Lead Advocacy Officer

ABOUT ZERO TO THREE

Founded in 1977, ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development. Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. At ZERO TO THREE, we envision a society with the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential. Our Core Values Statement: We believe that how we do our work is as important as what we do.

SUMMARY

The Policy Center at ZERO TO THREE, a nonpartisan, research-based resource on infant and toddler development, is seeking a changemaker and coalition-builder to serve as the Lead Advocacy Officer. The Lead Advocacy Officer will manage the federal policy, government relations, family and community mobilization teams to execute a power-building, integrated advocacy agenda that advances ZERO TO THREE’s mission of ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. The Lead Advocacy Officer will report to the Chief Policy Officer and serve on the Policy Center’s Leadership Team. The LAO will work closely with ZERO TO THREE’s communication and marketing division to develop and implement national and state advocacy campaigns, state and federal government relations strategies, and relationship- and coalition-building efforts with a variety of stakeholders, grassroots organizations, and partners, including Congress and the Administration. The Lead Advocacy Officer will supervise a team of Directors and specialists and work collaboratively with internal colleagues and external partners to ensure ZTT’s advocacy agenda drives meaningful policy and system change for infants, toddlers, and their families.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Collaboration

The Lead Advocacy Officer will lead the design and advancement of ZERO TO THREE’s advocacy plan in alignment with ZERO TO THREE’s strategic plan and in partnership with ZTT’s external partners and stakeholders. The LAO will collaborate effectively with their team, colleagues, and government relations consultants to design coordinated federal and state advocacy campaigns and government relations strategies. This work will be carried out in an integrated manner, including through mobilization efforts and close partnership with the communications team to develop and implement media and other communications strategies and materials. The LAO will plan and ensure the successful implementation of annual high-profile advocacy events at a reasonable cadence to build momentum and strengthen stakeholder engagement on ZERO TO THREE’s policy priorities and goals. They will ensure all advocacy efforts comply with relevant laws and ethical standards and reflect transparency and accountability. They will lead their team in developing and fostering strategic partnerships and coalitions at the state and federal levels to drive and maximize impact direct and to seek input from families, early childhood professionals, stakeholders, and community partners.

The Lead Advocacy Officer will be closely attuned to shifts in the political and policy landscape, emerging opportunities and challenges, and their implications for ZERO TO THREE’s advocacy priorities. This requires the ability to operate effectively in dynamic and uncertain environments, to identify and communicate strategic tradeoffs, and to guide timely adjustments in approach and prioritization. The Lead Advocacy Officer will provide leadership to ensure that advocacy strategies are coordinated, adaptable, and positioned to achieve significant and measurable policy outcomes.