America Forward Government Affairs Director for New Profit (in Washington D.C.)
Madeline Hertz
NEW PROFIT’S MISSION AND GOALS
New Profit Inc. is a
nonprofit venture philanthropy fund, launched in 1998, that has raised more
than $150 million to support innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations
effecting widespread and transformative impact on critical social problems. New
Profit fulfills this mission with two approaches: 1) providing multi-year
financial and strategic support to help a portfolio of innovative social
entrepreneurs and their organizations realize their full potential for social
impact; and 2) helping to build a social, policy, and philanthropic environment
in which innovative organizations may achieve significantly greater impact on
the problems they are trying to solve.
Along with individual investors and our signature partner, Monitor Group, New Profit supports social entrepreneur-led organizations tackling persistent social problems in education, workforce development, early learning, public health, and other areas. In addition, we bring together social innovators from across sectors at the annual Gathering of Leaders, and lead America Forward to release the potential of social entrepreneurship.
AMERICA FORWARD
America Forward, a nonpartisan initiative of New Profit, seeks to unite policy makers and thought leaders looking for effective solutions with innovators who have created on-the-ground, replicable organizations that get results. We work with social entrepreneurs to identify the systemic barriers they face, develop policies to overcome these barriers, and mobilize our community around social innovation policy platforms.
Since launching in 2007, America Forward and its community of social innovators have spurred the creation of the Social Innovation Fund and helped bring about the expansion of national service. We also encouraged the creation of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the White House. We have advanced these efforts through the leadership of the America Forward Coalition of nearly 50 results-oriented, innovative nonprofit organizations that are working in communities across the country to overcome some of our nation’s greatest challenges. Coalition members share a commitment to using data to track progress, innovating to achieve better results, and leveraging public, private, and philanthropic resources.
America Forward currently spearheads the Education Task Force of leading education innovators in the America Forward Coalition to advocate for the incorporation of their collective policy principles in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We are launching similar efforts in new areas, including workforce development and early learning, over the next year.
POSITION OVERVIEW
America Forward is seeking a proactive, resourceful, and committed Government Affairs Director to work with social entrepreneurs in the America Forward Coalition and a team of staff and consultants to identify federal policy opportunities to accelerate social innovation, develop collective policy principles and proposals, and mobilize the community to enact bold policy change. This is a new position for the organization and is designed to enhance our ability to increase our Washington DC presence—especially on Capitol Hill and in Departments and Agencies—and strengthen our network of leaders from across sectors.
The Director is responsible for leading the Coalition task forces of social entrepreneurs and policy directors to advance innovative policy reforms. In addition, the Director will support engagement with the New Profit portfolio to develop organizations’ widespread impact and policy strategies. Based in DC, the Director will report directly to the Executive Director of America Forward and work closely with internal and external policy, legislative, and communications consultants and play a vital role in ensuring America Forward achieves its ambitious goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Government Affairs
Capitol Hill & Federal Departments & Agencies
- Lead development and implementation of an advocacy agenda on key policy issues—including education, workforce development, early learning, and others—in concert with the America Forward team and consultants
- Leverage the Executive Director through preparation of policy-related
research, briefings, and talking points
- Draft materials to communicate policy ideas (e.g. policy platforms, white
papers, etc.)
- Manage task forces, including development of work plans, management of work
plans and activities, and stewardship of relationships with task force members
- Coordinate task force activities including internal communications, events,
and activities with policy makers (e.g. Hill Days, Department meetings,
meetings with individual Members of Congress)
- Develop and maintain relationships with key staff on Capitol Hill and in
Departments/Agencies
- Manage networks and information channels necessary to be consistently and
fully informed on all activities and advancements in related policy and political
areas
2012 Presidential Election
- Support engagement with presidential campaigns on policy by developing white
papers on key issues and supporting preparation for meetings with campaign
policy directors
- Help coordinate site visits, outreach activities, and social media strategies
to connect America Forward members with the presidential campaigns
Leaders
Leadership/Network Engagement
- At times, serve as an
external representative of America Forward at conferences, on Capitol Hill, and
with social entrepreneurs and thought leaders in the field
- Actively cultivate new relationships and expand the network of champions for
social innovation, including growing the network particularly in targeted
geographic area
Management
- Assist Executive
Director in the annual planning of policy and strategic priorities for the
initiative
- Serve as a resource to social entrepreneur-led organizations in their social
innovation policy efforts
- Support internal management, including annual work planning exercises and
budgeting
- Support management of America Forward consulting team and coach, and develop
initiative staff
New Profit Portfolio Engagement
- Support research and
content creation for portfolio convenings on issue areas such as education or
early learning, including planning trainings
- Work one-on-one with organizations to develop their widespread impact and
policy strategies
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
- 5-10 years professional experience in federal policy and/or politics;
experience working on Capitol Hill or in a federal Department/Agency preferred,
or experience working closely on policy with Capitol Hill or federal
Departments/Agencies
- Substantive policy expertise in at least one of the following areas:
education, workforce development, and/or early learning
- Relationship building skills, experience working with or managing coalitions
preferred
- Excellent management skills and ability to juggle multiple detailed projects
while driving toward deadlines
- Ability to work independently and cooperatively as a part of a remote team of
staff and consultants
- Commitment to high-quality work product, attention to detail, and strong
organizational skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to craft
messages that resonate with multiple audiences
- Ability to thrive and learn in a fast-paced environment, comfort in a
growth-oriented and changing initiative
- High level of interpersonal maturity, integrity, and grace under pressure
- Passion for New Profit and America Forward’s missions and social
entrepreneurship
- Flexibility and willingness for limited travel and occasional events outside
work hours
- Bachelor’s Degree required, law or public policy degree preferred
TO APPLY
Please send a resume and cover letter, both attached as Word documents, to tal...@newprofit.com with the following subject line: “Application – America Forward Government Affairs Director.” Letters should be addressed to Alena Guerra, Talent Manager, Recruitment. In your letter, please outline how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and state how you heard about this opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.