Sr. Policy Analyst

Vakids; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Remote work stipend

Hybrid work

Job summary

Voices for Virginia’s Children in Richmond is seeking a Sr. Policy Analyst to drive statewide, systems-level change in Early Childhood Care & Education and Maternal Health policy.

You will develop evidence-based policy solutions, analyze data, and build relationships with policymakers and partners to advance a multidisciplinary agenda for infants, young children, and families. You will translate complex issues into actionable strategies, collaborate across teams, and ensure youth voices are

Qualifications

• 3+ years in state-level policy advocacy.
• Experience with the Virginia legislative process and evidence-based policy making.
• Ability to translate complex policy issues into actionable strategies.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building with diverse stakeholders.
• Commitment to social, economic, and racial justice.

Responsibilities

• Lead Voices’ policy work in early childhood care and education and maternal health.
• Monitor legislative and administrative developments and develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
• Provide policy analysis support to partners and lead efforts during Virginia’s General Assembly session.
• Build coalitions and serve as liaison for partner organizations to mobilize change.
• Collaborate with the Director of Engagement to center youth voice in policy recommendations.
• Contribute to strategic communications and trainings to advance advocacy objectives.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Public speaking

Virginia legislative process

Equity & inclusion

Job description

Voices for Virginia's Children Sr. Policy Analyst Richmond, VA·Full time Company website

The Sr. Policy Analyst will drive statewide, systems-level change with a focus on Early Childhood Care & Education and Maternal Health policy.

About Voices for Virginia's Children

Voices for Virginia’s Children champions public policies and legislation that achieve positive and equitable outcomes for young people. We envision a Virginia in which our systems center young people, ensuring their ability to realize their brightest potential is no longer predictable by race, socioeconomic status, or geography.

Description

About the Position:

Voices is hiring a Sr. Policy Analyst. The Sr. Policy Analyst will drive statewide, systems-level change with a focus on Early Childhood Care & Education and Maternal Health policy. This role will focus on the policies and systems that support families during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and a child’s earliest years, recognizing the deep connections among parents’ health and well-being, access to high-quality and affordable child care, and healthy child development.

The Sr. Policy Analyst will analyze policy and data, develop and advance legislative and administrative solutions, build relationships with policymakers and partners, and help translate complex policy issues into actionable strategies for change.

We are looking for someone who brings policy expertise in early childhood care and education, maternal health, or closely related family policy issues, with the ability and interest to deepen their expertise across both areas. The issues covered by this position will include reducing maternal mortality rates, reducing racial disparities in perinatal health outcomes, improving maternal and infant mental health care, expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care, and fairly compensating early educators.

Job Duties:

• Policy Advocacy and Leadership: You will lead Voices’ policy work in early childhood care and education and maternal health, working collaboratively with policy and engagement staff to create and advance a multidisciplinary policy agenda for infants, young children, and families.
• You will monitor legislative and administrative developments, analyze policy and research, identify opportunities for systems change with community and partner organizations, and develop evidence-based policy recommendations. You will provide policy analysis support to internal and external partners and will have primary responsibility for advancing these issue areas during Virginia’s General Assembly session
• Community Relationship Building: You will lead and participate in various coalitions within your focus area and will serve as the main Voices liaison for partner organizations. You will provide support and technical assistance to partner coalitions and state workgroups to help mobilize change and create collective community impact.
• You will work in partnership with the Director of Engagement and Virginia’s Youth in Action (VAYA) members to ensure that youth voice and lived expertise are centered in your policy recommendations.
• Strategic Communications: You will work with the Communications Manager on developing and executing communications that further advocacy objectives. These may include policy briefs, one-pagers, blogs, etc. You will also conduct and participate in trainings and presentations on education and advocacy related to your issue areas.
• Racial Equity: You will 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 3 years of experience working in state-level policy advocacy.
• Candidates do not need to enter the role as experts in both early care and education and maternal health but should bring substantive knowledge in at least one area and demonstrate the ability to quickly develop expertise across the full portfolio.
• Collaborator: Ability to build relationships with legislators, community members, partner organizations and other stakeholders. Ability 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.
• Experience with media/communications.
• Experience with community engagement.

A Note to Potential Candidates: Research shows that women, LGBTQ+ identified people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Location:This position is based in Richmond, VA and is not a fully remote role. Candidates must live in Richmond or within a reasonable commuting distance that allows them to regularly work in person in Richmond. Voices has a hybrid work schedule with an in-office day on Wednesdays in Richmond required. Additional in-person days in Richmond are required during the General Assembly session and at other key points throughout the year, which may include multiple days in a week.Employees are responsible for their regular commute to Richmond.

Salary: Salary of $68,000–$74,000, with a robust employee benefits package. To preserve opportunity for salary growth, we usually do not hire above the mid-range.

Benefits:We are a talented team motivated by the significance and impact of our work. Voices values its employees and their lives beyond work, and we maintain a flexible and supportive workplace. We aspire to create an environment where our team can thrive as it works to support a thriving Virginia. For example, we provide:

• 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 contribution (no required match)
• Monthly remote work stipend
• Flexible, hybrid work environment

Application Review Date: We'll start reviewing applications on October 11th and will review applications on a rolling basis after.

Responses produced by AI will not be considered.

Voices for Virginia’s Children is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. We recognize that the children and families of Virginia are unique in their backgrounds, beliefs, opportunities, and challenges. We strive to embody and embrace that in our work, believing that our unique identities allow us to create a brighter future for Virginia’s children. Through our efforts, we engage diverse perspectives and inform equitable and just policy solutions that transform children’s lives and may dismantle systems of oppression. All applicants must be committed to sustaining and furthering these efforts.