Policy Manager - Washington, United States - Society for Research in Child Development

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is a professional research society established in 1933 by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Our diverse membership of more than 4,000 scientists contributes to the child development field. Within our Policy Department, we advance our members' interests in science advocacy, implement federal, Congressional, and state-level Fellowship programs, and advance evidence-based policymaking.

We are seeking a motivated and skilled Policy Manager to join our Policy Department and help enhance the well-being of children and families. You will be coming on board at an exciting phase for our policy initiatives. We have recently introduced the Child Policy Hub, a fresh suite of policy programs that have emerged from our strategic policy plan. In this Hub, programs will facilitate connections between policymakers and researchers, educate researchers on policy skills, and produce policy briefs on critical issues concerning children and families.

You will play a key role in propelling this new Child Policy Hub forward, strengthening our members' ability to engage in policy matters and contributing significantly to the advancement of evidence-based child and family policymaking. Reporting directly to the Director for Policy, you will collaborate closely with colleagues throughout the Policy Department and across the organization to attain these objectives. As an ambitious policymaker with a grasp of fundamental research methodologies and a dedication to evidence-based policymaking, you should possess solid experience in federal policymaking. Your drive should be to better the lives of children and families, alongside a strong passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. With outstanding written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively, this role offers dynamic, creative, collaborative work with tangible impacts on child development.

Get in on the ground floor and contribute to shaping a new and thrilling policy program.

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders on issue areas, including federal and Congressional staff, think tanks, advocacy organizations, and coalition groups, among others.
• Assist in developing new Child Policy Hub programs at all stages: offer ideas, manage new content creation projects, oversee the execution of Congressional Hill days, train members, and more.
• Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into all our endeavors.
• Support and connect our members to participate in child and family policy issues, including designing, writing, editing, and providing trainings, as well as linking members with pertinent advocacy and policy groups.
• Create and co-produce policy briefs and other materials (e.g., fact sheets, blogs, memos, briefings, presentations, website content).
• Track science and child and family policy advocacy activities in relevant agencies, Congress, and at the state level.
• Devise targeted dissemination strategies for policy-related products tailored to key policy audiences.
• Supervise a Policy Associate(s) and/or Policy Intern.
• Strive for ongoing enhancement by monitoring and analyzing performance metrics related to our policy objectives.
• Coordinate SRCD's other policy-related activities and events, as required.

We endeavor to employ diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices at SRCD. We will utilize a skills-based interview process that seeks to identify potential based on concrete examples of the skills necessary for this role. The assessment will focus on the following four skills:

• Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills. Effectively communicate in a direct, honest, and compelling manner, adjusting communications for varied audiences to optimize comprehension and impact. Be capable of translating and summarizing research studies into plain language. Promote the use of diverse communication methods, including digital resources, icons, and visual aids. Ensure that communication serves a clear purpose and is tailored to individuals' specific needs. Share information appropriately and confirm comprehension. Respectfully communicate crucial messages with colleagues and stakeholders, considering the array of interests present.
• Decision Making: Analyze and leverage a range of pertinent, reliable information from internal and external sources to inform decisions. Understand your level of accountability and empower others to make decisions where suitable. Encourage scrutiny and involve others in decision-making processes where necessary. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. Demonstrate confidence when making tough decisions, even in the face of potential unpopularity. Present robust recommendations in a timely manner, outlining the assessment of alternate options, costs, benefits, and risks.
• Leadership and Management: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, respec