Policy Area Director, Families

Policy Area Director, Families & Children

About MDRC

Founded in 1974, MDRC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to building and applying reliable evidence about
effective education and social policy programs that can improve the
well-being of people with low incomes. We not only carry out the
research but also strive to make sure policymakers and
practitioners understand and can use our research findings. MDRC
designs promising new interventions, studies existing programs, and
provides technical assistance to help practitioners build better
programs.

With an annual budget of about $100 million, a staff of more than
300 people, and offices in New York City, Oakland, Washington, DC,
and Los Angeles, MDRC seeks to provide reliable, nonpartisan
evidence to its public and private partners. We constantly seek
ways to do our work better, including designing new tools to help
partner organizations improve their programs and pioneering new
quantitative and qualitative research methods.

About the Families & Children (F&C) Policy
Area

MDRC is deeply committed to shaping the future of early childhood
and family development to enhance long-term well-being. A core
pillar of MRDC’s expansive policy expertise, the Families &
Children (F&C) policy area is a critical component of MDRC’s
research portfolio. F&C is a leader in developing and
evaluating initiatives that improve family and child well-being
through rigorous, evidence-based research. F&C’s research
agenda focuses on a range of programs designed to improve the
well-being of families and enhance child development,
including:

• Early Childhood Development and Education
• Parenting and Relationship Programs
• Integration of Services for Families
• Home Visiting Programs
• Social and Emotional Learning
• Economic and Employment Support
• Cross-System Collaboration

By developing innovative interventions, conducting rigorous
evaluations, and offering world-class technical assistance, the
F&C team enhances early childhood systems and services to drive
long-term systemic change, lay a solid foundation for sustainable
improvements, and benefit families and children across diverse
communities.

You can find more information on MDRC at www.mdrc.org and
our Families & Children Research Agenda at
www.mdrc.org/work/publications/mdrcs-research-agenda-families-children.

The Opportunity

MDRC is seeking a Director for the Families & Children policy
area. This is a unique opportunity to positively impact family and
child well-being through rigorous, evidence-based research. The
Director manages a team of 40 professionals, including five direct
reports, and oversees a $15-million budget derived from both public
and private sources.

This role oversees two critical bodies of work: Family Functioning
and Early Childhood Education, both dedicated to enhancing the
structures and systems that support families and children’s
earliest stages of learning and development. This position offers
an exceptional opportunity to lead a team of skilled researchers
and shape a research agenda that employs transformative strategies
and cutting-edge scientific methods. The Director’s work will drive
real-world applications and influence policy decisions, with the
goal of creating significant, systemic impact on the lives of
children and families.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Policy Area External Strategy

• Collaboratively design and direct plans for developing new work
  within the F&C research portfolio.
• Support fundraising from public and private sources by
  cultivating contacts in the field.
• Oversee communication with those outside the organization,
  including disseminating findings and using evidence to influence
  policy and practice.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key
  stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions,
  and other relevant organizations to enhance policy advocacy and
  research impact.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of policy initiatives and research
  outcomes to ensure alignment with MDRC’s objectives and partner’s
  needs.
• Ensure the rigorous implementation of metrics and key
  performance indicators for assessing project impact, particularly
  how projects improve outcomes for children and families.

Project and Personnel Management

• Support the hiring, supervision, and professional development
  of individuals on the F&C team.
• Ensure that projects meet their goals on time and within budget
  while upholding MDRC’s high quality standards.
• Continue MDRC’s commitment to inclusivity by further
  incorporating the voices of children and families who are directly
  affected by systemic inequities and continue to develop and apply a
  racial equity lens to MDRC’s work.
• Ensure that all policy research and advocacy activities comply
  with relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards.
• Stay updated on legislative changes that could impact research
  activities and adjust strategies accordingly.

Staff and Culture

• Develop and strengthen a culture that aligns with the MDRC
  Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)commitment by
  continuing to incorporate antiracist practices, high expectations,
  and collaboration to create a positive, inclusive
  environment.
• Build internal communication strategies that ensure all staff
  members are informed about organizational changes, project updates,
  and strategic decisions.
• Encourage a culture of transparency where staff feel
  comfortable voicing their ideas and concerns, contributing to a
  more inclusive and collaborative workplace.
• Monitor and proactively manage staff workload to prevent
  burnout and ensure a healthy work-life balance. Implement tools and
  systems for effectively tracking project demands and personnel
  capacity.

