State Director California

Organization Overview: The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. We serve and advocate for the largest, most diverse generation in America: the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25, with particular attention to those living in poverty and communities of color. CDF partners with policymakers, aligned organizations and funders in this service. The Children’s Defense Fund is the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice by wielding the moral authority of programmatic proximity and community organizing to inform public policy. For more information visit www.childrensdefense.org

Position Summary: The primary responsibility of this leadership position is developing an effective public policy advocacy and program strategy to advance child well-being in the state of California. The leader is responsible for creating multi-year human capital, fund development and program plans to execute the strategy and managing staff and volunteer teams in pursuit thereof. The secondary responsibility of the role is facilitating alignment between the strategic, programmatic, and operational efforts of California State Office and other settings of the Children’s Defense Fund. The ideal candidate will have a successful track record of executive leadership and/or senior management in the social sector, commitment to child well-being and racial equity, and fundraising experience.

Responsibilities Leadership and Strategy

• Work with National Director of Movement Building to execute and monitor program plan in California.
•  Lead the coordination of state and local efforts in California to align with Children’s Defense Fund vision.
• Provide volunteer management for California Advisory Council.
• Identify and build coalitions with key partners and constituencies within the State.
• Remain current and serve as in-house expert on child well-being trends in California.
• Serve on Children’s Defense Fund’s Leadership Team to maintain organizational communications and cohesion.
• In collaboration with the Communications team, act as State spokesperson leveraging proactive, earned media approach to advance CDF vision and strategy.

Program Management and Evaluation

• Develop and lead the pursuit of the State Office’s multi-year policy advocacy and research
• agenda.
• Direct grassroots organizing and collaboration with organizations and coalitions with the State.
• Manage protocols and policies for leadership development and mobilization in targeted
• constituencies.
• Oversee the development, tracking, and reporting of goals, outcomes, and performance
• metrics for State Office.
• Collaborate with Public Affairs team to develop, implement, and improve policy advocacy
• strategy.
• Collaborate with CDF Freedom Schools team to coordinate direct service partnerships in the
• State.
• Participate and steward team participation in organizational development efforts.

Operations and Administration

• Work with National Director of Movement Building to budget and monitor Office to ensure
• sound fiscal and system management.
• Develop human capital plans to achieve program and operations objectives, then hire, deploy,
• and support staff.
• Develop and retain a team of high-performing staff to execute the strategy and key functions.
• Coordinate with Institutional Advancement to plan and implement an integrated fundraising
• program to meet the State Office and organization’s fundraising goals.

Education And/or Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of senior management or executive leadership. A minimum of a
• bachelor's degree. Master’s degree in social work, Public Policy, Public Administration, or
• related field is preferred. Years of education may be considered for experience.
• Track record of earned leadership and trust among diverse constituencies.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: cultural organizing, community organizing
• (youth, faith community, or parents is a plus), policy advocacy, racial equity, or base-building.
• Successful experience managing a high-performing team of staff and community members.
• Working knowledge of program planning, organizational structure, budgeting, and
• administrative operations.
•  Nuanced understanding of the fundamentals and challenges of the non-profit sector.

Preferred Qualifications

• Service as social sector executive director with governance, fiscal and personnel management accountabilities.
• Significant leadership in child advocacy, policy, and/or philanthropy in California.
• Successful community organizing and public policy advocacy for child well-being and/or racial equity.

Competencies

• Racial equity analysis and application in the social sector.
• Community awareness and prioritization of proximity to inform decision-making.
• Results-driven management style.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Relationship and consensus building with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to set and manage priorities and manage competing demands.
• Ability to build and successfully navigate in a fast-paced, outcomes-driven, and entrepreneurial
• environment.
• A well-organized individual with high ethical standards.
• A self-directed individual who is an independent thinker and a team player.
• Analytical ability is required to gather and summarize data for reports, find solutions to
• business challenges.