Assistant Director, Global Policy

Organization Overview
UNICEF USA (“UUSA” or “We”) relentlessly pursues a more equitable world for every child, upholding the rights of all children and empowering every child, everywhere. We also support the fundamental belief that children should have a voice and role in shaping their futures and the futures of their communities.
Over eight decades, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has built an unprecedented global support system for the world’s children, and has boldly taken on the biggest, seemingly impossible challenges facing children. UNICEF relentlessly works day in and day out to deliver the essentials that give every child an equitable chance in life: health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children.
We know that sustainable change is attainable, but it can’t be achieved alone. It takes a committed team – individuals, governments, corporations, volunteers and staff – who demonstrate a relentless commitment to working tirelessly, day in and day out in some of the toughest, hardest to reach places. Big problems need big solutions, and we harness our collective, global voice and energy to do more good, in more places for children. We will never stop supporting UNICEF to develop smarter, more cost-effective solutions; scaling up proven, data-driven programs; and harnessing new technologies to create measurable change for children.
UUSA is organized under the laws of New York State as a not-for-profit corporation. As such, UUSA is a tax-exempt organization as defined under Section 501C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is governed by an independent, non-salaried Board of Directors.

Position: Assistant Director, Global Policy

Location: Based in or within a commutable distance to Washington, D.C.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary: The estimated salary range for this role is $81,850 - $106,400. This represents UUSA's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to organizational budgets, qualifications, experience, specialized skills, and training.

Position Description

Reporting to the Director of Global Policy, the Assistant Director of Global Policy plays a key role in supporting efforts to develop and execute strategies to advance advocacy and outcomes for children globally and in the U.S. that align with UNICEF and UNICEF USA’s priorities. These efforts will establish opportunities to generate visibility and goodwill toward UNICEF and UNICEF USA, promote UNICEF USA as a credible thought leader in relevant policy spaces, and cultivate a wider domestic base of advocates invested in UNICEF’s mission and advancement of child rights.

The Assistant Director works to maintain a robust network of contacts in the U.S. Congress, and provide a high level of support in planning, implementing, and evaluating UNICEF USA’s advocacy campaigns.

The Assistant Director will be primarily focused on supporting the Director for Global Policy in devising and executing strategies to engage Congress.

The Assistant Director will support the Global Policy team and its activities aimed at driving policy change, engaging with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and supporting coalition building, liaising with consultants, and informing strategies through data inputs and analysis and use of digital platforms. They will track key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with our engagement and policy change strategies.

The Assistant Director will work alongside the Public Affairs team to prepare and train UNICEF USA’s base of U.S.-based advocates on engagement opportunities with policymakers and legislative outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have experience working on Capitol Hill and be motivated and passionate about advancing UNICEF USA’s mission, work well in a team, have a problem-solving attitude, and think creatively.

This position is based in Washington, D.C.; candidate must be willing and able to work out of

the D.C. office or participate in meetings on/around Capitol Hill and in the D.C. area on a weekly

basis.

This role collaborates closely with UNICEF’s Public Partnerships Division (PPD) to ensure cross-team alignment, seamless organizational buy-in, and global support of U.S. advocacy efforts.

Key Responsibilities (including, but not limited to):

