Role Snapshot
The Manager Youth Advocacy leads Boys & Girls Clubs of America's organization-wide advocacy strategy, supporting youth voice initiatives and policy goals across the national network. This role bridges internal teams and external clubs to expand youth advocacy programs, training, and events that empower young people.
Job Description
Join Our Team as Manager Youth Advocacy
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)
Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the nation’s premier youth development organization, serving nearly 4 million young people each year. We are committed to creating environments where all young people can reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.Through partnerships, programs, and people-first leadership, we support Clubs across the country to deliver safe, impactful, and high-quality experiences for youth and families.
Click here, Working At BGCA, to hear from our President and CEO, Jim Clark, about what makes working at Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) so special
About the Role
Under the direction of the Senior Director, Federal Government Relations and under consultation of the Director, Advocacy the Manager, Youth Advocacy has responsibility for supporting our organization-wide Advocacy and Youth Advocacy strategy. Strong focus will be placed on supporting funded youth advocacy opportunities and expanding current trainings, collateral, program models, and advocacy events. The manager will develop internally and externally facing advocacy collaterals to further advocacy goals and ensure interdepartmental coordination and collaboration to ensure deliverables are met.
Responsibilities
What You'll Do
Alignment and Strategy
- Work closely with Youth Development, RD, GR, and other cross-function BGCA teams to ensure aligned resources, and programs to support Youth Advocacy initiatives.
- Help plan and project manage advocacy in events like National Days of Advocacy, State Legislative Days, Club to Capitol, National Conference and Summit for America’s Youth, and Keystone.
- Support implementation of a comprehensive Youth Advocacy strategy for BGCA and Clubs that elevates youth voice and can support our organization’s legislative and policy goals.
- Support teen recruitment and retention efforts through engagement in initiatives like a BGCA Youth Advisory Council.
Project Manage and Coordinate Funded Opportunities
- Project manage combined Youth Advocacy funding opportunities including budgets, alignment of Clubs and deliverables, and reporting mechanisms.
- Manage support for Clubs including pass-through opportunities, letters of agreement, MOU’s, contract and deliverables management, and ongoing project support.
- Maintain a diverse pipeline of Clubs with a strong capacity for youth voice/advocacy initiatives.
- Work with RD partners to support funding opportunities, ensure funding deliverables are met and support stewardship opportunities.
Develop Resources to Support Clubs and Alliances
- Establish affinity group of Youth Development professionals to support Youth Advocacy capacity building in Clubs and Alliances. Create structure, content, goals and implement for the group.
- Develop and/or curate internal and trusted external resources to support movement wide youth advocacy strategy including top issues identified by youth for engagement.
- Develop appropriate advocacy collaterals including one-pagers, newsletters, toolkits, talking points, editorials, or additional supporting materials to share internally, externally, and with Government officials to further youth advocacy goals. Work with appropriate BGCA departments to collaborate on the development of these materials and to identify opportunities for internal collaboration.
- Develop, oversee, and measure success of Youth Advocacy trainings including curriculum development, multiple modes of delivery and be adaptable for different audiences including Clubs, BGCA staff, leadership volunteers and young people.
Qualifications
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Political Science or a related area
- Minimum of five years’ experience working in the Government Relations field including experience with Boys & Girls Clubs, associations, non-profits, think tanks, or foundations engaged in advocacy at the Federal and/or State levels.
- Demonstrated success in youth development and advocacy including experience in staff training and support across multiple levels; content creation for direct sources; content creation for marketing/funding; database and project management; partnership management; and event support.
- Demonstrated successful experience in engaging in community collaborations, advocacy activities, and working in partnership with coalitions to advance government relations goals.
- Working knowledge of Government policy processes.
- Experience utilizing grassroots, grasstops, digital and media advocacy tactics and innovative strategies.
ABILITIES
- High energy level, comfortable planning, managing, and performing multi-faceted projects in conjunction with day-to-day activities. Superior interpersonal skills. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible. Good reasoning, abilities, and sound judgment. Physical requirements include: sight, hearing, sitting for more than four hours each day and other physical requirements required to complete essential functions of the position.
SKILLS & CORE COMPETENCIES
- Strong ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Strategic thinker with strong project and time management skills.
- Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
- Strong leadership and management capabilities with the ability to take initiative and work independently.
- Demonstrated high standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism.
- Ability to develop and manage project budgets, metrics, and performance measures.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Familiarity with current digital collaboration, communication, and analytics tools, with the ability to leverage technology to advance organizational priorities and outcomes.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Hybrid Model: This role operates in a standard office or remote work environment and requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, operate a computer and standard office equipment, and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Washington, DC -based hybrid position, reporting to BGCA’s headquarters on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and as required based on team meetings.
- Travel estimated at 15% (can be 3-5 days or more in a month - including weekends - depending upon scheduling requirements).
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this role is $100,000 to $124,000. BGCA takes into consideration a combination of a candidate’s education, training and experience, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required for the role and other external and internal data when establishing a salary level. We are highly invested in every employee’s total well-being and offer a substantial and comprehensive total rewards package.
BGCA. An Employer of Choice
- Purpose that Inspires: At BGCA, purpose isn’t abstract, it’s actionable. Every national role contributes to strengthening local Clubs and expanding opportunity for young people across the country. Employees join because they want their work to matter, and they stay because they can see the impact of their expertise in real communities, every day.
- Energy. Well-Being: We know meaningful work requires sustainability. BGCA supports flexible ways of working that recognize life outside of work, protect well-being, and honors thriving, not just outcomes. Our culture encourages balance, trust, and care, so people can bring their best selves to work over the long term.
- Empowering Your Growth: Growth at BGCA is enabled through meaningful work, exposure, and trust. Employees are encouraged to stretch, learn, and deepen their expertise while contributing to complex, mission-critical initiatives. Development happens through experience, collaboration, and leaders who invest in people, not just tasks.
- Supportive Leaders: Our leaders lead with integrity, clarity, and respect. They value partnership, listen actively, and create space for thoughtful decision-making. Employees stay because they feel supported, trusted to lead with expertise, and influence.
- Total Rewards Package: Our comprehensive total rewards package supports employees holistically, professionally and personally. In addition to competitive compensation and benefits, BGCA offers education and learning reimbursement, recognizing that investing in our people’s development strengthens our collective impact.
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