Location: Remote - Preferably reside within 120 miles of Washington D.C. and Harrisburg, PA

Status: Full-Time Salary

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Summary of the Position: The National Director of Policy and Governmental Affairs is responsible for working with federal, state, and local legislators and executive leaders, as well as national policy and advocacy organizations and their staffs to champion YAP’s values and mission across the country. Specifically, the National Director of Policy and Governmental Affairs will develop a national strategy for YAP’s position as an informed resource for national, state, and local efforts to abolish or reduce governmental reliance on institutions and increase governmental practice of providing community-based care to address delinquency, child welfare, adult re-entry, and behavioral health needs consistent with YAP’s mission, history, and practice. YAP also helps to reduce neighborhood violence and provides an alternative to congregate care and residential placements. The National Director of Policy and Governmental Affairs must be an excellent presenter (in person and virtually)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develop a national strategy for YAP's policy agenda at the federal, state, and local level

2. Develop partnerships with policy and advocacy groups who reflect YAP's values and can be meaningful partners to realize YAP's mission

3. Identify and develop Congressional champions who will advocate for redirection of funds from institutional care to community-based care and provide support to similar efforts on the state level

4. Become a well-known resource to Congress, Administration, and policy/advocacy organizational staff concerned with questions about issues related to YAP's mission and values

5. Increase YAP's national profile as a provider of quality and effective direct services

6. Identify and facilitate opportunities to change systems through YAP's direct-service-informed Advocacy (this may include working with other YAP staff to present at relevant conferences, finding the appropriate YAP leader to provide testimony to Congressional committees, and working with established coalitions and advocates to augment their policy and systems change efforts).

7. Collaborate with YAP's Development Department to increase outreach to federal grant-making agencies to help influence the types of services these agencies seeks in their respective RFT processes.

8. Collaborate with YAP's Development Department to identify and influence new funding opportunities for YAP's Policy and Advocacy initiatives.

9. Collaborate closely with YAP's Chief Communications and Marketing Officer to work with YAP leaders on messaging and talking points with external contacts to ensure consistent messaging; further YAP's marketing plan and influence YAP's media exposure on key policy issues.

10. Work with YAP's VOICE leaders, and National VOICE coordinator, and participants to ensure that those most affected by inequality play a key and meaningful role in our policy efforts.

11. Work with YAP staff to coordinate national, state, and local policy

12. Highlight and advocate for sensible and responsible government practices that keep youth in their home and communities

13. Draft information pieces that reflect agency values targeted to specific audiences

14. Keep informed of work done in YAP programs to best demonstrate YAP's success, and ability to adapt to serve youth, adults, and families from different cultures and environments

15. Monitor federal legislation that affects YAP's mission and provide input in opposition or in support

16. Coordinate meeting of YAP lobbyist and lobby-adjacent consultants who help monitor state and local legislation and other matters that impact YAP's mission to coordinate lobbyist activity

17. Identify sponsors for legislation driven by YAP's mission

18. Lead efforts to change public policy that leads to systemic change that will reduce or eliminate inequalities

19. Improve YAP's role as an advocate and support of social justice

20. Other duties as assigned

Salary: $85,000-$105,000, commensurate on experience

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Master’s Degree, Juris Doctorate, or equivalent required
• 5 to 10 years of experience working in public policy

Benefits Available:

• Medical/Prescription
• Dental
• Vision
• Short Term Disability
• UNUM
• Paid time off
• Holiday Pay
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan.

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, genetic characteristics, or disability unrelated to job performance or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where YAP operates. YAP will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics