Senior Manager of External Affairs

About the role

The Policy and Implementation Team at the OCA works to identify and make recommendations to address systems-level gaps and challenges in the delivery of state services for children and improve outcomes. The role of the Senior Manager for External Affairs is to promote the work of the Office of the Child Advocate with key external organizations and constituencies—including legislators, members of the press, and advocacy and community-based organizations whose mission and work intersect with the OCA—as well as the general public. Under the direction of the Sr Director of Policy & Implementation, the Senior Manager leads development and implementation of the agency's legislative, communications, and external affairs strategies. The Senior Manager supervises a Legislative and Communications Manager.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements the OCA's legislative advocacy strategy
• Manages the development of the OCA's legislative agenda
• Develops and maintains good relationships with members of the Legislature and oversees all legislative outreach
• Develops and maintains good relationships with relevant advocacy organizations and identifies opportunity to partner or align with external groups to advance the OCA's legislative agenda
• Advises the Child Advocate and OCA Senior Staff on major legislative issues and developments and their impact on OCA work and strategies
• Depending on the subject matter expertise and/or interest of the incumbent, may participate in policy development work with the Child Advocate and/or OCA Senior Staff
• Oversees all legislative affairs activities, including:
  • Developing draft legislation, testimony, and bill comments in partnership with the Child Advocate, the OCA Senior Leadership Team, and any assigned Legal Counsel
  • Hosting or partnering with legislators on legislative briefings or hearings
  • Developing legislative advocacy materials (e.g. fact sheets, fliers)
  • Ensuring submission of final documents from the OCA to legislators and others, including reports to the Legislature
  • Monitoring of current relevant legislation and legislative reports, particularly legislation impacting the OCA, the annual budget process, and key external initiatives relevant to the work of the OCA
  • Reporting to the Child Advocate and the OCA Senior Leadership Team on relevant developments
  • OCA attendance at relevant legislative hearings and events
  • OCA response to legislative inquiries and constituent relations
• Oversees the development and implementation of external communication strategy for the OCA
• Works with the Child Advocate and OCA Senior Staff to identify communication priorities and opportunities
• Oversees management of OCA communication vehicles, including the OCA newsletter, website, and OCA social media accounts and reviews all communications content prior to public release
• Drafts and/or oversees the development of speeches, talking points, statements, and presentations on key OCA initiatives from the Child Advocate and other OCA staff
• Ensures the agency speaks with "one voice" in its public materials
• Oversees OCA media relations
• Drafts and/or reviews relevant public information materials (i.e. statements, press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor) prior to release
• Drafts and/or reviews media talking points and helps prepare Child Advocate and other OCA staff for media interviews as relevant
• In partnership with Child Advocate and OCA senior staff, develops and manages OCA's relationship with key organizations and constituencies whose mission and work intersect with the OCA
• Prepares briefing materials for the Child Advocate's public events as needed
• Attends meetings and events with Child Advocate as assigned and ensures appropriate note-taking and follow-up
• As needed, attends external meetings (e.g., advisory boards, conferences, briefings) on behalf of the Child Advocate
• Supervises a Legislative and Communications Manager and, from time to time, supervises the work of other staff members on specific deliverables
• This position requires occasional travel across Massachusetts and an ability to work flexible hours Monday - Friday, including evenings from time to time when required to respond to urgent media or legislative concerns
• Please note that this job also requires an individual to work in-person at the OCA's Boston office 1-2 days per week, and occasionally more often for in-person meetings (e.g. legislative hearings)

Qualifications

• Experience working in and/or with Massachusetts Legislature, including a working knowledge of the organization of state government, the legislative process, and the budget process
• Significant experience reviewing legislation required
• Experience drafting legislation and/or amendments preferred
• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies, developing communications materials (e.g. newsletters, website content, social media content) and working productively with members of the media
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly the ability to digest complex information (including policy, research, and data/statistics) and present thoughts clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences utilizing a variety of formats (e.g., written articles, oral and visual presentations, etc.)
• Experience providing professional support to a high-level executive or legislator (e.g. drafting talking points, preparing tailored briefing materials)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Subject matter experience related to children's policy and services (demonstrated through past professional and/or academic experience) and a desire to expand knowledge in this space strongly preferred
• Ability to work with high-level state and local officials and other interested parties
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal effectively and tactfully with others
• Ability to coordinate competing interests and work under time constraints
• Ability to establish rapport and work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including the ability to see an issue from multiple perspectives, develop empathy even for those you disagree with, and identify and work on issues of common ground
• Prior supervision experience preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 Suite, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other commonly used computer software applications

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate or Master's degree in public policy, public administration, education, public health, or a related field
• At least seven (7) years of professional experience in legislative relations, communications, public policy, or related fields
• Ten (10) years of professional experience in legislative relations, communications, public policy, or related fields (preferred)

Pay

$112,000.00

Schedule

Full-time, Shift Day