Managing Director, Domestic Policy (M3)

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

As the Managing Director of Domestic Policy, you’ll be integral to our work in helping vulnerable children achieve a brighter future. You will oversee Save the Children’s federal policy portfolio focused on early childhood education, education, child nutrition, rural, and other domestic issues impacting children and hardworking families in the United States. The Managing Director will lead domestic policy research and federal relations outreach and strategy, with a strong emphasis on bipartisan engagement to advance child-focused policies. Reporting to the Head of Policy, the Managing Director will lead a team responsible for executing specific advocacy strategies that produce measurable results in the legislative and executive branch arenas. This position will coordinate closely with others, including other teams within Save the Children’s Government Relations, Save the Children’s Portfolio Growth team, the Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) campaigns team that handles state and local issues, and other leaders in the domestic policy and advocacy community, including bipartisan coalitions and networks.  

Location

Hybrid - Washington DC office location

 

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

Lead domestic legislative strategy implementation (60%) 

• Lead Save the Children’s domestic policy agenda on our full portfolio of issues, including child poverty, early childhood education, education, and family economic security.
• Oversee a bipartisan strategy for federal budget and appropriations related to domestic programs.  
• Manage and prioritize federal domestic legislative portfolio, leading agenda setting,  development, and implementation of issue strategies
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with the Head of Policy on progress toward goals and challenges encountered. 
• Identify and promote opportunities for bipartisan engagement with policymakers and stakeholders. 
• Represent Save the Children in domestic policy coalitions, fostering bipartisan collaboration and lead or manage coalition efforts when appropriate. 
• Work with state, political, and other relevant staff within SCAN and Save the Children to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to bipartisan Congressional outreach. 
• Handle critical legislative and/or Administrative policy developments as they arise. 
• Apply strategic thinking to complex policy challenges, leveraging innovative approaches and existing solutions.

Manage the Domestic Policy team / Serve on the Government Relations Senior Management Team. (20%) 

• Supervise a team of policy and advocacy professionals focused on domestic issues. 
• Hire, train, and manage domestic policy staff. 
• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise domestic policy team staff, clearly communicating organization, division, and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission and supports Save the Children values.
• Oversee performance management, goal setting, and professional development, including mid-year and annual performance reviews. 
• Participate in the Government Relations Senior Management Team and align strategies across policy areas and teams to achieve strategic and campaign goals. 

Monitoring, accountability and administration (20%) 

• Track progress toward objectives and grant deliverables, including contributing to reporting and administration. 
• Assist with the completion of Save the Children and, where applicable, SCAN quarterly and yearly reporting. 
• Contribute to department strategy, annual work planning, budgeting, and fundraising. 

Required qualifications for the role

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience in legislative/lobbying, government relations, or domestic policy advocacy, including on Capitol Hill or relevant federal agency.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the legislative process, including authorization and appropriations.
• Demonstrated ability to