Advocacy & Partnerships Associate

Upbring; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Upbring in Austin, TX is seeking an Advocacy & Partnerships Associate to support research, coordination, and project work advancing Upbring's public policy and partnerships agenda. The role will analyze legislative developments, prepare policy materials, maintain advocacy tracking, and identify opportunities to advance our mission.

You will collaborate with internal teams, support grassroots campaigns, monitor regulatory activity, and help coordinate communications and stakeholder engagement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, Public Administration, Social Work, Journalism, Business, or related field.
• One year of professional or internship experience in advocacy, government affairs, nonprofit, or partnerships.
• Strong research, analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including briefs and presentations.
• Strong relationship-building with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Three years of experience in legislative, government affairs, public policy, or advocacy (preferred).
• Experience with CRM, advocacy software, or project management tools (preferred).
• Experience supporting stakeholder engagement or coalition-building (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of Upbring's advocacy and government relations strategy through policy research, legislative monitoring, and advocacy support activities.
• Conduct research and analysis on legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues impacting child wellbeing, child welfare, education, family services, and related areas.
• Monitor legislative activity, committee hearings, agency actions, executive orders, regulatory developments, and emerging policy trends; prepare summaries, briefing materials, and recommendations.
• Develop policy briefs, presentations, talking points, reports, and communication materials to support organizational priorities.
• Support grassroots advocacy efforts, including administration of VoterVOICE campaigns, supporter engagement activities, and advocacy communications.
• Research, monitor, and evaluate advocacy, funding, partnership, and collaborative opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
• Support internal planning, coordination and tracking activities related to advocacy campaigns, legislative priorities, and strategic initiatives.
• Support partnership related communications, meeting coordination, and administrative activities related to partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and strategic projects.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support advocacy, community engagement, and organizational initiatives.
• Maintain legislative tracking tools, stakeholder databases, organizational profiles, and advocacy records.
• Support the development and distribution of communications and materials that promote awareness of advocacy priorities, initiatives, and organizational impact.
• Maintain organized project documentation, timelines, stakeholder information, and activity reporting.

Skills

Policy research

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Written & verbal communication

Relationship-building

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy or related field

Job description

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.


• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.


• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

What You'll Do

The Advocacy & Partnerships Associate provides research, coordination, and project support to the Director of Advocacy & Partnerships in advancingUpbring’spublic policy, government relations, and strategic partnership priorities.This position supportsadvocacy and partnership initiatives through legislative monitoring, policy researchand analysis, grassroots advocacy administration, and project coordination. The Associate analyzes legislative and regulatory developments, preparespolicy and advocacy materials,maintainsadvocacy-related tracking and reporting tools, and helpsidentifyopportunities thatadvanceUpbring’smission and strategicobjectives.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of Upbring's advocacy and government relations strategy through policy research, legislative monitoring, andadvocacy supportactivities


• Conduct research and analysis on legislative, regulatory, and public policy issuesimpactingchild wellbeing, child welfare, education, family services, and related areas;identifyimplications and provideinsightsto support organizational priorities


• Monitor legislative activity,committee hearings,agency actions,executiveorders,regulatory developments, and emerging policy trends; prepare summaries, briefing materials, and recommendations


• Developpolicy briefs,presentations, talkingpoints, reports,and communication materials to support organizational priorities


• Supportgrassroots advocacy efforts, including administrationof VoterVOICE campaigns, supporter engagement activities, and advocacy communications


• Research,monitor, and evaluate advocacy,funding, partnership, and collaborative opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives


• Support internal planning, coordination and tracking activities related to advocacy campaigns, legislative priorities, and strategic initiatives


• Support partnership related communications, meeting coordination, and administrative activities related to partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and strategic projects


• Collaborate with internal teams to support advocacy, community engagement, and organizational initiatives


• Maintainlegislative tracking tools,stakeholder databases, organizational profiles, and advocacy records


• Support the developmentand distribution of communications and materials that promote awareness of advocacy priorities, initiatives, and organizational impact


• Maintainorganizedprojectdocumentation,timelines,stakeholder information, and activity reporting

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, Public Administration, Social Work, Journalism, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience working in the Texas legislative, government affairs, advocacy, nonprofit, partnership, or community engagement environment


• One (1) year of professional, internship, fellowship, legislative, advocacy, government affairs, nonprofit, partnership, community engagement, or related experience


• Strong research, analytical, organizational, and project management skills


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare presentations, briefing materials, and communications for diverse audiences


• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders


• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment,identifyopportunities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment


• Demonstrated professionalism, initiative, discretion, and attention to detail


• Proficiencywith Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience working on legislative, government affairs, public policy, or advocacy matters, including experience during at least one (1) Texas legislative session


• Experience with legislative tracking systems, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, grassroots advocacy software, or project management tools


• Experience supporting stakeholder engagement, coalition-building, or partnership development initiatives

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time


• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position, with or without reasonable accommodation, are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation,gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.