Vice President of Public Policy

YWCA USA Overview 

YWCA USA is a national organization on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. One of the oldest and largest multicultural organizations promoting solutions to enhance the lives of women, girls, and families, YWCA USA has been at the forefront of the most critical social movements for more than 160 years, working on behalf of marginalized communities through advocacy, local programming, and services – from women’s empowerment and civil rights to affordable housing and pay equity, to violence prevention and health care. 

Headquartered in Washington D.C., YWCA USA represents almost 200 member YWCAs nationwide. YWCA Member Associations work on the front lines of social change, responding to the specific needs of their communities while upholding the vision and aspiration of the national movement. Nationwide, YWCA services include a wide breadth of policy advocacy and social service programs that support the mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCAs generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights; empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls; and health and safety of women and girls. 

Through its affiliation with the World YWCA, YWCA USA is part of a global movement to elevate the status of ALL women and girls.  The World YWCA works for women’s empowerment, leadership, and rights in more than 120 countries and 20,000 local communities. It is united by a shared vision that, by 2035, young women and girls will transform power structures to create justice, gender equality, and a world without violence and war, leading a sustainable YWCA movement inclusive of all women. 

Position Summary 

The Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at YWCA USA is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing strategic policy and advocacy initiatives aligned with YWCA’s mission. This position requires a strong leader experienced in managing teams, building partnerships, and driving institutional change. The Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy will collaborate with the CEO and other senior leaders to shape policy and advocacy priorities, build relationships with policymakers, and evaluate the effectiveness of policy and advocacy efforts.  

Responsibilities 

Policy and Advocacy Strategy and Execution  

• Oversee the execution of strategic goals and lead YWCA USA’s development of a mission-aligned policy and advocacy strategy.  
• Serve as primary staff liaison for White House engagement 
• Conduct research and analysis to support the organization's policy and advocacy efforts and use data and stakeholder feedback to adjust as needed.  
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's policy and advocacy efforts and use metrics and feedback to make data-driven decisions.  
• Develop and manage budgets related to policy and advocacy initiatives and ensure that resources are allocated effectively to achieve desired outcomes.  

Leadership and Management  

• Provide leadership and management to the public policy and advocacy team, including hiring, training, and mentoring staff members.  
• Develop and implement policy and advocacy training programs for YWCA USA staff, board members, and local associations to help build their policy and advocacy skills and knowledge.  

Partnership Building and Collaboration  

• Leverage relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure that policy and advocacy efforts are aligned with the YWCA mission and strategic direction.  
• Develop and maintain relationships with policymakers and other key decision-makers at the local, state, and federal levels, and engage them in policy and advocacy efforts.  
• Collaborate with other organizations in the non-profit sector to advance shared policy and advocacy goals and build coalitions to amplify policy and advocacy efforts.  

Communication and Representation  

• Develop and implement media and communications strategies to raise awareness of the organization's policy and advocacy efforts and promote its mission and values.  
• Serve as a spokesperson for YWCA USA in the media and at events as appropriate and represent the organization and its mission to various stakeholders.  
• Participate in fundraising activities to support the organization's policy and advocacy efforts and build relationships with potential donors and supporters.  

Experience, Education, Proficiencies, and Values 

• Experience, Education, and Certifications  
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as political science, public policy, or law is required.   
• A master’s degree is preferred  
• At least 10+ years of experience in policy and advocacy program management, development, and implementation, with a minimum of 5 years in a related leadership role in a non-profit organization.  
• Proficiencies 
• Strong values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills.  
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, motivate staff, and build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.  
• Strong analytical skills and experience in data-driven decision-making.  

• Values and Attributes 
• Deep commitment to YWCA USA's mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.  
• Passion for advocating on behalf of marginalized communities and driving institutional change.  

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. 

• YWCA USA is a hybrid of physical and remote office environments; you will collaborate with colleagues who are based across the United States. You should be prepared to work remotely and travel to the organization’s headquarters in Washington, DC. 
• Travel for meetings, events, or site visits is required. 
• Availability to work Monday through Friday and occasionally on nights and weekends as needed. 
• The role requires long periods of sitting and using a computer and some light physical tasks, such as printing, filing, etc. 
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, on video, and via phone. 

Note 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by anyone authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at-will relationship. 

The company is an equal opportunity employer, a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.