Manager, Advocacy

Organization Summary:

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) is a nonprofit mobilizing people and organizations to eradicate barriers and create opportunities that improve the lives of low-income New Yorkers. Part of the United Way Worldwide system, one of the world's most recognized charitable brands, we envision caring communities in which all individuals and families have access to quality education and the opportunity to lead healthy and financially secure lives. We strive to model our values in all our relationships, both internal and external: Collaboration, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, and Superior Performance.

Position Overview:

The Manager, Advocacy reports to the Vice President, Advocacy & Government Relations within the Office of the Executive Vice President. This role is primarily responsible for advocacy and relationship management, providing leadership to advance UWNYC’s strategic policy priorities through advocacy support and stewarding strong organizational partnerships on the City, State, and Federal level with key partners aligned on our policy and advocacy goals. The Manager, Advocacy will be responsible for helping develop and then leading the advocacy process for UWNYC’s policy objectives for budgetary and legislative priorities. They will work collaboratively with key internal leaders to manage relationships with UWNYC’s partner organizations and mobilize UWNYC execute policy advocacy across all levels of government.

The Manager, Advocacy will also be responsible for developing plans of action in pursuit of UWNYC policy objectives. They will assist the President’s Office, Community Impact, and Strategic Initiatives teams in the strategy for external-facing briefings, public-facing campaign material, and materials for government partners. This role works specifically with leaders and team members cross departmentally and relies on expert and consistent communication to execute cross-functional proposals and projects in a timely manner. The successful candidate will be a strong strategist and advocate, who is a great communicator and highly motivated. The Manager, Advocacy must have experience successfully achieving policy victories in New York City, New York State, and/or Federal levels of government. They should also be familiar with the process by which these institutions function. They should be connected to United Way’s mission and inspired to enhance one of the country’s best-known nonprofit brands. They must be passionate about racial equity and social justice and motivated to break down racial inequities and barriers for low-income communities of color across New York City.

Primary Responsibilities:

• In partnership with the VP, Advocacy & Government Relations, set annual and long-term strategic objectives for outreach, engagement, and advocacy with external partners
• In partnership with VP, Advocacy and Government Relations, set operational standards and processes for advocacy for internal stakeholders.
• Oversee a portfolio of partner organizations and conduct stewardship and cultivation activities that build, maintain, and strengthen relationships.
• Collaborate with programmatic leaders to inform funding strategy, proposals and reports.
• Engage partner organizations to play a leadership role in effective advocacy, organizing around campaigns and in convenings.
• Support organic leadership development within strategically identified partner organizations.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with partner organizations, other mission aligned organizations, and non-traditional partners and allies across NYC.
• Regularly convene partners to discuss issues facing UWNYC and plans strategies for collective mobilization in NYC and across the State.
• Create strategic campaign plans that coordinate and mobilize partners and coalitions around local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns.
• Serve as spokesperson for UWNYC through public speaking and regular meetings with community leaders, policy makers, and thought leaders.
• Plan and organize events including convenings, trainings, and community forums.
• Create collateral necessary for achieving policy objectives.
• Forge relationships with policy makers across NYC, including elected and other key government officials.
• Other duties as required.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience in government relations, policy, advocacy campaign management; programmatic experience in education, hunger, health equity, housing, climate, criminal justice, and/or economic mobility.
• A sense of energy, ownership, and personal connection to the work of UWNYC, the communities we serve, and our staff.
• Understanding of political strategy, NYC or NY State government stakeholders, and funding cycles.
• Relationships within the advocacy space in NYC.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, highly organized and detail oriented.
• Adept at translating programmatic products and outcomes to communicate UWNYC’s value in the community and build a case for support.
• Possess, and be motivated to continuously develop, a learning, network, and equity mindset.
• Innovative thinker with a track record for translating strategy into action plans and results.
• Astute listener and able to understand and incorporate stakeholder’s needs and interests.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and quickly “change gears” as needed.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects with high attention to detail.
• Possess positive, “can do” attitude.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Relationship Building
• Effective and Engaging Communicator
• Embracing and Managing Change
• Entrepreneurial and Innovative

Additional Requirements:

• Background check
• UWNYC is presently on a Hybrid/In-Person work schedule.

United Way of New York City Core Competencies for All Staff

• Mission Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivation.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before processes and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement
• Results Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good: creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

United Way of New York City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer