Children First has 3 open positions: 

• Chief of Strategy
• Health Policy Associate
• Mental Health Campaign Director

Chief of Strategy

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Position Summary

The Chief of Strategy (CoS) is a senior leadership role that serves as strategic backbone of Children First advocacy efforts. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Chief of Strategy drives organizational effectiveness of our policy agenda by aligning our talented staff, policy priorities, and processes across all departments, all while enabling the Executive Director and senior leadership team to work at the highest level of impact.

This is a role for a seasoned, mission-driven leader who combines the strategic political instincts of a senior adviser with the operational discipline of a strong manager. The Chief of Strategy will be the connective tissue of the organization: facilitating cross-departmental collaboration, stewarding the execution of the strategic plan, and ensuring that the day-to-day advocacy work of Children First is coordinated, coherent, and effective.

Key Duties

• Serve as a trusted adviser and thought partner to the Executive Director, helping shape advocacy and political strategy and translating policy priorities into actionable plans.
• Supervise strategic operations and policy staff in implementing the activities associated with supporting the policy agenda of Children First.
• Facilitate biweekly leadership meetings with policy directors and the Executive Director, developing agendas, synthesizing key decisions, and tracking follow-through.
• Lead monthly cross-departmental strategy sessions that integrate policy, research, legislative, and mobilization priorities into a unified organizational agenda.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of Children First’s strategic plan, in partnership with the Board of Directors, senior staff, and external consultants.
• Partner with the Deputy Director of Operations to develop and implement organization-wide policies that streamline processes, improve efficiency, and support effective advocacy strategies.
• Coordinate scheduling and policymaker engagement across departments, reducing duplication of effort and ensuring cohesive external relations.
• Coordinate agency wide communications calendars, improving integration of e-blasts and commentary into advocacy strategy broadly, in collaboration with the Communications Director.
• Utilize policy knowledge across a range of issues, to develop strategies that foster cross-team collaboration in advocacy campaigns and ensure staff are working in concert toward shared goals.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, policy directors, and Communications Director, develop and execute strategies for the effective rollout and dissemination of research and policy products.
• Create and lead coalitions to advocate for Children First’s policy goals; support management of existing coalitions.
• Coordinate city and state mobilization efforts across departments, integrating parent and youth advocates into legislative and budget-season campaigns.
• Provide substantive input into grant proposals and reports in partnership with the Grants Officer and policy directors; ensure timely and high-quality delivery to funders.
• Represent Children First in stakeholder and coalition settings as appropriate, supporting the Executive Director in maintaining key external relationships.

Competencies:

• Strategic Agility – Ability to see the big picture and develop strategy and aligned tactics to achieve outcomes. Ability to critically assess a situation, information, etc., and (re)calibrate strategy accordingly.
• Advocacy Knowledge – Professional experience understanding and advancing legislative goals and leading coalitions, including the ability to develop strategies and tactics that persuade legislators and elected officials, and the ability to organize, mobilize, and facilitate widespread community participation.
• Drive for Results – Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very outcome focused; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Supervision/Management – Managing and supervising a team with a spirit of collaboration and empowerment to help achieve team goals.
• Stakeholder Relationship Management Skills – Ability to cultivate, manage, and grow relationships with diverse policymaker, parent/caregiver, and other networks and coalitions.
• Problem Solving – Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answers.
• Political Savvy – Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function; anticipates where political hazards are and plans their approach accordingly; views politics as a necessary part of organizational life and works to adjust to that reality.
• Advanced Communication Skills – Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate policy issues and priorities, relevant data, etc., clearly and persuasively.
• Technological Proficiency – Facility with Excel and Word, web-based research, social media platforms.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of how federal, state, and local policies impact the wellbeing of children and families
• Understanding of how to move legislation through state and local processes
• History of leadership integrating tactics like constituent mobilization, strategic communication plans, activating c3 allowable electoral efforts, and supporting the deployment of research products that augment advocacy.
• At least 15 years of combined political and advocacy experience
• At least 10 years management experience with supervisory responsibilities
• Advanced project management experience
• Competency in conflict management
• Ability to work independently and with others in a hybrid work environment
• Works well under pressure while prioritizing and managing multiple projects
• Detail oriented with the ability to collect, interpret, and simplify large datasets
• Very strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to travel to communities across the region – must have driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle
• Proficient in excel, word, google and social media platforms

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 and additional days as needed.

Reports To: Executive Director

Salary: 175,000 with generous benefits, including PTO, sick leave, paid family leave, and employer-covered health insurance for employee and children.

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 and paid family leave.

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

Health Policy Associate

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Overview

Children First is dedicated to improving the lives and life chances of children through research, people power, and coalition building that creates the momentum for reform of public policies to enable more children to grow up healthy, well-educated, and ready to take the reins of their communities.

Position Summary

Children First is looking for a Health Policy Associate to work closely with the Health Policy Director and in coordination with the other members of the Health Policy team to advance advocacy efforts to improve children’s health in Pennsylvania. The Associate will play an important role in the organization’s statewide work to address children’s access to health care, quality of care, and range of services — including mental health — and addressing environmental health risks such as reducing the incidence of childhood lead paint poisoning. The Associate will schedule and coordinate meetings, including with policy makers and coalitions, and assist in policy research and the development of policy briefs, reports and factsheets covering areas including behavioral health, environmental health, and insurance coverage for children. This is a great position for someone who is interested in learning more about policy and advocacy related to children’s health.

Key Duties:

• Organize the logistics of public health advocacy campaigns, research projects, and community engagement efforts for the children’s health team.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings focused on children’s health policy priorities with coalitions, stakeholders, and policymakers; prepare meeting materials, track participation, and ensure follow-up.
• Support the planning and execution of health focused community events and parent engagement activities, including managing venue, staffing, registration, and outreach logistics.
• Collect and track data from partner organizations and community members to monitor campaign activities and outcomes.
• Conduct background research and monitor relevant health policy sources (e.g., PA Department of Health and other websites) to inform team priorities.
• Support project management by maintaining team calendars and helping ensure projects are on track with the resources and coordination needed for successful execution.
• Coordinate with the Health Policy and Communications Director to develop and disseminate materials.
• Represent Children First at community events and support outreach efforts, including collecting signatures and engaging stakeholders

Qualifications, Education, Experience & Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including experience engaging community members and collaborating across teams and stakeholders.
• Background in and familiarity with key issues in children’s health in Pennsylvania.
• Degree in public health preferred.
• Working knowledge of data analysis software applications and tools, such as Excel or a similar software; knowledge of MS Office, including online functionality using OneDrive/SharePoint.
• Project management skills including process management, data tracking and reporting.
• Ability to work occasional weekend or evening events.
• At least one to two years’ experience in health policy and advocacy work.
• Strong commitment to racial justice and desire to create safe inclusive conversations on how to close racial equity gaps in children’s health.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on projects with minimal supervision.

Location:

• This is a full-time hybrid position. Our health advocacy efforts are statewide, but concentrated in the Southeast, and the position requires 10-15 days of annual travel to Harrisburg, periodic travel throughout Pennsylvania, and frequent travel in the five-county area. Travel costs are reimbursable.

Supervisor: Associate Director will report directly to the Health Policy Director,

Compensation: $48,000 per year, and a generous benefits package, including health care insurance coverage for the employee and their children and paid family leave.

Apply: Please email a resume, cover letter, and short writing sample in one document to info@childrenfirstpa.org.