Job Opportunity: Policy Manager

Position Description:

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is a professional research society. We serve as a respected source of scientific knowledge on children’s development and we work to improve evidence-based policymaking that will improve human well-being. Our membership of more than 5,700 scientists is representative of diverse disciplines that make up the child development landscape.

We are looking for a motivated and skilled Policy Manager to join our Policy Team and help us improve the lives of children and families. You will be joining us at an exciting moment for our policy work. You will be part of a strategic planning process, as we work to shape our future policy direction. You will join a network of people working to improve evidence-based policymaking in child and family policy and will drive our work forward. In this role, you will produce policy-related products and engage in activities that (1) effectively summarize and translate developmental research into actionable and useful recommendations for child and family policy, and (2) communicate the needs and interests of policymakers to our members. You will report directly to the Director for Policy and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organization to achieve these goals. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting the development and implementation of a new strategic plan for policy, working to determine how SRCD can best inform child and family policymaking and engaging with our members to shape our future policy work
• Performing policy scans and identifying opportunities for SRCD engagement on current and future federal legislative and regulatory actions on child and family policy issues by reading policy actions and reports; attending meetings, hearings, and briefings; and sharing summary information with the Policy Team on a timely basis
• Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including federal and Congressional staff, think tanks, advocacy organizations and coalition groups, and others, with a goal of creating stronger evidence-based policymaking for children and families
• Authoring and co-producing policy briefs and other materials (e.g., fact sheets, presentations, website content) with SRCD staff, members, and other professional organizations to accurately summarize developmental research into timely, actionable, and useful recommendations for policymakers and other key audiences
• Developing targeted dissemination plans for policy-related products tailored to key policy audiences
• Organizing briefings and outreach events
• Supporting the Science & Social Policy Committee in its efforts to advance SRCD policy activities
• Responding to member requests to engage on ad hoc policy issues
• Supervising a Policy Associate(s) and/or Policy Intern
• Assisting in tracking performance metrics of policy products and activities relative to SRCD’s goals
• Assisting in the coordination of SRCD’s other policy-related activities and events, as needed  

Education, Experience, and Other Qualifications:

You will be a self-motivated and independent worker who is passionate about evidence-based policymaking. You will have experience working on policy at the federal level, and an understanding of how to effectively create and advocate for evidence-based policymaking. You will be comfortable working independently but also be driven to be collaborative and responsive.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in public policy or related discipline, or 5 years of relevant work experience with rigorous training or experience in analyzing quantitative and qualitative evidence
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience conducting policy analyses, writing effective policy briefs and other materials for policymakers, required; child and family policy experience strongly preferred
• Experience working with researchers, federal policymakers and/or Congressional staff

Knowledge, Skills, and Other Characteristics:

• Knowledge of legislative and regulatory policies impacting children and families
• A strategic thinker, with the ability to apply your knowledge of advocacy strategies to our unique contexts and opportunities
• Ability to become knowledgeable quickly on different policy areas and understand how to strategically engage in the policymaking process to drive progress
• Ability to serve as content lead on policy-related issues, becoming and remaining knowledgeable about the issues from a policy, practitioner, and research perspective, and the key people working in this area
• Effective project leadership and time management skills, working independently or with input from collaborators from diverse backgrounds
• Strong written & oral communication skills to convey complex information in a clear, concise, and accurate manner
• Strong data analytic and reasoning skills, including the ability to synthesize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the critical points of an issue
• Strong interpersonal skills and a positive, professional attitude, including an ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with members, staff, and policymakers from diverse backgrounds
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and a demonstrated track record of integrating DEI into your daily work
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgement regarding matters of significance

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. The salary range is $65,000-$79,000, commensurate with experience, including number of years managing teams. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage. Employees receive generous paid time off and are eligible to participate in a retirement savings plan plus a monthly commuting expense stipend. This position is based in Washington, D.C. SRCD staff currently work a hybrid schedule, with everyone in-person in our D.C. office on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

To apply, please send (1) a resume or curriculum-vitae and (2) cover letter to hr@srcd.org. The cover letter should clearly outline how you possess the skills and experience required for this position by citing specific examples of times you have exhibited the requisite qualities we are searching for. It should not be longer than two pages.

We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds. We strive to be an inclusive employment environment, building diversity, equity and inclusion into all of our work. The Society for Research in Child Development is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

Application Deadline:

Applications will close on March 12, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Please note that application packets that do not include all the required attachments will not be considered. We will aim to interview successful candidates the week commencing March 27th. If you are invited to interview, you may be asked to prepare a short presentation.