds, and driving policy change. We envision a future where:

• All LGBTQI+ families and youth live in communities that recognize, respect, protect, and value them.
• Everyone has the right and opportunity to form and sustain a loving family.
• Systems of service and support are free of discrimination and maximize opportunities for LGBTQI+ families & youth.

As an organization, we strive to prioritize anti-racism and integrating racial equity into every facet of our work. We acknowledge our history as a predominately white organization and are committed to ending white supremacy. Doing so is essential to our objective of full equality for all LGBTQI+ people.

Family Equality is a distributed organization with employees throughout the country. The Senior Manager is a full-time position and may work remotely anywhere in the United States, but residing in the Washington, DC metro area is preferred.

Position Summary:

As the leading national center for LGBTQI+ family policy expertise, Family Equality’s Department of Public Policy sets and advances a proactive agenda for family recognition and creation, family-inclusive non-discrimination and safety reform, and family-inclusive education reform; lobbies in support of legislative and policy changes at all levels of government that are beneficial to and affirming of LGBTQI+ families and LGBTQI+ youth seeking family formation; drafts and passes model family-inclusive legislation; and provides legislative drafting and other technical assistances to national, state, and local partners and elected officials. The Policy Department’s four priority areas include: child welfare, schools, marriage, and family law.

The Senior Manager, Child Welfare Policy (“Manager”) will preferably be based in the Washington, DC region and will work closely with the VP, Public Policy to manage Family Equality’s child welfare work, with additional support from consultant experts. Their work will include advancing Family Equality’s policy priorities by building and managing relationships with federal, state, and local governments and participating in national coalitions working on key issues for LGBTQI+ youth in or interacting with the system, LGBTQI+ foster and adoptive parents, and families of origin. As Manager, they will work to advance our legislative, regulatory, and public policy agenda at the federal, state, and grassroots level, using a combination of legislative and administrative advocacy, community mobilization, and creation of written resources and materials to inform LGBTQI+ families and youth of their rights in the child welfare system. The Manager, with supervision and mentorship from the VP, Public Policy, will manage the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign and will co-lead the state child welfare license to discriminate working group. Throughout their work, the Manager will utilize storytelling, aimed at driving and effecting change, lifting up the lived experience and stories of LGBTQI+ families and youth to highlight the inequities that exist and the impact of discrimination in the child welfare system. In addition, the Manager may be asked to assist with additional policy advocacy as needed to further Family Equality’s organizational mission and the Policy Department’s mission and strategic plan.

The Senior Manager, Child Welfare Policy will report directly to the VP, Public Policy. This position is highly collaborative, working closely with other members of the Policy, Communications, and Development teams, as well as civil rights partners at the national and state level, state equality groups, federal and state lawmakers, and constituents.

Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the VP, Public Policy (and consultants as pertinent), set and guide the strategic vision of Family Equality’s child welfare work and develop short- and long- term strategies for achieving this vision.
• Advocacy with federal agencies, the White House, Members of Congress, along with state and local officials for protections of LGBTQI+ foster and adoptive parents, families of origin, and youth in care or at risk of entering the system. This includes both advocating for and supporting positive legislation, as appropriate and bandwidth allows, such as the Equality Act, the Do No Harm Act, or appropriations and antipoverty bills and working to defeat discriminatory legislation and policies.
• Work in coalition with partners to expand anti-discrimination protections and defend against legislative attacks against LGBTQI+ foster and adoptive parents, families of origin, and youth in the child welfare system. Identify policymaking and comment opportunities on federal legislation and rulemaking within Family Equality’s policy priority areas, as well as convene partners to meet with agencies, and draft comment letters.
• Lead advocacy efforts for the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act including maintaining positive relationships with key Congressional staff, cosponsor recruitment, hearings, markup, updating bill findings and resources, and developing strategy for potential bill passage. With guidance from the VP, Public Policy, coordinate the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign, and facilitate the state child welfare working group.
• Attend and participate in weekly LGBTQI+ coalition meetings during state legislative sessions (generally January – July), and other coalition meetings as pertinent to the child welfare work or overall goals of the Department. As necessary, participate in and facilitate strategic workshops, panels, presentations, trainings, and webinars.
• Track and analyze pertinent state child welfare legislation and regulations; provide legislative drafting and other technical assistance (such as talking points, fact sheets, tool kits, and action alerts) to national, state, and local partners and elected officials.
• Stay familiar with key litigation impacting LGBTQI+ families and the child welfare system and work with Family Equality policy staff, as needed, to develop written narratives for amicus briefs related to child welfare, as needed.
• Collaborate with our Communications team to utilize storytelling and lived experiences of youth in care as part of public education campaigns, presentation for constituent meetings, testimony, and listening sessions on legislation and issues impacting LGBTQI+ foster/ adoptive parents, and LGBTQI+ youth in the child welfare system. Assist our Communications team with media responses on issues of local, state, and national concern related to the role, with a goal of eventually engaging directly with media on child welfare related requests.
• Assist with other policy matters, as requested by the VP, Public Policy to further other Policy Department goals and priorities.
• Occasional travel will be required.

