Generation Citizen (www.GenerationCitizen.org) is an innovative, quickly scaling non-profit that seeks to strengthen our nation’s democracy by empowering young people to become engaged and effective citizens. Generation Citizen (GC) believes all students have the right to civics education that prepares them to participate in our democracy. We envision a country of young people working as active and effective citizens to collectively rebuild our American democracy.

We partner with schools to implement an action civics program that teaches students how to address community issues through local government. Students learn communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills and are inspired to become active citizens. As its core program, GC students receive an effective, action-oriented civics education that promotes long-term civic engagement and builds collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills that students will need throughout their lives. The result is passionate and responsible civic participation that will help create the more active citizenry and more responsive government of our future.

Additionally, as a pioneer in the field, we also advocate for action civics education on a national scale. This field-building work has involved organizing national convenings, publishing reports, conducting research, and launching a national campaign to lower the voting age in local elections.

GC is now in its 6th year of operation, serving nearly 10,000 students across 6 sites. We are led by co-founder and Executive Director, Scott Warren, who is a former recipient of a Draper Richards Kaplan Fellowship, a former recipient of an Echoing Green Fellowship, and was named one of Forbes’ Top 30 Social Entrepreneurs under 30. Generation Citizen is building a new generation of youth activists and leaders: a generation inspired and equipped to make change.

Position Overview:

Over the past six years, GC has established an effective civics education program proven to get youth more involved in our democracy. Ultimately, as our mission dictates, we want to ensure every student in America receives a democracy education.

We recognize that to achieve this goal, we will have to scale in ways above and beyond bringing our program to new communities. To that end, GC has begun to engage in work to build the demand for action civics, so that educators, philanthropists, and policymakers alike recognize the importance of educating young people to be active citizens. We wish to use the results and promise of our direct service program to make the case that action civics should become a staple of the educational curriculum in this country, everywhere.

This position will direct our expanding advocacy and policy initiatives, and will manage the existing 3 employees working on demand-building priorities. We are looking for an individual with existing policy and advocacy expertise, having worked with an elected official or a campaign. This position will also serve on our National Management Team, helping to set strategy for the entire organization. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in leading a growing advocacy and policy shop engaged in critical field-building at an inflection point as youth political participation receives attention in the wake of the presidential election.

The Director of Advocacy will manage field-building tasks such as:

• Determine specific policy initiatives to lobby for at a city, state, and federal level
• Manage an existing team focused on initiatives like lowering the voting age, and our new Beyond the Ballot initiative, encouraging young people to continue to engage in politics, after the presidential election
• Work with former and current elected officials to build the case for action civics education
• Determine how GC can better access local and federal educational funds
• Consult with experts and scholars to further define the problem of a lack of civics education
• Organize relevant subject-matter convenings with diverse stakeholders

Specific job responsibilities will include:

Manage Policy Work

• Form relationships with relevant members of Congress to promote GC’s work on a national level and explore the potential of federal funding
• Work to push relevant and effective policy solutions at the federal level
• Work with GC’s Executive Directors to determine the best form of policy and demand-building work in their specific cities and states
• Help with GC’s Vote16 campaign to Lower the Voting Age, and manage the Campaign Coordinator for the effort
• Explore benefits of starting a 501 (C)4 or other entities to promote GC’s policy work

Manage Thought Leadership Work

• Help determine key messages to promote GC’s work in educational and policy settings
• Work with GC’s CEO to promote GC’s work in relevant media outlets, national convenings, and other settings
• Write op-eds, conduct presentations, and ensure GC is seen as a leader in the education space

Manage the Advocacy Team

• Develop an overall strategy for demand-building as part of larger strategic planning process
• Manage GC’s Advocacy Manager, Advocacy Coordinator, and Vote16 Coordinator, in addition to any new staff as the team grows
• Manage specific projects led by these staff members, including publishing relevant research studies, national youth boards, youth convenings, and district-leader convenings

Work with External Stakeholders

• Serve as the primary conduit to GC-managed outside working groups focused on topics like research and evaluation, policy, pedagogical best practices, and district best practices
• Organize and conduct meetings with partner organizations to bridge the gap between civics education and other fields

Qualifications

• Is passionate about Generation Citizen’s mission
• B.A or B.S. degree
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• 5-7 years of policy or campaign experience, either on issue-oriented campaigns or for political candidates
• Experience managing employees
• Experience conducting and synthesizing complex research
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to proactively identify and creatively solve problems in a fast-paced environment
• Strong time management skills and efficient in organizing and managing diverse projects
• Solutions-oriented; eager for ongoing learning and self-improvement in the role

To apply

Qualified candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and a list of 2-3 references to Jobs@GenerationCitizen.org. Please include your name and the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. No telephone inquiries please. Generation Citizen is an equal opportunity employer