The North America Team develops and executes policy, advocacy, communications and government relations strategies to build political support and advance domestic and global programmatic priorities that are funded by, or executed within, the United States, Canada, and the United Nations. Management of cross-cutting assets, tools and engagements that are utilized across all teams and sub-teams, using these assets to craft strategies across teams. As part of this responsibility, this role will maintain relationships with grantees, contractors and key partners to achieve the foundation's desired impact, provide project briefings and updates to foundation leadership.
- Work with North America Director to develop and implement external relations strategies, including identifying and cultivating key non-governmental partners and mobilizing key constituencies and audiences in support of foundation priorities.
- Strategically leverage foundation assets, including leadership voice and campaigns, to reach key partners in the U.S. (including focus states), Canada and the UN.
- Maintain relationships with a core set of national, cross-cutting partners focused on advocacy and public mobilization.
- Manage a portfolio and team focused on collection, analysis, and distribution of political intel, public opinion research, and media monitoring and leveraging these resources to inform external engagement strategies.
- Collection, analysis, and distribution of information related to political/electoral activity at the federal and state level.
- Facilitate development of annual investment plans and budgets, develop, modify and implement strategy under the leadership of the Director. Work with foundation leadership as requested to address cross-cutting issues and improve functions and performance.
- Provide strategic mentorship in crafting grants and contracts that require complex research or analytics. Lead global measurement and modeling activities.
- Accountable for the identification and assessment of key portfolio risks, and the development and management of mitigation/contingency plans at the portfolio level.
- Advise, mentor, and support colleagues within the foundation and their grantees in the design, improvement, and execution of project, initiatives and engagements. Manage partnerships and grantee relationships to achieve impact, for example, by conducting site visits, convening meetings of key partners, monitoring and evaluating components of grants.
- This role may lead people and may be responsible for hiring the talent needed to achieve our goals, ensuring successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, building goal alignment, integrating project and change management, giving and seeking feedback, providing mentorship, measuring progress and holding people accountable, supporting employee development, and recognizing achievement and lessons learned.
We believe that energized people, working well together, fueled by great leadership in an inclusive environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal things.
Core Knowledge and Skills
- Shown ability to lead and influence others. Demonstrated ability to work with efficiency, diplomacy, and flexibility particularly as part of a team. Experience working on teams with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Knowledge of U.S. Education and Pathways to Employment policy and the key issues at a national level
- Experience in strategic planning and strategy implementation.
- Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience
- Experience in a role requiring collaboration in a complex organization and working with external organizations.