Are you looking for a meaningful career opportunity that will help support the safety of families across Philadelphia? Are you interested in being part of an established, vision-oriented nonprofit organization? Women Against Abuse (WAA), is looking for an experienced individual to join the team as our Vice President of Policy and Strategic Initiatives!

WAA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, is Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence advocate and service provider and among the largest domestic violence agencies in the country. The mission of WAA is to provides quality, compassionate and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence and to lead the struggle to end domestic violence through advocacy and community education. With over 170 staff, WAA serves over 7,000 individuals each year within residential services (2 - 100 bed safe havens and 15 transitional housing apartments), legal services, hotline counseling, aftercare community-based services, prevention & education, and advocacy.

Position Overview & Responsibilities:
The Vice President of Policy and Strategic Initiatives plays a critical role in ensuring the implementation of Women Against Abuse’s Strategic Plan and serves to guide our advocacy and policy efforts and lead our strategic initiatives and partnerships. They serve to advise and support the Executive Director & President (ED), acting as a lead project manager, a strategist, consultant, and implementer, according to the ED’s collaboratively defined goals, strategy, direction, and priorities. Working closely with the ED, and Vice Presidents, they assist with a range of organizational management, planning and oversight functions. In addition, the Vice President of Policy and Strategic Initiatives leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), advocacy and public policy, functions for the organization. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Advise the ED on strategic initiatives and operational issues (including cross-functional issues) and assists with special projects. Evaluate strategic plan (SP) progress and assists departments with the development of business plans to achieve SP objectives, and recommends and implements related organizational communications. Coordinate the execution of strategic initiatives and the initiation and revisions of policies & procedures that are cross-departmental. Assists with the ED’s internal and external communications, both written and spoken. Act as an adviser to the ED and senior management team including in agenda setting for staff and leadership meetings and assisting with facilitation of effective decision-making. Assist ED with determining the proper course of action for inquiries directed to the ED and delegates to the appropriate individual to manage. Communicate to the Executive Team broader needs, concerns, and ideas from employees, or as identified. Being both a problem solver and a problem spotter. Develop overarching policy priorities for the organization with the Executive and Senior Leadership teams. Lead the development and implementation of a policy and advocacy plan that is aligned with the organization’s communications and engagement strategies. Develop strategic initiatives and partnerships that amplify WAA’s work and expand its influence. Provide leadership and work with colleagues and stakeholders to develop short and long-term advocacy campaigns. Work with Vice President of Advancement to identify and cultivate opportunities to support strategic initiatives and efforts; and Monitor key legislative, executive, and political developments and trends affecting women’s economic security/Victims of IPV/DV and well-being and analyze the political impact. Leads WAA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiative. Oversee the development of informational materials for the purposes of advocacy; coordinates legislator outreach and meetings and leads the development of WAA’s overall policy agenda. Manage advocacy-related social media functions. Ensure continuous communication about agency public policy initiatives, including providing pertinent legislative and budget updates to staff, board, etc. Plan and orchestrate legislative visits on the local, state, and federal level, including staff and client rallies. Oversee implementation and monitoring of WAA Lobbying Policy and tracking system, and coordinate reports to the city, state, and federal government as required. Along with ED, serve as WAA’s representative/liaison with elected officials. Lead “systems change” work at WAA (includes coordination of efforts with the Advocacy Committee, as well as tracking both systems change barriers and activities for the organization). Represent the ED with public officials and other partners in person and in writing, as needed. Represent the agency to the community, including public forums, task forces, collaboration meetings and community events as assigned. All responsibilities are implemented according to our mission and vision and according to Agency standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Health, Political Science, or a related field, required.
• Five (5) or more years managerial experience, required. A professional background including experience managing strategic operations planning projects is also desired.
• Three (3) years of senior management and strategic organizational experience.
• A minimum of two years public policy or systems change advocacy experience required.
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities; adapt to new projects rapidly and effectively; Strategic thinker with a proven track record of driving for implementation
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including presentation skills. Ability to communicate information & ideas, to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated intermediate to advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite software, including Word, Excel, Outlook, etc...
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) required
• Proven track record of effectively interacting with diverse stakeholders including executives, researchers, practitioners, policy and advocacy organizations, public officials, and Boards of Directors;
• Superior problem-solving, managerial, and interpersonal skills;
• Must possess critical thinking skills, using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses and have the ability to seek alternative solutions, conclusions and approaches to problems.
• Must exercise sound judgment and professional ethics. The ability to weigh issues in an unbiased manner.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across the organization; Strong collaboration skills, with an ability to influence multiple stakeholders. Builds mutual trust, respect and cooperation among team members.
• Effective, versatile, and action oriented;
• Ability to work well under pressure with tight deadlines and multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse population, including experience in an urban setting is required.
• Local travel is required
• Must satisfactorily pass and maintain criminal (state & FBI) and child abuse clearances, and complete DV Advocate Training (JARS), required.

Full Time 40 hours/week Monday - Friday
Salary Range $99,500 - $109,500 + Benefits
Location Center City, Philadelphia