Children First has 4 open positions:

• Executive Director, Children First
• Education Policy Associate
• Mental Health Campaign Director
• PaLante Community Fellowship for Emerging Leaders

Executive Director, Children First

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Overview

Children First stands at an exciting moment in its long and respected history as the organization prepares for the transition of its longtime leader. As a trusted, nonpartisan voice for Philadelphia’s children, the next Executive Director (ED) will advance policies that strengthen education, health, and family stability through thoughtful advocacy, data-driven insights, and coalition-building. With a $5.2M budget, a team of 30 talented and deeply committed staff, and a powerful reputation for impact, the organization is entering its next chapter from a position of real strength and ready to build on its legacy and shape a new era of leadership and influence.

The next ED will be a driven and thoughtful leader who thrives on bringing clarity and alignment amid complexity; they will be nimble, opportunistic, and able to work well with partners. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will identify and implement strategic solutions that drive meaningful results while remaining true to Children First’s mission and values. The ideal candidate will bring political savvy, strong team leadership, and the ability to navigate nuanced environments with sensitivity and diplomacy. As the organization’s chief spokesperson, the ED will represent Children First through media engagements, public speaking, and partnerships with aligned organizations and coalitions by further elevating the organization’s visibility and impact across Pennsylvania.

The ED will leverage Children First’s bipartisan credibility to advance policy and systems change at the local and state levels. The next leader will inspire and guide a mission-driven team, fostering an inclusive and empowering culture where staff can bring their authentic selves to work. This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the Commonwealth’s most influential child advocacy organizations at a moment when the need for courageous, collaborative leadership has never been greater.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Commitment to Mission, Policy, and Advocacy

• Champions initiatives to ensure every child has access to essential resources, aligning action with Children First’s mission
• Navigates the political landscape with integrity and nonpartisan credibility
• Data-driven leader who can draw from community insights to execute actionable policy priorities that improve outcomes for children and families across the five-county Greater Philadelphia region
• Experience working on large scale advocacy and engagement campaigns and initiatives and legislative agendas

External Ambassador and Fund Development  

• Serve as a genuine thought-leader for the organization in public settings and events and participate on behalf of Children First at selected tables or in collaborative efforts
• Develops and maintains relationships with nonprofit, community, and state leaders to advance initiatives and vision
• Partner with development staff and board members to identify and cultivate prospective donors and funding opportunities
• Support fundraising efforts by representing Children First in donor meetings, grant discussions, and community engagement initiatives

Strategic and Visionary Thinker

• Collaborates with the Board and staff to implement and advance a strategic plan that drives measurable impact for children and families across Greater Philadelphia
• Translates organizational strategy into clear, actionable initiatives that align mission, resources, and community outcomes
• Able to simultaneously advance big picture strategic thinking with on-the-ground execution
• Inspires and motivates staff, partners, and stakeholders to think creatively, embrace innovative solutions, and take thoughtful, mission-driven risks
• Harnesses and advances staff talents and energy

Organizational Leadership

• Ability to lead a complex, mission-driven organization with a focus on operational excellence, financial stewardship, integrity, and accountability
• Builds strong systems, clear communication, and a healthy culture that supports staff and staff development
• Oversees all operational and administrative functions, ensuring resources, programs, and initiatives are aligned, effective, and efficient
• Fosters collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement across the organization

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $225,000 to $275,000.

Children First offers an excellent benefits package that includes full family medical (including contributions toward the deductible), dental, and vision, as well as other great benefits such as four weeks’ vacation and 17 paid holidays.

Contact & Apply

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Alicia Salerno and Tenley Bank. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile.  All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Children First is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, creed, gender, or sexual identity.

Education Policy Associate

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Overview

We are seeking an outgoing individual to join the policy team to provide operational support for its advocacy, policy, programmatic and digital engagement initiatives. The Education Policy Associate will work closely with the K-12 and ECE Policy Directors, and Suburban Field Senior Manager to grow the base of stakeholders throughout the region and support the work of education funding campaigns, equity initiatives, and parent and youth-centered advocacy programming. The Education Policy Associate will also work with the Civic Engagement Manager to support the Child Care Voter Campaign that engages early childhood sector stakeholders to pressure candidates for state elected offices to speak to the need for greater access to affordable high-quality child-care and Pre-K as they campaign; in addition to supporting digital engagement for other to key organizational priorities.

