Senior Program Officer, Advocacy

POSITION PROFILE – SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER,
ADVOCACY 

kpCompanies is partnering with Greater Twin Cities United Way to
find a highly passionate Senior Program Officer, Advocacy. This
role will be pivotal in advancing our mission to unite
changemakers, advocate for social good, and develop solutions to
the complex challenges faced by our community. 

Are you working or partnering with the community to drive
systemic change and foster community engagement through strategic
advocacy? Do you thrive in dynamic environments where your
strategic mindset, community connections, and collaborative spirit
can make a significant impact?  Greater Twin Cities United Way
is seeking a dynamic professional to join our team as a Senior
Program Officer, Advocacy. This role offers a unique opportunity to
be at the forefront of policy development and advocacy initiatives
that promote equity and address critical community
challenges. 

THE ORGANIZATION – GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED
WAY 

Mission 

Unite changemakers, advocate for social good, and develop
solutions to address the challenges no one can solve
alone. 

Vision 

A world where division, disparity, and poverty are transformed
through equitable solutions, innovative strategies, and collective
action, creating a thriving community for all. 

Values 

Equity, Collaboration, Agility, and Transparency.

At Greater Twin Cities United Way, we are dedicated to creating
a community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We work
with courageous leaders, responsive services, and collaborative
partnerships to disrupt systems, unlock human potential, and create
lasting change. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Senior Program Officer, Advocacy plays a critical role
within the Community Impact team. This position is responsible for
coordinating the development and execution of Greater Twin Cities
United Way’s policy and advocacy agenda. The Senior Program Officer
will represent the organization’s viewpoint, working closely with a
diverse range of stakeholders to inform, influence, align, and
advance advocacy priorities. This role demands strategic thinking,
a deep understanding of community needs, and a strong commitment to
equity. 

REPORTING STRUCTURE 

The Senior Program Officer, Advocacy reports directly to the
Associate Vice President, Advocacy & Community Impact, and
works closely with the broader Advocacy & External Engagement
team. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Policy Agenda Development & Execution
(35%) 

Collaborate with the Associate Vice
President to manage the development of the advocacy and policy
agenda, reflecting the insights and priorities of United Way’s
nonprofit partners and community stakeholders.
Lead advocacy efforts for legislative
and administrative policy changes that align with and advance the
organization’s goals.
Collaborate with a lobbyist
consultant to position and champion advocacy priorities
effectively.
Oversee and manage grants with
advocacy partners, ensuring timely execution, reporting, and
outcome tracking.

Coalitions and Partner Collaboration (25%) 

Build and mobilize support for policy
initiatives through strategic alliances and
partnerships.
Foster positive relationships with
key stakeholders, including elected officials, government entities,
businesses, and nonprofits.
Actively engage in strategic
coalitions to align efforts and advance United Way’s advocacy
goals.
Explore opportunities for
collaboration with the United Ways of Minnesota network to enhance
advocacy across Greater Minnesota.

Communications and Engagement (20%) 

Develop and disseminate timely,
relevant, and clear communications to support United Way’s policy
agenda to internal and external audiences.
Lead and facilitate meetings and
group presentations related to advocacy initiatives.
Coordinate with the external
consultant and internal Marketing team to create and execute
effective messaging and collateral for advocacy through various
channels.
Organize and lead events to promote
awareness and engagement around United Way’s Community Impact
strategies and policy agenda.
Support the development and
implementation of a multi-faceted approach to significantly grow
advocacy engagement across diverse networks and stakeholder
groups.
Implement and manage technology
platforms, such as Voter Voice and Plural, to engage and activate
nonprofit partners and the organization’s advocacy
network.

Inter-Departmental Alignment and Coordination
(20%) 

Partner with the Grantmaking team to
enhance strategic relationships with government, nonprofits,
coalitions, and individuals with lived experiences.
Collaborate with the 211 & 988
teams to leverage data and insights reflecting real-time community
needs to inform advocacy priorities and educate key
decision-makers.
Partner with the Learning &
Impact Strategy team to track and share relevant advocacy outcomes
and impact metrics.
Coordinate with the Operations team
on advocacy-related grants, events, contracts, invoices, and data
management.
Act as a liaison across
the organization, including Marketing, Individual Philanthropy,
Corporate Relations, and Foundations, as needed.

 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Below are some of the typical requirements for a Senior Program
Officer, Advocacy. We recognize that skill sets can be a complex
combination of experiences. Even if your background does not
exactly match these requirements but you have a passion for our
work, we would love to hear from you and we recognize the value of
transferable skills. 

Education 

Bachelor’s degree
preferred.

Experience 

3-5 years of proven experience in
nonprofit program management, public leadership, policy advocacy,
community engagement, or direct lobbying.

Knowledge, skills, traits, and abilities 

Demonstrated strategic and future
thinking to drive results through actionable strategies.
Strong oral and written communication
skills to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
Ability to build and sustain
relationships with a wide range of partners, including community
leaders, nonprofit organizations, and government officials.
In-depth understanding of legislative
processes, policy development, and advocacy strategies.
Works effectively across teams to
align efforts and enhance advocacy results, including collaborating
with lobbyists and coalitions.
Comfortable working with ambiguity
and navigating complex, dynamic environments.
Committed to fostering a culture of
trust, inclusivity, and strong community roots, earning trust as a
flexible and dependable resource.
Works effectively across teams to
align efforts and enhance advocacy results.
Strong interpersonal skills to build
and maintain positive relationships with various
stakeholders.
Holds self and partners accountable
for achieving goals and delivering high-quality results.
Familiarity with technology platforms
for advocacy engagement (e.g., Voter Voice, Plural).
Demonstrated ability to lead with
empathy and cultural awareness.

Physical requirements and work environment 

Hybrid working environment, with a
requirement to work in the organization’s offices at least one day
per week, specifically on Wednesdays.
Flexibility to work nights and
weekends as needed.

 

Travel 

Ability to travel within the
nine-county metro area and occasionally statewide or
nationally.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with
disabilities to perform the principal duties and responsibilities
for the position. 

EQUITY AND SALARY DISCLOSURE 

Salary Range: $95,000 – $98,000 

We believe in practices that create real equity and pay parity
regardless of background or identity. We freely discuss
compensation with all qualified candidates the first time we
interview them. Saving the salary discussion for the first
conversation allows us to understand the needs of each candidate
fully and to ensure that qualified candidates, even those who’ve
historically been overlooked and/or underpaid, don’t self-select
out of the processes based on salary alone, as our experience and
research suggest. In addition to those who opt out because they
fear the salary may be out of reach for them, we equally don’t want
to miss out on conversations with candidates who are slightly over
the range when, in some cases, the total compensation, including
factors such as bonuses, flexibility, and better health benefits,
etc. may exceed expectations. Finally, as a search firm, we always
look for top-notch talent to introduce to our clients. Should the
salary or any other requirement not be fit, there is often a chance
that someone on our team is working on another position you may be
a better fit for. If you would like to discuss your qualifications
for this role and salary and compensation, just call us, and we’d
be happy to discuss! 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Greater Twin Cities United Way and kpCompanies are equal
opportunity employers and all employees and applicants for
employment are afforded equal opportunity in every area of hiring
and employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religious
creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, age,
disability, mental illness, sexual harassment, sexual orientation,
genetics, military/veteran status, citizenship, arrest record, and
any other legally protected characteristic. 

HOW TO APPLY 

If you are driven by a commitment to advocacy and community
engagement and meet the qualifications listed above, we invite you
to apply. Early applications are highly encouraged, and priority
consideration will be given to those submitted by July 28th,
2024. 

All submissions are received in the strictest
confidence.