Qualifications:

All candidates must enjoy a fast-paced environment, be highly organized without losing sight of larger objectives, and be committed to justice and equality for LGBTQI+ families.

• Master’s degree (Social Work OR Public Policy preferred) or Law degree (licensed in at least one state) and with a minimum of 4 years, post graduate school/post-law school, public policy experience. Alternatively, a bachelor’s degree with at least 4 years working on policy regarding child welfare. Candidates of varying academic backgrounds, skills, and relevant experiences may be considered. The salary range for the role is $66,000 - $76,000 per year.
• Demonstrated understanding of the public policy landscape in child welfare.
• Thorough understanding of federal legislative process and experience working with legislative bodies and government agencies at the state and/or federal level.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience with written legal, legislative drafting, and policy document development and analysis; ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues in accessible ways to a variety of audiences; and experience with lobbying or advocating with government officials and external partners.
• Expertise in child welfare advocacy and a demonstrated ability to lead the work with limited supervision.
• Familiarity with the LGBTQI+ movement, along with state and national LGBTQI+ organizations, is preferred.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently in a primarily remote work setting.
• The ideal candidate will reside in the Washington, DC metro area, with the ability to attend in-person meetings with members of Congress and federal agencies.
• Willingness to collaborate with people who are mixed across race, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, and more.

Even if you do not meet all the qualifications, but feel you have something unique to contribute to Family Equality, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits Summary:

Family Equality is 100% committed to revolutionizing the workplace, with a goal of demonstrating to the larger LGBTQI+ Movement that a human-centered workplace based in equity and justice is an effective workplace, where we can thrive as we work to change the world. Here is an overview of some of our benefits:

• 100% employer-paid health premium for individual employee
• FSA / HSA options
• 12.75 days paid vacation, 10 days health time, 2.5 personal days, 13 paid holidays
• Winter office closure between Christmas and New Year’s
• A scheduled week off in the summer (Fourth of July week)
• 1% employer 401k Match (plus discretionary 1% additional match when finances allow)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• *Alternating 32-hour workweek for most months in 2024 (subject to change)
  • *2025 TBD

Additionally, the entire staff continually evaluates various options to radically transform our work lives. As these ideas move from the evaluation phase to the implementation phase, they will require a radical transformation of how we define work and hold ourselves accountable.

To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest, with any salary requirements you may have, inside Idealist for “Senior Manager, Child Welfare Policy”.

Anticipated Search Timeline: [application, interview, and final decision dates]

• Job posting date: 10/16
• Application Period and Screenings: 10/16 - 11/09
• 1st round interviews: 11/18 - 11/21
• 2nd round interviews: 12/02 - 12/06
• Offer extended: 12/09
• Anticipated start date: 01/02/25 or similar date.

For questions, please contact Kim Simes, Executive Vice President, External Affairs at ksimes@familyequality.org - PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS OUTSIDE OF IDEALIST AS THEY WILL BE DELETED.

Family Equality provides a team-based environment, and we value the benefits of a diversified workplace.

Family Equality provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Women, people of color, transgender individuals and members of other underrepresented populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Family Equality performs background checks on all volunteers and staff members as a condition of employment.

However, Family Equality also supports and encourages people who were formerly convicted to be active in their community.

Background checks results that indicate a conviction do not necessarily disqualify you from employment – Family Equality reserves the right to request further information to fully assess an applicant’s candidacy in relation to the job duties associated with the position.

Staff Travel Expectation:

Family Equality staff will be required to travel occasionally within the country and attend events in-person. Such travel may include all or some of the following events, depending on your role: Family Week (ALL STAFF; Provincetown, MA), annual Staff Retreat (ALL STAFF; location varies), quarterly board meetings (two meetings coincide with annual galas in New York City and Los Angeles), Night at the Pier (NYC), LA Impact (LA), annual Officer’s Retreat (location varies), periodic small fundraising events (house parties, dinners, etc.; locations vary), and other trips as necessary to establish, build, and nurture relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

COVID Vaccination Information:

Family Equality is a remote organization where our entire staff works from their homes in numerous states across the country. While there is not a physical office space that any one staff member is required to visit at this time, Family Equality does hold events in various locations nationwide that include members of our staff and/or board. Accordingly, all new hires, interns, and volunteers will be required to be fully vaccinated from the time they start working or volunteering. Vaccination exceptions may be made for medical or religious exemptions.

For more information on Family Equality please visit our website at www.familyequality.org.