 Key Duties:

• Provide operational support to the day-to-day activities of K-12 and ECE advocacy initiatives
• Schedule legislative/community organization meetings on K-12 and ECE priorities
• Assist in organizing K-12 and ECE policy-related events, such as rallies, press conferences, advocacy trainings, forums, report launch events, etc. by tracking invites and RSVPs, and preparing materials for a series of candidate forums focused on childcare issues in targeted races during election season in collaboration with providers.
• Provide administrative support to digital engagement strategy for the Child Care Voter campaign that expands the number of individuals participating and increases their level of engagement.
• Implement email and social media activities that increase the financial support/civic engagement of voters to support Children First’s agenda.
• Build our list of supporters and supporting organizations by attending local events, pre-organized meetings, and mobilizing others to participate in similar activities
• Contribute information to flyers, commentaries and materials needed to persuade candidates and community stakeholders to be champions of early learning
• Support and implement efforts to boost digital and email engagement associated with routine emails and posts of Children First including Take Action Tuesday and the weekly e-news.
• Increase the visibility of our work by documenting support and field activities via social media
• Conduct outreach to elected officials, community partners, stakeholders, etc. regarding K-12 and ECE policies and initiatives
• Work with the K-12 and ECE team to create presentations and materials for outreach
• Maintain data entry of supporters into the K-12 and ECE spreadsheets and Every Action lists by school districts, counties, and key sectors
• Track outreach, local media coverage, and populate shared campaign calendar with field events 

Qualifications, Education, Experience & Skills:

• A passion for supporting the engagement of education stakeholders
• Experience working on a team as an advocate with a positive history of impact, able to coordinate, negotiate, manage, and work with coworkers of all levels
• Highly organized, able to multi-task and manage multiple projects
• Knowledge of the key policy challenges in the education sector preferred
• Ability and desire to work in a bi-partisan manner
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and a deep working knowledge of data analysis software applications and tools
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Docs
• Minimum one year of experience working in a non-profit/advocacy/community service field, can be an unpaid internship experience
• Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, public policy, or related field required
• Ability to work occasional weekend or evening events
• Willingness to travel throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and Harrisburg

Location:  Candidates should be local to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area or willing to relocate. This is a hybrid position requiring at least two days in the office. 

Reports To: Deputy Director, Policy Operations 

Salary: $60,000 plus benefits and generous paid time off. 

Apply: Resume and cover letter to info@childrenfirstpa.org.

Mental Health Campaign Director

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Overview

Children First is a leading child advocacy and policy organization dedicated to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. Headquartered in Philadelphia and working across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Children First champions policies and programs that expand access to quality health care, education, and family supports for children and youth in the Greater Philadelphia region. For more than four decades, Children First has been a trusted voice for children by turning data into action, mobilizing communities, and driving systemic change that advances racial and economic equity. Through rigorous research, coalition-building, and strategic advocacy, the organization has helped shape landmark policies in early childhood education, mental and physical health access, and support for vulnerable youth and families.

Position Summary

The Campaign Director will lead the groundbreaking Strong Minds Bright Futures Partnership for Child Mental Wellbeing. The Partnership is a broad-based statewide coalition seeking state level policy reforms that will guaranteed low-income children access to a full continuum of mental health services. We are looking for a visionary leader with strong organizational skills who can motivate policymakers to adopt changes by leading this newly formed coalition forward.  The ideal leader will have three key skill sets:

1. proven capacity to orchestrate partners to persuade elected officials to embrace new policies;

2. tested relationship management skills that guide stakeholders to focus on collaboratively to influence public policy, and

3. a track record of using communication tools to build public will for policy change.

The ideal candidate will be a leader who enjoys collaborating and helping coworkers and employees they supervise to do their best and contributes to a respectful workplace that values a commitment to racial diversity, having fun, and making an impact. You must also have the capacity to be a self-starter, work independently, and with others in a hybrid, dynamic work environment.

