Director of Policy, Children & Youth

Job Description

Job Description

Make a difference! Become a Defender!

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking a visionary Director of Policy for Children and Youth to champion the rights and futures of our most vulnerable clients. The Director of Policy for Children and Youth support the Defender by identifying and overseeing needed policy and practice initiatives impacting children and youth and their families. The Director will identify critical priorities to improve system outcomes for clients; work directly with city, state and national stakeholders and interested community members to develop and oversee new programs, research projects and advocacy efforts addressing systemic inequities and poor outcomes for children, youth and families; incorporate a data driven approach to policy advocacy and reform; and represent the interests of the Defender Association at public meetings and forums around improvement of the dependency and delinquency systems. The Director will ensure all priorities and tasks are aligned with Defender policy actions.

What You’ll Do:

• Strategic Planning: Implement a strategic plan for policy advocacy and research to improve practices of the Defender Association and outcomes for children and families in the dependency and delinquency systems.
• Committee Advocacy: Participate in city, statewide, and national advocacy committees to advance children and youth policies consistent with the mission of the Defender Association.
• Relationship Building: Build and maintain relationships with local, state, and national policymakers, advocacy organizations, community leaders, and impacted individuals to advance bipartisan and cross-sector support for child welfare reform and youth justice initiatives.
• Legislative Monitoring: Monitor national, state, and citywide legislation and policies impacting children, youth, and families. Make actionable recommendations to pursue policy reforms or initiatives to the Chief Defender, Director of Policy, and leadership of youth practice units.
• City Council Tracking: Track City Council Committees and hearings focused on issues impacting dependent and delinquent children, youth, and families.
• Data Utilization: Collaborate with the Director of Policy and the Director of Operations and Data Governance to obtain critical data on youth clients and outcomes for use in policy advocacy and improving practices.
• Staff Engagement: Engage and support Child Advocacy Unit (CAU), Children Youth Justice Unit (CYJ), and Juvenile Special Defense Unit staff interested in advocating for critical system change on issues impacting our youth population and their families.
• Leadership Collaboration: Collaborate with youth serving unit leadership on policy priorities, legislative drafting, and comments to proposed rules and regulations.
• Youth Leadership Partnership: Collaborate with youth leadership, including the Youth Advisory Board and Peer Advocate program, to assist with internal practice and policy reforms.
• Training & Development: Participate in relevant attorney and staff trainings.
• Funding & Special Projects: Collaborate with the Strategic Initiatives’ and Funding Manager to identify and request needed funding for special projects pertaining to increased resources and programming for our youth.

What You’ll Need

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school preferred
• Admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in good standing preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to the Defender Association’s mission and the values, evidenced by a documented work history, volunteerism, or sustained advocacy in public interest law, indigent defense, or youth justice.
• Deep, applied knowledge of the child welfare and youth justice landscape, including emerging trends, evidence-based practices, federal and state policy developments, and reform efforts impacting children, youth, and families.
• Demonstrated experience leading or participating in successful policy, legislative, public education, or systems-change campaigns at the local, state, or national level, including both focused issue advocacy and broad-scale reform initiatives.
• Proven ability to build or sustain diverse partnerships among government agencies, advocacy organizations, community stakeholders, impacted individuals, and policymakers.
• Experience (or interest) developing bipartisan support for child welfare policy and youth justice initiatives and effectively engaging stakeholders across differing political perspectives to advance meaningful reform.
• Concrete understanding of legislative and regulatory processes and experience developing advocacy strategies that influence policy outcomes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex legislative language into accessible messaging for diverse audiences.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to community events, hearings, conferences (local, state and national) and meetings, which may require occasional nights and weekends

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive Benefits : Affordable medical care options plus employer paid vision, dental, life and long- term disability insurances
• Generous Time Off: 25 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, in addition to all federal holidays
• Wellness Initiatives : Dedicated, separate sick leave policy alongside organizational programming to support your physical and mental health
• Family Support : 10 weeks of paid parental leave
• Retirement: Generous retirement savings plan with Employer Match
• Commuter Benefits : Free Septa All Access Key card
• PSLF : We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
• Culture : Meaningful, mission-driven work within a supportive, learning-focused, and collaborative environment.

To apply

Please apply online with resume and cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience. Please include a writing sample related to children and youth issues. It may be legislative research or a report.

Who is the Defender Association?

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is more than just a law firm. We’re the community’s lawyers. The Defender team – more than 500 attorneys, social workers, investigators, administrators, and other staff – make sure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to high-quality defense when facing criminal charges. Our mission-driven, client-centered model focuses on outcomes that support a system that is fundamentally fair and creates safer, stronger communities. Follow us @PhilllyDefenders (Twitter, Instagram & TikTok) and on LinkedIn.

The Defender Association provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, The Defender Association complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.