• In partnership with the Director, Global Policy, develop and execute UNICEF USA’s policy and government affairs strategy to garner bipartisan support for UNICEF USA priorities.
• Assist the Director, Global Policy in cultivating and maintaining effective relationships, including drafting and sharing priority messaging and updates, with U.S. policymakers to influence and advance legislation and funding related to UNICEF USA priorities, including support for UNICEF’s global programs work. For domestic policy priorities, this will involve close internal collaboration with UNICEF USA’s Public Affairs team and Community Alliance for Child Rights (CACR).
• Lead engagement with select U.S. NGOs on policy initiatives and issues relevant to UNICEF USA’s mission; provide substantive participation, analysis, and information sharing (including across UNICEF USA departments and with UNICEF HQ) in representing UNICEF USA’s positions externally with relevant partners, public interest groups, coalitions, and other organizations at working groups, partner meetings and events.
• Lead in tracking and assessing tailored approaches to engage key legislators and advocate for prioritization of funding and policies that help deliver impact for children, including appropriations and authorization legislation and amendments; developing new legislative ideas; and making recommendations on UNICEF USA’s policy agenda.
• In partnership with UNICEF’s Public Partnerships Division (PPD), support organization of, and participate in as needed, Congressional staff-level meetings and other events; assist in strategizing and preparing briefing notes and other materials, including for senior UNICEF USA and UNICEF leaders and stakeholders (e.g., staff, grassroots, partners), including for meetings at key points in the appropriations process and at other points in which UNICEF presence can advance policy and/or funding outcomes. Work closely with CACR in organizing such efforts related to domestic policy priorities at the federal and state levels.
• In partnership with the Public Affairs team, assist in seeking/securing opportunities to engage on UNICEF USA’s priorities and positions with key policymakers, both inside and outside the beltway, through support for grassroots events and strategic engagement with think tanks and research institutions to ensure UNICEF USA’s position is clearly voiced in spaces that reinforce UNICEF USA as the premier partner in advocacy for children worldwide.
• Provide support for a range of advocacy events, including with UNICEF, and support trainings with both internal and external audiences (in person and virtually). Collaborate across teams to draft content for internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to the Global Policy and Public Affairs department’s operational and strategic planning and evaluation processes.

• Provide support with administrative tasks as assigned, including monitoring and reporting of lobbying efforts at the state and/or federal levels and development of reports (including Phone2Action/Quorum reports).
• Remain attuned to political dynamics, sensitivities, and happenings related to key Congressional committees of jurisdiction.
• Backstop other team members in support of collaborative strategy development and execution.
Support other duties and initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA) or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• A minimum of 6 years of related experience in foreign and/or federal policy and legislative affairs, issue-advocacy work, and/or civic engagement, with strong preference for candidates with experience working in the U.S. Congress, either in a personal office or Committee, and associated deep understanding of Congressional practice and policy.
• Knowledge and experience in the legislative process and experience in grassroots and grasstops advocacy. Understanding of international development, humanitarian, and global and/or domestic policies related to child rights/human rights.
• Must be highly organized and possess strong critical thinking skills. Must be analytical, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with demonstrated ability to compile, organize, and analyze data.
• Must be a proficient internet researcher and in Microsoft Office (Outlook- 2010 preferred, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); experience with BBCRM, Quorum, and other CRM/ stakeholder mapping and engagement tools as plus; social media networking skills/experience a plus.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills and strong public speaking skills required. Strategic communications background and/or experience developing/editing tailored content for various audiences on a variety of platforms preferred.
• Must be an excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, relationship building/management skills, and collaborative approach.
• Must possess strong ability to both work well across teams and independently while managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines. Ability to be flexible, resourceful, and demonstrate resilience under pressure while remaining results-focused.
• Ability to consistently prioritize, apply sound judgment, work autonomously with attention to detail, make responsible decisions, and exercise discretion including considerations for data maintenance and privacy.
• Experience supporting trainings for grassroots and/or grasstops advocates preferred.
• Knowledge of UNICEF's programs is a plus.
Must share a strong commitment to international humanitarian relief and embrace the mission of UNICEF USA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in public policy, public affairs, international relations, political science, or related field.
• Experience working at UNICEF or elsewhere in the United Nations system; experience working in a large, complex international organization.
Experience overseas in settings where UNICEF works.

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Don’t meet every single requirement? That’s okay. UNICEF USA values diverse experiences and we’re always looking for people who will add to our culture and further our mission. If you are excited about this role and unsure about whether your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Must possess current and valid US Work Authorization and be eligible to work for any US employer without sponsorship.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UNICEF USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. UUSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at peopleandculture@unicefusa.org .