Senior Policy Analyst

Children’s Rights

Children’s Rights is a national advocacy organization working to protect and advance the rights of children impacted by government systems. Using civil rights impact litigation, policy expertise, and public education, we operate in over 20 states and at the federal level to drive systemic change and improve outcomes for thousands of children and families.

Every day, children and families are harmed by America’s child welfare, juvenile justice, education, immigration, and healthcare systems. These systems disproportionately impact historically marginalized youth, including children of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and those with mental health needs. Through strategic advocacy and legal action, Children’s Rights holds governments accountable and works to disrupt and prevent these ongoing harms, creating lasting change for children and their families.

Our Advocacy & Policy Department

Children's Rights’ Advocacy & Policy Department is recognized for its rigorous research and policy analysis on critical issues affecting children and families.

We work in partnership with our staff as well as other advocates, experts, policy analysts, and government officials to drive systemic change. On a national level, we work within various coalitions to identify and maximize opportunities to support and strengthen children, families, and communities. A cornerstone of this work is our commitment to partnering with individuals with lived experience to catalyze policy and practice changes that improve outcomes for children and uphold family integrity.

We are seeking a Senior Policy Analyst to play a pivotal role in advancing our mission and supporting the growth of our Advocacy & Policy Department. Our footprint is extensive and includes initiatives to:

• disrupt structural racism at the front end of the child welfare system;
• ensure children receive critical mental health services;
• protect the rights of system-involved LGBTQ+ youth;
• eliminate the unnecessary institutionalization of children; and
• advocate for unaccompanied immigrant youth.

The Senior Policy Analyst will be a vital member of the Advocacy & Policy Team and report directly to the Director of Advocacy & Policy. As a member of our team, the Senior Policy Analyst will help expand Children’s Rights’ advocacy agenda, co-design strategies and project plans to effect systemic change, lead projects with thorough research design and policy analysis, and work in partnership with internal staff and advocates at national, local, and international levels.

The ideal candidate will have experience:

• Working in or with the child welfare system and other systems impacting children.
• Conducting policy research and evaluating and analyzing policies, with a focus on

understanding and interpreting how policy changes impact children, families, and communities.

• Analyzing complex datasets and synthesizing the findings.
• Drafting advocacy reports, policy briefs, articles, white papers, and other written materials on children’s policy issues.
• Developing and implementing education, advocacy, and legislative campaigns.
• Developing strategies and policy recommendations to advance advocacy goals.
• Navigating complex problems and strategically developing innovative policy and practice solutions.
• Engaging with policymakers, coalition partners, people with lived experience and other stakeholders to build support for policy initiatives.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Work in partnership with the Advocacy & Policy Team to design and implement major advocacy projects at the national, local, and international levels that advance Children’s Rights’ strategic objectives. Lead the development of reports, policy briefs, articles, white papers, and other written materials.
• Engage with coalition partners, people with lived experience and other stakeholders to drive policy and practice changes in critical areas affecting children and families, consistent with Children’s Rights’ strategic objectives.
• Advocate for the adoption of Children’s Rights’ policy recommendations to public entities and officials, including international monitoring bodies and national, state, and local lawmakers.
• Track and analyze relevant policy developments and legislation to inform our advocacy efforts and strategies.
• Provide vital research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and policy guidance to keep staff informed of policy developments and trends.
• Represent Children’s Rights at conferences and professional events, presenting the organization’s work and engaging diverse audiences.
• Partner with the Communications Department to highlight key issues, trends, and data in communications campaigns, amplifying the impact of advocacy efforts.
• Work closely with the Director of Advocacy & Policy and Development Department to support fundraising initiatives to support Children’s Rights’ advocacy agenda.
• Draft legislation or contribute to the development of legislation. This is highly valued but not required.

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in social work, child and family studies, public policy, public health, public administration or other relevant field.
• At least 6-8 years of experience in practice, policy, or research, preferably within a child advocacy field with a minimum of 5 years of child welfare experience.
• Experience in public policy advocacy, including engagement of impacted communities, policy development, coalition building, and strategic communications.
• Expertise in rigorous research design, methodology, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of structural racism and racial justice, including demonstrated skill and confidence in speaking about these topics, preferred.
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including a track record of writing and publishing research, policy analyses, and policy recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse professionals and partners.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, and/or supervisory experience.
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, problem-solve, and prioritize a variety of tasks simultaneously.
• Advanced proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point, SPSS and/or other statistical analysis software, appropriate search engines and databases, and sources of federally reported child welfare information and data.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The Senior Policy Analyst will oversee and/or coordinate the work of policy analysts, policy interns and fellows at Children’s Rights, within a collaborative and inclusive team environment.

Location:

The Senior Policy Analyst will be based in the New York City area with the ability to adhere to our current hybrid work policy for NYC employees, or in Washington, D.C.

Current Hybrid Work Policy for NYC Employees:

At this time, Children’s Rights suggests all staff work in the office two days per week and requires everyone to be in the office on Wednesdays each week. Our hybrid work policy has evolved over time and it is subject to change.

Physical and Travel Requirements:

Prolonged periods remaining stationary at a desk and working on a computer. Travel is required.

Salary/Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $110,000, commensurate with experience. Children’s Rights offers an excellent benefits package, including generous PTO, medical, dental, flex spending accounts, paid parental leave, and retirement plan.

Children’s Rights is an equal employment opportunity employer, and women, people of color, LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people, people with disabilities, and people with unique lived experience or diverse professional or personal backgrounds and perspectives are encouraged to ap