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Brief Description
The Advocacy team is a senior bench of advisers within the program department that provides counsel and, at times, direct grant-making support to achieve issue-specific policy and financing goals that advance the foundation’s programmatic strategies.
The Senior Advocacy Officer (SAO) will report to the Director, Older Youth and will work in direct partnership with Senior Program Officer counterparts to support the advocacy objective of two initiatives: Foster Youth (FY) and Opportunity Youth (OY). The FY team supports transition age youth in foster care in New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles and the OY team supports older youth populations on workforce access and development opportunities in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Mexico City, Mexico and Mombasa, Kenya. The successful candidate will also demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The SAO will be responsible for supporting the ongoing development, refinement, and execution of clear and measurable advocacy strategies that support the foundation’s programmatic goals, shift policy, and unlock funding for greater impact.
Responsibilities
Strategic Planning, Implementation, and Management
• Lead an inclusive process for overall advocacy strategy development, implementation, and measurement, to support the foundation’s programmatic goals for ensuring opportunity youth and transition-age foster youth thrive, under strategic guidance from the VP, Strategy & Programs, the Director of Older Youth, and the Senior Program Officers.
• Act as senior counsel to the OY and FY program teams and examine, execute, and manage a complex portfolio of advocacy and communication grants. Provide clear, concise, and insightful analyses and recommendations for pipeline planning and investment opportunities to the Senior Program Officer, Director of Older Youth, and VP, Strategy & Programs through the review of related grant proposals as well as on observed potential opportunities in the field.
• Actively manage external consultants from time to time who will support efforts to monitor public discourse, conduct desk research, policy analyses direct foundation support, etc., in support of the team’s advocacy strategy.
• Provide guidance on how the Foundation should use its voice for the different audiences it serves, including how to keep the board and program committee both informed and engaged.
• Perform lobbying compliance checks on all advocacy-related investments.
• Work with the Senior Program Officer and Learning and Evaluation team to create success metrics around related efforts and methods to capture relevant data with grantees and contracted partners.
• Responsible for broader coordination of initiatives with a geographic focus in LA – connecting the dots on political opportunities.
External Representation
• Provide direct support to the President and CEO, as well as other members of the senior leadership team–advising on use of voice and preparation for external meetings with government, partners and media.
• Represent the foundation as needed at key external meetings, conferences and events that are directly related to advancing the opportunity youth and foster youth advocacy strategies.
State Policy and Advocacy Strategy (California)
• Coordinate among all Initiatives operating in Los Angeles and CA on policy and advocacy strategy so that there is a well-integrated approach to our implementation. This will include collaborating with other Sr. Advocacy Officers and other Sr. Program Officers and Directors and reviewing strategic plans with the VP, Programs, and Strategy before implementing them.
Requirements
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, public policy, social sciences, social welfare, or a related field, and a minimum of 7-10 years of directly related experience.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of related experience.
• Recognized internally and externally by the professional community as an expert within a particular specialized field.
• Significant policy/advocacy knowledge in relevant geographies and US federal policy.
• Track record of successfully leading advocacy efforts that resulted in real and measurable change.
• Proven ability to lead and influence others in a constructive manner and to build and sustain collaborative relationships.
• Experience as a technical resource to teams and leadership on advocacy, communications, and influence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences and build consensus.
• Strong quantitative analytic skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• Experience convening and facilitating a diverse group of stakeholders.
Desired
• Working knowledge and advocacy experience working in Los Angeles on opportunity youth and/or foster care issues.
• Experience at a foundation, nonprofit, advocacy organization, in government or at a public affairs firm and grant-making.
Summary
International hotelier Conrad N. Hilton established the grantmaking foundation that bears his name in 1944 to help people living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage worldwide. Today, the work continues, concentrating on efforts to ensure healthy early childhood development and sustainable livelihoods for youth and refugee populations, support young people transitioning out of foster care, improve access to housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness, identify solutions to safe water access, and lift the work of Catholic sisters. Additionally, following selection by an independent, international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $2.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to an organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. The Foundation is one of the world’s largest, with approximately $7 billion in assets. It has awarded grants to date totaling more than $3.2 billion worldwide, and $290 million in 2023. Please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org for more information.
• Cover letter required for consideration**
About Our Benefits
We value the health and well-being of our employees, some of the benefits we offer include:
• Comprehensive and generous health and life insurance options
• Relocation Pay
• Fitness benefits
• Paid holidays, time off, and parental leave
• Flexible work schedules and technology benefits
• Foundation-funded retirement savings plan
• Professional learning and development and educational assistance
• Employee matching gifts to qualified non-profit organizations
The hiring range for this position is $170,000 to $212,000. The final base salary will be determined based on individual qualifications and experience.
