ATTENTION: Children's Rights Seeks Director of Policy

Children’s Rights, a national organization advocating child welfare reform, seeks an experienced and passionate child welfare professional to join senior staff as director of their well-respected policy department- providing leadership, vision, and guidance for policy research and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels, as well as vital expert assistance in the context of class action lawsuits to reform public child welfare systems.

The portfolio of the Director of Policy is diverse, including traditional policy research and advocacy alongside direct involvement with systems actively engaged in reform. The position offers a unique and exciting variety of professional experiences and challenges, a high degree of public visibility- and abundant opportunities to influence the development of public policy regarding child welfare at all levels.

The Director of Policy reports to the Executive Director of Children’s Rights and supervises a staff of two senior policy analysts, as well as graduate and college-level interns. There is a long-term plan to expand the policy department within Children’s Rights.

Responsibilities
* Conceptualize, develop, design, and implement major child welfare policy analysis and advocacy projects at the national and local levels.
* Prepare reports, articles, and other written materials on major child welfare issues.
* Advocate the implementation of Children’s Rights’ policy recommendations to national, state, and local lawmakers and other public officials and serve as a public spokesperson for Children’s Rights in the media on vital issues related to our work.
* Work in partnership with Children’s Rights’ Director of Communications to develop and implement media campaigns to focus attention on key child welfare issues and projects and initiatives of Children’s Rights.
* Work in partnership with Children’s Rights’ Executive Director and legal staff to implement class action child welfare system reform campaigns.
-- Provide consultation to Children’s Rights’ legal teams in the context of class action lawsuits.
-- Work with local stakeholders in jurisdictions across the U.S. and conduct analyses of key child welfare data to assess the status of reform efforts.
-- Identify best practice approaches and engage alongside Children’s Rights’ attorneys in strategic discussions with monitors and states and localities that are the subject of litigation.
-- Provide technical assistance to states and localities engaged in system reform.

* Present Children’s Rights’ work at conferences and other professional gatherings.
* Work closely with the Executive Director and the Development Director to raise private funds to support the work of Children’s Rights.
* Staff the Program Committee of Children’s Rights’ Board of Directors.
* Supervise policy analysts and interns to carry out the work described above.

Qualifications
* At least ten years of experience in child welfare policy/practice/management/administration.
* Master’s degree in social work, public policy or related field or a law degree; a dual degree (e.g., MSW/JD) is a plus, as is familiarity with legal contexts.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Strong organizational and project management skills.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with high-level child welfare and legal professionals.
* Ability to work effectively with the media.
* Experience working with boards of directors, foundations and other private funders.

Salary
Commensurate with experience. Children’s Rights offers a comprehensive benefits package.

To Apply
Please e-mail a thoughtful cover letter, writing sample and resume to HR@childrensrights.com and include Director of Policy in the subject line.