Chief Policy, Advocacy & Campaigns Officer (E2)

Strategic Leadership & Policy Agenda

Define and lead a comprehensive, multi-year government relations and advocacy strategy aligned with Save the Children’s mission, U.S. priorities, and global policy agenda.
Establish and drive federal, state, and international policy priorities, influencing legislation, appropriations, and regulatory frameworks.
Ensure alignment of advocacy strategies across Save the Children US, Save the Children International, and SCAN to create a unified and coherent external voice.
Provide strategic counsel to the CEO, Board(s), and executive leadership on political, policy, and reputational risks and opportunities.
Leverage data, evidence, and field insights to shape policy positions and advocacy strategies that deliver measurable impact for children.

Government Relations & External Influence

Build and maintain high-level relationships with U.S. federal and state policymakers, Administration officials, and key international institutions (e.g., UN, World Bank).
Serve as a primary external spokesperson and thought leader on policy issues affecting children.
Lead coalition engagement with NGOs, think tanks, advocacy organizations, and cross-sector partners to amplify influence and drive collective action.
Shape and execute strategies to influence appropriations, authorizing legislation, and public policy debates.

Advocacy, Campaigns & SCAN Leadership

Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), ensuring alignment with broader organizational priorities.
Drive innovative, integrated advocacy campaigns that mobilize grassroots supporters, influence decision-makers, and deliver policy wins.
Ensure effective integration of lobbying, political engagement, communications, and public mobilization strategies.
Guide the evolution of SCAN into a high-impact, externally facing advocacy and political platform.
Oversee compliance with all applicable laws governing lobbying, political activity, and nonprofit/c4 coordination.

Organizational Leadership & Team Management

Lead, develop, and inspire a large, multidisciplinary team across government relations, policy, advocacy, and campaigns.
Establish clear goals, roles, and accountability frameworks aligned with enterprise strategy and performance expectations.
Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and high performance across teams and geographies.
Align organizational structure, talent, and capabilities to meet evolving advocacy priorities and external demands.
Champion leadership development, succession planning, and workforce planning within the function.

Financial Stewardship & Resource Development

Oversee significant departmental and SCAN budgets, ensuring strong financial management, transparency, and alignment with strategic priorities.
Bring an established network of high-level donors, philanthropic, and funding relationships, with the ability to strategically leverage and expand these connections to advance advocacy priorities and secure sustainable resources.
Partner with development teams to secure and diversify funding streams, including major donors, foundations, and strategic partners.
Ensure efficient allocation of resources to drive measurable advocacy outcomes and return on investment.
Monitor and report on financial performance, campaign investments, and advocacy impact metrics.
Oversee c4 board relations and reporting, in partnership with Legal and Finance.

Cross-Agency Integration & Governance

Partner across divisions (e.g., Programs, Impact & Evidence, Marketing & Growth, Legal, Finance) to align advocacy strategies with programmatic and organizational priorities.
Ensure advocacy is grounded in research, evidence, and programmatic experience to strengthen credibility and effectiveness.
Support governance and board engagement for both Save the Children US and SCAN, including reporting, strategy alignment, and compliance.
Lead strategic planning processes for Government and Advocacy, ensuring integration with enterprise planning cycles.
Establish and reinforce common principles, frameworks, and operating models for advocacy across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 15 years of relevant experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, political strategy, or related fields, including significant executive-level experience.
• Deep expertise in U.S. federal and state government processes, including legislative, appropriations, and regulatory environments.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful advocacy and policy strategies that drive measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, complex, and multidisciplinary teams, with strong people leadership and organizational development capabilities.
• Experience overseeing significant budgets and aligning financial resources to strategic priorities.
• Strong political acumen, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and build bipartisan relationships.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with experience serving as a public spokesperson.
• Experience working within or alongside nonprofit, international development, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite.
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MPA, MBA, JD, or related field).