Skills and Knowledge, We Are Looking For:

• Advocacy Experience: A minimum of five years advocating for a significant policy change via legislation or administrative reforms. Inclusive in this experience must be a track record of leading a united effort of grassroots and grasstops organizations and passionate individuals and orchestrating their advocacy to achieve a policy win.
• Strategic and Critical Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and develop strategy and align tactics to achieve policy outcomes. Ability to critically assess a situation, and (re)calibrate strategy accordingly.
• Stakeholder Relationship Management Skills: Ability to cultivate, manage, and grow relationships with state agency decision makers, organizational leaders, parents/caregivers, and other networks, coalitions and policymakers.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate policy issues and priorities clearly and persuasively in writing as well as in meeting and in media appearances and to prepare reports, briefs and correspondence with key officials.
• Data and Analysis Skills: Strategic and detail-oriented ability to collect, interpret, and simplify large datasets, and analyze laws and regulations, in support of policy priorities and advocacy goals.
• Management/Supervision and Project Management Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience managing and supervising a team with a spirit of collaboration and empowerment to help achieve team goals. Attention to detail is a priority so that staff, partners, and policymakers can engage and help move the work forward. This effort requires a leader with strong project management and strategy development skills.
• Proficiency with Technology: Facility with Excel and Word, web-based research, social media platforms.
• Policy Knowledge: Knowledge of state Medicaid administrative powers, payment systems and regulatory requirements. Knowledge of the structure of the mental health system preferred a plus.

Key Duties:

• Spearhead the development of a new initiative aimed at improving children’s mental health by developing and implementing advocacy strategies to advance state and local level mental health policy priorities which include:
  • Manage relationships with coalition members and state policymakers and recruit more key stakeholders
  • Guide the implementation of carefully crafted communications, mobilization and government relations strategies to get the policy reforms adopted
  • Supervise campaign staff (three staff members and multiple consultants)
  • Developing messaging documents, official correspondence testimony or public speeches, and manage a process to publish, disseminate and draw attention to compelling reports
  • Draft grant applications to secure additional resources and ensure expenditures do not exceed available funds
• Be the public face of the Campaign successfully recruiting and informing community leaders, parents and youth and engaging them to build support and regularly communicate with key policymakers about mental health campaign priorities
• Monitor trends and collect and analyze data on Medicaid policy to consider their impact on the campaig

Other Duties as Assigned

• Attend and present information at Children First board and board subcommittee meetings as requested
• Be available to plan, orchestrate and assist with outreach events which occur in the evening and/or weekends
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and staff committees
• Actively support Children First fundraising efforts

Additional Information:

• This is a full-time hybrid position requiring approximately 60 days a year in Harrisburg; in addition, to approximately 45 days on the road engaging with leaders across the state and a weekly in-office staff meetings in Philadelphia. Must have a valid driver’s license and a reliable vehicle.

Reports To: Executive Director

Salary: Salary starts at $150,000 and will be commensurate with experience, plus benefits, including health care for you and your child(ren) and generous paid time off.

Apply: Resume and cover letter to info@childrenfirstpa.org.

Pa’Lante: Community Fellowship for Emerging Leaders Application

Overview

The Community Fellow will need to have an investment and interest in the future of Hispanic Children in Philadelphia. Ideally, a Fellow would be an emerging leader with 8 years of work experience and a demonstrated track record of community engagement, volunteerism, or “giving back” to their community. 

Qualifications

To satisfy the project objectives, the Community Fellows should be prepared to take on the following responsibilities and identify with the following qualifications:

• Tap into lived experience to add valuable insight into the process of creating an action agenda for Hispanic Children. 
• Ability to participate in research and planning sessions with a variety of stakeholders. 
• Ability to communicate productively within a project role. 
• Sufficient skills to communicate regularly via email or phone.
• Provide feedback in ways that can be incorporated into the existing process.

Responsibilities

The following list lays out a set of responsibilities expected for the Community Fellow to complete.

• Shadow and debrief at least one stakeholder interview (1-2 hrs)
• Support the design and facilitation of a Community Conversation (3-4hrs)
• Participate in survey creation and/or analysis (1-2 hrs)
• Participate in at least one planned project retreat (3-4hrs)
• Complete a written report that summarizes your experience (3-4hrs)
• Additional project work that reflects yours skills (2-4hrs)

CLICK HERE to submit your application electronically.