QPI Communications Advocacy Coordinator

(Originally Posted: 4/14/2023)

About the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI)

The Youth Law Center’s Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) is an innovative system-change strategy for reforming child welfare practices and policies across the country by partnering with system stakeholders and centering the voices of those most impacted—youth, birth parents, and foster caregivers. The QPI team works in more than 80 jurisdictions across the country to transform child welfare systems at the local, state, and national levels, with a goal of ensuring that every child in foster care receives excellent parenting, every day.

About the Position

We’re seeking a skilled and creative Communications Advocacy Coordinator to manage all QPI communications channels, ensuring that our external communications effectively advance our advocacy goals. In collaboration with administrative and program staff, the Coordinator will develop and implement a multi-channel communications plan—utilizing our website, social media accounting, digital newsletters, email marketing, and more—encompassing both day-to-day and special or seasonal initiatives. The Coordinator will also oversee our communications reach by supporting QPI event planning and promotion. Additionally, as a member of the QPI team, the Coordinator will assist in advancing other QPI initiatives, contribute to the development of our advocacy strategies, and assist with fundraising efforts as needed.

This is a benefitted, part-time (32 hours), remote position that can be performed from anywhere within the continental United States, with a preference for states in which QPI currently operates. This position reports to the QPI Senior Director.

About You

The ideal candidate for this position has a track record of progressive responsibility in communications positions, the technical acumen to implement an effective communications plan, prior experience in our advocacy field, and a strong interest in supporting QPI’s mission.

You are equal parts strategic thinker, responsive improviser, and dependable creative pro. By now, proactive communications planning comes naturally to you, but you can also change course quickly in response to emergent needs and identify valuable opportunities for messaging. Whatever the strategy you’ve set, you have the technical know-how and trend-savvy to execute on it—email marketing, social media management, and website content updates are all familiar processes. And who would you be if not a writer at heart? You have a knack for crafting compelling, concise messaging that’s faithful to an organization’s brand and principles while injecting your own special something. You’re mission-driven, highly flexible, detail-orientated, collaborative, and energized by interacting with a wide variety of people in the advocacy field.

More than anything, you’re excited by the prospect of making a difference as part of systems-change initiative that impacts the lives of children and families across the country. Existing familiarity with QPI or previous work experience in child welfare, juvenile justice, or youth advocacy will all be highly valuable assets in this position.

If you resonate with this description and are itching to get started, you may be the person we’re looking for.

Core Responsibilities

The list below is intended to illustrate the core responsibilities of this position. However, this list is not exhaustive; new needs and opportunities will continue to arise for this position as our team grows and changes.

• Collaborate with YLC and QPI leadership and QPI program staff to identify communications needs and develop an integrated communications plan, using a variety of channels and methods, to maximize our effectiveness as advocates; set and adjust strategies in keeping with QPI goals.
• Leverage professional communications expertise to ensure QPI’s external communications are effective and in line with organizational values.
• Develop and manage content for the organization’s website, including curating online documents and materials, writing and editing copy, and identifying needs for website updates and maintenance.
• Develop content and manage social media channels and newsletter campaigns, including creating content calendars and monitoring analytics to optimize engagement and reach.
• Collaborate with QPI team members to finalize outgoing communications; work with outside partners to gather and disseminate information about network news and events.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of digital trends to improve our online presence.
• Partner with QPI event planning and program staff to produce and finalize written event materials, including advertising, registration, and program information; project-manage content production as needed.
• Contribute to the development of QPI’s advocacy strategy.
• Collaborate with YLC development staff to plan and execute fundraising initiatives.
• Develop working relationships with outside vendors, QPI’s web developer, and other partners to support QPI program and project success.
• Communicate with partners at various sites and various levels in a variety of formats; respond to a wide variety of questions and inquiries from sites and other partners.
• Ensure the mission and the continuation of QPI; seek out advocacy opportunities.
• Occasional travel within the United States for QPI events may be required.

Skills & Experience

The list below represents what we believe are the most important characteristics needed for someone to be successful in this position. Still, we recognize that women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ folks, and other historically economically marginalized people tend to self-select out of applying for jobs if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We encourage you to apply if you’re enthusiastic about this role even if you don’t meet every single criterion on the list.

• A minimum of four years of directly relevant experience in communications-related positions, ideally in a nonprofit environment
• Some prior advocacy experience (strongly desired), particularly in youth-focused issues
• Significant knowledge of communications best practices, tools, and trends; ability to apply this knowledge in strategic communications planning
• Excellent written communication skills
• Experience with managing website content in a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, including creating posts, uploading and archiving media, and making content updates
• Experience in managing social media channels and communication campaigns, including analyzing analytics to optimize engagement and reach
• Familiarity with digital communication, content dissemination, and user-friendly design tools (e.g. Canva), including an ability to quickly learn and master new tools
• Comfortable familiarity with using Google Workspace apps (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms)
• Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with a fully remote team located across the United States
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with proven ability to prioritize and take the initiative on identified goals, juggle multiple processes, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines
• Sharp attention to detail, both in written and visual communication
• Creativity and flexibility in solving problems and meeting challenges
• Ability to work both as part of a collaborative team and independently
• Reliable judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality
• A deep commitment to the mission of excellent parenting for children and advocacy on behalf of youth
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally within the United States for events

Employment & Benefits Details

• Status: Part-time (32 hours, 80% FTE), permanent; expansion to full-time may be possible depending on availability of work
• Supervises: None
• Salary: $50,000 – $66,000. Salary determinations are made based on years of experience in directly relevant positions with comparable responsibilities. The higher end of the scale will be available only to candidates with significant prior experience.
• Paid Time Off: This position is eligible for YLC’s flexible, unlimited paid vacation policy, as well as 12 sick days annually, 11+ holidays, and an annual winter break.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health benefits package (medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, basic term life), plus an EAP, FSA, Commuter Check program, and (after one year) a 401k with up to 4% employer match. Health plan premiums are 100% employer-paid for both employees and all dependents.
• Location: Permanently remote within the continental United States; preference for states in which QPI currently operates (CA, CT, FL, KS, LA, MN, NM, NV, PA, and TX).

To Apply

Please apply via email by sending the required documents listed below as attachments to careers@ylc.org, and include the position name in the subject line:

• Cover letter explaining how your background has prepared you for this position and why you are excited about supporting QPI’s advocacy
• Up-to-date resume
• A short, relevant writing sample (two pages or fewer)

Please submit all required documents at the time of application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position.

Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open for applications until filled.

If you have questions about this position or the application process, feel free to contact us at careers@ylc.org. Please note that due to the volume of emails we receive, we may not be able to respond to every inquiry. No phone calls about the position, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer

YLC values a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, body size, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Read our DEI statement here.

About YLC’s Advocacy

The Youth Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization that seeks to transform child welfare and juvenile justice systems across the county so that every youth and child can thrive. Using a combination of creative advocacy strategies—including legislative and policy advocacy, impact litigation, collaborative systems-reform campaigns, public education, media advocacy, technical assistance, and training—our team works not just to end harmful systemic practices but to ensure that system-involved young people can access the supportive environments, resources, relationships, and information they need to realize their full potential. YLC’s specific, actionable, and sustainable strategies are shaped by the voices of youth and families most impacted by these systems and are informed by research in child development, psychology, behavioral economics, marketing and branding, and adult learning. The YLC team reflects the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills needed to make our creative approach to advocacy successful. Find out more about us at ylc.org and qpi4kids.org.