Program Specialist

Voices for Georgia’s Children (Voices) amplifies the needs of Georgia’s youngest residents in the chambers of the General Assembly, as well at the federal and local levels of government. Voices is an independent, non-partisan, information clearinghouse and coalition builder. We promote pragmatic policies that recognize children’s needs are interconnected and best met holistically. Voices champions the “whole child” approach and is leading a movement of public and private stakeholders to advance systemic change on behalf of Georgia’s children. We achieve our influence through advocacy with elected and appointed officials and through extensive collaboration and engagement of local, state and national organizations. We partner with academic and nonprofit organizations with deep knowledge of key children’s issues to ensure a research-base to our policy agenda. We convene leadership teams of organizations with common objectives for collective advocacy; and we engage and educate a broad network of individuals and organizations to encourage a community culture that gives priority to children. Through traditional and social media, we educate and encourage the larger community to support the needs of children. The Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network (GSAN) is a public‑private collaborative dedicated to advancing, connecting, and supporting quality afterschool and summer learning programs to promote the success of children and youth throughout Georgia. GSAN’s mission includes providing access to professional development, best practices, and enrichment for current programs, engaging families, communities, businesses, and local and state leaders while educating them on the positive impacts of afterschool programing and supporting the development of policy priorities and advocacy strategies at the local, state, and federal level. Since 2013, Voices for Georgia's Children (Voices) has served as GSAN’s home. Position Summary The Program Specialist will help Voices and GSAN continue to grow its capacity to conduct child and family policy research of the highest quality to inform and support Voices’ advocacy agenda. The candidate will report to a Senior Policy Analyst II, and work closely with GSAN team members, R&P team members, Advocacy Director, Communications Manager, and other team members. The candidate will be responsible for supporting policy research projects; coordinating and executing legislative events including Afterschool Day at the Capitol; coalition management; and providing administrative, communications, event, and implementation support across related initiatives (such as the Free Your Feels youth mental health awareness campaign). Candidate will be a strong researcher, writer, project manager, and collaborator. Job Responsibilities Support research and evaluation projects and ad hoc data analysis to inform Voices’ and GSAN’s advocacy and policy agenda. Conduct data analysis, including data collection, organization, and cleaning to ensure accuracy. Create data visualizations to effectively communicate findings and support key insights. Support the design, planning, logistics, budget tracking and expense management, and implementation of advocacy events, including Afterschool Day at the Capitol. Manage the planning and coordination of site visits for lawmakers and state leaders to visit afterschool programs. Provide administrative, logistical, and communication support for coalition activities, including scheduling meetings, maintaining documentation, engaging members, and preparing materials. Track coalition progress by collecting and organizing activity data, compiling reports, and identifying challenges to ensure goals are met. Provide content support for grant proposals and reporting materials, as assigned. Give presentations at relevant meetings and events. Support the coordination and implementation of the Free Your Feels (FYF) campaign, including administrative support, outreach and engagement, communications and marketing support, event and conference planning and representation, and general technical assistance and training support. Perform other duties as assigned. Education Bachelor’s degree required. High quality and relevant experience may substitute for some of the educational requirement. Qualifications A minimum of t hree years of relevant experience is required, 5 years preferred. If the applicant holds a master’s degree, at least one year of relevant experience is required. Excellent organizational and project management skills, using flowcharts, spreadsheets, timelines, etc. that can be shared with partners and senior staff. Experience with database management is a must. Advanced knowledge of data manipulation in MS Excel is preferred. Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated experience leading projects and managing events. Ability to exercise sound judgment independently. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds, occasionally. Desired Skills and Attributes Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work successfully with a wide range of constituencies and professionally represent the organization. Qualitative and/or quantitative research and data analysis skills and experience, including report writing skills, and incorporation of equity and community voice into research projects. High level of attention to detail and task orientation; ability to manage workload and deadlines. Flexibility, high energy, and a strong team player. Willingness to change tasks on short notice and pitch in on team products when needed. Experience supporting youth-focused initiatives or community-based programs, including coordination across partners, communications support, and event logistics. Comfo rtable providing implementation support, technical assistance, and/or training support to community-based partners or stakeholders. Location This position is hybrid and applicant must be able to attend periodic meetings in the metro Atlanta area. Applicant must be a resident of the state of Georgia. Travel Occasional and within the state of Georgia. Reliable transportation is required. Benefits Generous coverage of employee’s premiums for medical, dental, vision, life, STD/LTD insurances. Generous paid vacation, sick/wellness, and holiday leave. Competitive match to 401K retirement contributions. Professional development and technology allowances. #J-18808-Ljbffr Voices for Georgia's Children