Senior Policy & Communications Strategist

First 5 Contra Costa; Concord (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

First 5 Contra Costa is seeking a Policy and Communications Director to lead advocacy, evaluation, research and communications for children aged 0-5 in Contra Costa County. The role requires strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and strong leadership of a diverse team.

The candidate will craft advocacy strategies, manage collaborations with local and state partners, and supervise staff and contractors while advancing First 5’s mission to expand services for families and young children.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and at least seven years of progressive project management in public policy, advocacy, research or related field.
• Experience in advocacy, research and communications to inform policy and drive change.
• Strong writing and presentation skills with the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Ensures coherent, aligned advocacy, evaluation, research and communications activities.
• Oversees engagement with stakeholders, officials, business leaders and others.
• Communicates program impact and aligns data with strategic plan and external reporting.
• Develops partnerships with local and state agencies to promote indicators of child health and education.
• Leads the development of a comprehensive advocacy strategy at local, regional and state levels.
• Designs and implements a communications plan supporting strategic goals.
• Supervises staff and contractors to ensure high performance and compliance with policies.
• Negotiates contracts and monitors progress to completion.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Team leadership

Data analysis

Policy advocacy

Equity & inclusion

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

Written communication

Adaptability

Education

Master’s Degree in Public Policy or related field

Tools

MS Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

First 5 Contra Costa is seeking a Policy and Communications Director to lead advocacy, evaluation, research and communications for children aged 0-5 in Contra Costa County. The role requires strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and strong leadership of a diverse team.

The candidate will craft advocacy strategies, manage collaborations with local and state partners, and supervise staff and contractors while advancing First 5’s mission to expand services for families and young children.