Director of External Affairs
- Lead and direct the development of an integrated strategy for policy, advocacy, and communications that advances ECIC’s mission, vision, and priorities.
- Oversee and manage the Policy and Advocacy team and Communications team, ensuring their work is aligned with organizational goals.
- Develop and retain high-performance team members through supervision, coaching, and leadership development.
- Collaborate with ECIC leadership to align external affairs with overall organizational strategy.
- Monitor federal and state policy and budget opportunities and lead proactively with internal and external partners to advance ECIC’s policy and budget priorities.
- Facilitate coalitions of early childhood advocates, policymakers, and community leaders to support policy change at the state and federal levels.
- Develop strategies to strengthen relationships with government officials and partners, enhancing their understanding of and support for early childhood issues.
- Coordinate the development of policy materials, such as talking points, legislative summaries, and advocacy toolkits.
- Monitor program budgets, including both forecasting and tracking of expenditures, and work plans, in collaboration with executive leadership team and operations staff, ensuring regular reporting and evaluation goals are well-established and met.
- Collaborate and contribute to grant proposals and other revenue generating opportunities.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy that positions ECIC as a leader in early childhood issues.
- Oversee branding, messaging, and digital presence to ensure consistent and compelling communication of ECIC’s vision.
- Manage the creation of collateral materials, press releases, and public-facing content that highlights ECIC’s programs, initiatives, and accomplishments.
- Serve as the primary contact for ECIC to manage engagement with the media.
- Cultivate relationships with key partners, including policymakers, coalition members, media outlets, and community leaders.
- Represent ECIC at public events, town halls, and forums to advocate for early childhood issues and raise organizational visibility.
- Collaborate with internal and external partners to amplify ECIC’s impact and share its successes.
- Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science or related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in policy, advocacy, external affairs, or a related role with leadership experience required.
- Demonstrated success in managing large-scale projects, grants, or campaigns.
- Knowledge of early childhood policy issues, including federal early childhood funding streams and policies, the state legislative process, grassroots, and grass tops advocacy and strategies.
- Excellent advocacy, consensus-building, coalition-building, and leadership skills; demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively with other staff and other organizations; demonstrated ability to work with groups and individuals across the political spectrum.
- Knowledge of media relations, digital communications, brand management, and reputation management best practices.
- Ability to serve as public spokesperson and advocate for the organization.
- Ability to analyze, articulate, and translate policy and legal concepts and other complex issues and communicate them to a variety of diverse audiences, including policymakers, media, funders, community partners, and families.
- Understanding of and commitment to social change through building the capacity and power of low-income people and people of color to change their communities and to participate directly in changing public policies.
- Ability to work in partnership with and alongside parent leaders, especially parents and families whose households are low-wealth or low-income.
- Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with diverse audiences, including public officials, coalition partners, community leaders, and members of the media.
- Effective group consultation and meeting facilitation skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe and web-based applications.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license and vehicle or other ability of travel throughout Michigan and nationally, including periodic overnight travel.
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