Sr. Manager, Public Policy and Advocacy

Actively Reviewing the Applications

United Way

On-site

Posted 4 hours ago • Apply by June 8, 2026

Job Description

The Sr. Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting United Way’s mission to strengthen economic mobility and well-being in Greater Cincinnati by providing strategic leadership for the development and implementation of United Way’s policy agenda and interpreting policy to inform and align internal program strategy. The Senior Manager will be responsible for advancing our public policy and advocacy agenda externally while also building the capacity of staff and partners to align policy and advocacy to amplify community impact. This role will build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including elected officials, policymakers, coalitions, and advocacy groups across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. This role will also directly contribute to the success of United Way’s collective impact efforts by leading and supporting key initiatives that provide the infrastructure to enable collaborative efforts with key partners and stakeholders.

Key Areas Of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership and Project Management

Provide strategic leadership and operational management to develop and advance United Way’s policy agenda
Develop and implement policy and advocacy programs or initiatives that support United Way’s agenda, resulting in tangible outcomes for families
Manage project-level data and track key community outcomes and policy implications to support internal program alignment and continuous learning and improvement
Design and facilitate capacity building and education efforts to support staff and partners in achieving shared policy goals and implementing best practices
Support the UWGC Public Policy Committee, including setting agendas, facilitating meetings and committee governance, and aligning policy messaging across sectors
Research best practices, trends, models and other activities to quickly understand an issue area, community, or sector and inform the operations of United Way’s public policy and advocacy function
Manage communication and report verbally and in writing regularly to internal teams, leadership, and external stakeholders to align policy messaging and strategy

Community and Partner Engagement

Build and maintain relationships with community members, partners, coalitions, and policymakers to advance United Way’s public policy and advocacy efforts
Manage relationships and coordinate strategy with lobbyists across United Way’s service area
Represent UWGC at relevant events to advance the policy agenda and gather information to inform internal program strategy
Engage community partners and community members to regularly gather input and understand needs and assets across the region.
Provide technical assistance and relationship management supports to partners by phone, virtual engagement, and in-person meetings (including off-site visits to community partners)
Design and manage events and convenings aligned to organizational strategies; oversee logistics, including setting agendas, managing registration, preparing materials, facilitating, note-taking, creating follow-up items, and sharing resources

Management, Operations, and Internal Collaboration

Serve as a trusted policy advisory internally; manage knowledge sharing regarding policymaking to ensure program strategy is aligned and vice versa
Manage team member(s) to ensure strong and timely implementation of all projects; coach and develop staff as needed. Current team includes Associate, Public Policy and Advocacy
Create and write internal and external messaging to advance United Way’s policy agenda, including action alerts, talking points, testimony, issue briefs, letters, press statements, editorials, website, updates, blogs, and policy reports
Support the management of all financial budgets for projects and annual operations
Collaborate closely with other leaders in the organization to support alignment, cross-training, and coordination
Support and contribute to data tracking and evaluation efforts for grants and projects
Internally collaborate with other team members and departments to deliver against projects as needed and foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and accountability
Support and facilitate grant-making, writing, and reporting and corporate engagement to help build awareness, raise resources, and influence systems change
Contribute to the subject matter expertise of the organization by engaging in professional development, research on trends and best practices in collective impact approaches, and capability building efforts

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role currently manages one team member (Associate, Public Policy and Advocacy); supervisory responsibilities include:

Establishing goals and expectations for team member(s)
Providing timely, candid, and constructive performance feedback
Supporting team member(s) development and provide challenging opportunities that enhance growth
Actively managing conflict and resolving and elevating disagreements as appropriate
Supporting an inclusive working environment
Recognizing and rewarding team member(s) for accomplishments
Ensuring compliance with policies and procedures

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent preferred
Minimum of seven years of professional experience with increasing responsibilities, preferably specific to public policy and advocacy, government relations, or social impact in the nonprofit, human services, and/or public sector
Demonstrated ability to execute independently and work in collaborative settings
Strong written and verbal communication, facilitation, relationship management and leadership skills required
Excellent team management, collaboration, problem-solving, and analytical abilities
Proficiency in project management tools and practices; preferred experience with project management systems such as Asana
Willing to work weekends and evenings and travel throughout Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana as necessary
Access to a car, possession of a valid driver’s license, and proof of current automobile insurance

Desired Competencies

Proven experience overseeing public policy and advocacy strategy and efforts
Experience building and aligning complex solutions/programs to achieve systems-level change
Excellent project planning and management skills
Ability to create, grow, and retain strong relationships with stakeholders
Strong judgment and creative problem-solving skills; makes decisions based on accurate and timely data-driven analysis
Comfort with collecting and using qualitative and quantitative data
Understanding of systemic challenges and strong cultural responsiveness – including experience and comfort in working with diverse groups and stakeholders, especially across socio-economic, gender, and racial/ethnic identities
Experience with public speaking and facilitation of groups
Effective communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills and strong attention to detail
Commitment to United Way's mission and values, with a passion for systems transformation
Robust experience with Office Suite; preferred experience with project management tools or software

SALARY: $70,000 plus competitive benefits package

Benefits