Policy Analyst

Child Care Aware; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible spending accounts

30 days PTO + 12 holidays

Retirement plan 3% employer contribute

Professional development stipend

Monthly remote work stipend

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Voices is hiring a Policy Analyst to drive statewide, systems-level change in core issue areas affecting young people at home, school, and in the community. The role includes leading policy work, coalition building with partners, and developing communications to advance advocacy objectives.

The candidate will center youth voices, promote racial equity, and work with the Director of Engagement to mobilize state-level change. A hybrid remote work setup is available.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication; able to convey complex ideas.
• Experienced lobbyist with knowledge of Virginia state legislature and evidence-based policy.
• Collaborator able to work with diverse stakeholders and center youth voice.
• Ability to analyze data and inform policymaking.
• Commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.

Responsibilities

• Policy Leadership: Lead policy work in child/youth wellbeing domains with staff to create a policy agenda and support partners.
• Community Relationship Building: Lead coalitions, serve as Voices liaison, mobilize change with partner organizations.
• Strategic Communications: Develop and execute communications to advance advocacy objectives; train and present on education policy.
• Racial Equity: Ensure policies are assessed for impact on all races and promote equity.

Skills

Policy analysis

Public speaking

Virginia legislative process

Collaboration

Data analysis

Racial equity

Advocacy

Media/communications

Job description

Voices is hiring a Policy Analyst. The Policy Analyst will drive statewide, systems‑level change in one of our five core issue areas. Policy and advocacy work will be focused across systems that support young people in their homes, schools, and communities.

Key Responsibilities:

Job Duties:

• Policy Leadership: Lead our policy work in domains related to child and youth wellbeing, working collaboratively with policy and engagement staff to create a multi‑disciplinary policy agenda. Provide policy analysis support to internal and external partners.
• Community Relationship Building: Lead and participate in various coalitions within your focus area and serve as the main Voices liaison for partner organizations. Provide support and technical assistance to partner coalitions and state workgroups to mobilize change and create collective community impact. Work in partnership with the Director of Engagement and Virginia’s Youth in Action (VAYA) members to ensure that youth voice and lived expertise is centered in your policy recommendations.
• Strategic Communications: Work with the Director of Communications on developing and executing communications that further advocacy objectives. These may include policy briefs, one‑pagers, blogs, etc. Conduct and participate in trainings and presentations on education and advocacy related to your issue area of focus.
• Racial Equity: Promote racial equity across all dimensions of your work, ensuring that policies put forward are assessed for their impact on all races.

Required Qualifications:

• Strong verbal and written communication: Ability to effectively communicate complex ideas. Confident and persuasive in public speaking.
• Experienced lobbyist: Knowledge and understanding of the Virginia state legislative process and evidence‑based policy making with a minimum of 1 year’s experience working in state‑level policy advocacy.
• Collaborator: Ability to build relationships with legislators, community members, partner organizations and other stakeholders. Able to work collaboratively with others with different backgrounds, beliefs, and values. Engages in conflict productively.
• Ability to effectively analyze data and research to identify trends and inform policymaking.
• Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice. Actively centers equity and inclusion and promotes equitable practice and solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Highly organized, motivated, and detail‑oriented.
• Knowledge and experience in the family economic security, health equity, youth mental health, and/or child welfare policy areas.
• Experience with media/communications.
• Experience with community engagement.

$60,000 – $70,000 / year

Benefits:

• Excellent health insurance with fully covered health, dental, and vision employee premiums.
• Access to health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• 30 days of PTO and 12 paid holidays, paid parental leave.
• A retirement plan with 3% employer contributions (no required match).
• Professional development stipend.
• Monthly remote work stipend.
• Flexible, hybrid work environment.