Advocacy Director

The America Forward Advocacy Director leads advocacy and government relations strategy and execution across America Forward's issue areas; directs the organization's policy efforts in early learning, family literacy, K-12 education, youth mental health & wellbeing (including substance use disorders), and national service; and meaningfully participates in external engagement efforts, including fundraising, communications, and field leadership. The Advocacy Director is an expert advocate and coalition leader who is adept at turning ideas into action; committed to collective advocacy, top-quality advocacy training, and 1:1 advising; and skilled at partnering with high-performing non-governmental organizations, federal and state policymakers, and philanthropic foundations. 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead America Forward's collective advocacy and government relations strategy across America Forward's core issue areas, including congressional advocacy, federal department and agency engagement, and select state advocacy. Serve as a lead representative of America Forward to policymakers and engage in extensive direct advocacy and education efforts with policymakers in coordination with the America Forward team and members of the America Forward Coalition. 
• Lead America Forward's early learning, family literacy, K-12 education, youth mental health & wellbeing (including substance use disorders), and national service policy development and collective advocacy work, including Congressional meetings, briefings, and Hill Days. 
• Direct the America Forward Coalition's Early Learning, K-12 Education, and Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing Task Forces. This includes developing bi-annual policy platforms that include innovative policy proposals that reflect the priorities of the America Forward Coalition.
• Lend expertise and leadership to the America Forward Advocacy Institute and participate in a suite of capacity-building offerings (including webinars and in-person trainings) designed to build the advocacy skills of Coalition members. This includes coaching individual Coalition organizations to help build their advocacy capacity to execute on their bespoke policy goals.
• Lead the execution of America Forward grants relating to education, youth mental health & wellbeing, family literacy, and national service. This includes meaningfully engaging with institutional funders, participating in drafting grant proposals, and managing grant deliverables.
• Lead select institutional fundraising efforts and support the Executive Director in institutional and individual funder engagement efforts. 
• Participate actively in field leadership efforts to advance America Forward Coalition priorities, including convenings and public communications.
• Serve as a representative of America Forward to thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders, and expand America Forward's external presence by speaking publicly at national, state, and local conferences and events.
• Contribute to America Forward's communications and message development/branding efforts for America Forward's early learning, K-12 education, and youth mental health policy work. 
• Partner effectively with a group of expert external consultants and experienced lobbyists.
• Build strong and effective relationships with Coalition members and network partners.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant professional experience (ideally 10+ years) in federal policy leadership, with a focus on early learning, K-12 education, youth mental health & wellbeing, and national service. 
• Significant experience working on Capitol Hill and/or a federal agency and/or in the policy department of a national nonprofit organization, think tank, or philanthropic organization.
• Proven record of strategic, effective leadership managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders; strong consensus-building skills; experience working with or managing coalitions.
• Ability to steward relationships across sectors and comfort working with a range of policy stakeholders, including policymakers, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and academicians.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team of senior policy consultants; engage with expert Policy Council members; and be a collaborative member of a dynamic, small internal staff.
• Interest in learning new policy areas as opportunities emerge; ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Superior written communication skills; ability to synthesize complex information and ideas into clear, concise, and compelling written materials.
• Superior verbal communication skills; ability to craft messages that resonate with multiple audiences; experience and comfort with public speaking to and engaging large audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and a willingness to coordinate logistics (e.g., for Hill meetings).
• Passion for America Forward's missions and social entrepreneurship; familiarity with social innovation and nonprofit sector preferred.
• Location in the Washington, D.C., metro area preferred. While America Forward works remotely, this role will involve extensive in-person engagement with policymakers and stakeholders in D.C.

Hiring Statement

America Forward is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF's work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify/Right to Work Disclosure

NVF participates in E-Verify ( and will provide the federal government with employees' Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against ( on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.