Organizational Leadership

• As a senior leader on MDRC leadership team, actively contribute
  to leadership and strategic initiatives to drive organizational
  success.
• Bring substantive content area knowledge to other policy areas
  by reviewing their strategic plans and serving as a reviewer on
  related projects.
• Act as a thought leader, representing MDRC at public forums,
  conferences, and media interviews to enhance its profile and
  influence in policy discussions.
• Write and publish articles, white papers, and reports that
  highlight research findings and recommendations.

Travel Requirements: The position is ideally based in MDRC’s
New York City; Washington, DC, or California offices with
relocation assistance offered. New York-based candidates are
preferred. MDRC is also open to remote work. However, MRDC requires
monthly travel to foster collaboration, enhance accessibility to
MDRC staff, and engage with donors and funders effectively.

Candidate Profile

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience in a leadership
position in an environment that engages in, supports, or applies
research, such as a nonprofit organization, government agency, or
academic institution – as well as relevant knowledge and expertise
that enables effective innovation and leadership within the policy
area and MDRC broadly.

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional
experience that will set candidates up for success in this role.
While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the
position description, ideal candidates will display the following
professional and personal qualities, skills, and
characteristics:

Content Area Expertise and Credibility

Ideal candidates will be nationally recognized experts in child
development, family studies, or related fields, with distinguished
records as a researcher, policymaker, or practitioner. They possess
deep knowledge in key policy areas, using their expertise to expand
the scope and impact of their research agenda.

Leadership and People Management

Ideal candidates will have a proven ability to manage diverse teams
and lead projects effectively. They know how to foster high staff
engagement and a collaborative environment while meeting timelines
and achieving ambitious goals. They maintain transparency and
accountability, promote open communication, and empower team
members by delegating authority responsibly and ensuring
professional development for staff at all levels. They lead with
humility, celebrate team successes, and are committed to their
organizational values and objectives.

Research Administration

Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience in leading
research or policy teams. They excel in developing and implementing
policies that ensure projects meet quality standards, deadlines,
and budget while modulating staff capacity to meet project
demands.

Resource Development

Ideal candidates will bring a track record of success with resource
and business development, including the ability to cultivate and
grow relationships with supporters and partners. They will be
skilled in communicating research findings and translating those
into policy initiatives and ensuring projects attract and secure
future partnerships and funding opportunities.

Strategic Vision and Decision-making

Ideal candidates understand how to strategically align a research
agenda with long-term organizational goals and mission. They work
with senior and executive leaders to continually seek improvement
by identifying efficient processes, navigating organizational
challenges, and providing critical feedback on strategic priorities
for both their policy area and enterprise.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

• A terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in a relevant
  field is required.
• Candidates with deep Family Functioning and/or Early Childhood
  Education experience are highly valued.
• Policy and research experience at both the state and national
  level are strongly preferred.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB)
  and antiracism frameworks and experience applying equity-based and
  culturally responsive approaches in research and technical
  assistance are nonnegotiable.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. MDRC
offers a salary range of $200,000 – $225,000, with a comprehensive
benefits package that includes extensive insurance (medical,
dental, vision, life), disability leave, telemedicine options,
employer-contributed pension, and generous vacation time. Benefits
extend to family leave, partnerships, adoption support, identity
theft protection, legal services, and extensive professional
development opportunities.

Contact

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively
retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan
and Malissa Brennan. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by

filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly
confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing
reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities.
If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need
assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com.
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional
information regarding how to request an accommodation for the
interview process.

MDRC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. MDRC does
not discriminate, and all qualified applications will receive
consideration without regard to race; color; national origin;
religion; creed; sex or gender (including sex stereotyping and
gender identity or expression); sexual orientation; citizenship
status; pregnancy; disability; age; military or veteran status;
marital or partnership status; genetic information, genetic
predisposition, or carrier status; prior unemployment status;
consumer credit history; status as a victim of domestic violence,
sex offenses, or stalking; or any other category protected by
applicable federal, state, or local laws. Legal work authorization
is required.

MDRC’s dedication
to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion exceed compliance requirements.
We believe that recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce of all
backgrounds and perspectives improves the quality and relevance of
our research, as well as the daily experiences of our staff. By
fostering an equitable culture of inclusivity and belonging, we
seek an environment in which staff feel welcomed, valued, and
engaged in their work.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s
premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since
its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on
mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right
leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable
impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs,
responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities
and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on
its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and
is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a
changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach,
with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in
cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of
diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the
firm’s
website.

To apply, visit: https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/20985-mdrc-policy-area-director-families-children/

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