Mission: Readiness National Director

Council for a Strong America

Mission: Readiness National Director 

Reports To

Vice President of Member Engagement Strategy 

Team

Member Engagement 

Our Culture 

We strive to recruit staff that is diverse, and reflective of the populations we aim to serve. 

We are committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative workplace.

Job Overview

The Mission: Readiness National Director is responsible for leading a network of retired generals and flag officers who advocate for evidence-based policies and programs that enable children and youth to grow up healthy, well-educated, and prepared for productive lives.  The National Director will work closely with the Vice President of Member Engagement Strategy to implement a membership growth strategy and build a strong membership culture.  This position will ensure all membership recruitment, retention efforts and member activations are in alignment with cross-organizational goals and priorities. The National Director will lead the day-to-day management of the Mission: Readiness team, support efforts to influence early childhood education and nutrition public policy, support the coordination of state-based staff and national staff campaigns and initiatives to build the visibility and effectiveness of Council for a Strong America (CSA). Moderate travel nationwide is required to recruit and steward members and attend events.  

Responsibilities and Duties

The National Director will:

• Supervise the Mission: Readiness national team

• Assist in the planning and implementation of the annual strategic plan, including tracking the overall scope of work and completion of all deliverables.

• Assume responsibility for specific projects, issues, and/or state campaigns, ensuring the completion of high-quality deliverables on time and within budget.

• Monitor and report to the Vice President of Member Engagement Strategy regarding the completion of deliverables associated with membership group and manage, as appropriate, team resources to ensure that such deliverables are completed in a timely manner.

• Work with the Vice President of Member Engagement Strategy to identify new policy and program opportunities.

• Ensure that the membership team is monitoring and reporting on significant developments in the substantive areas within the portfolio.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key allies, internal and external stakeholders. 

• Leads the development of substantive advocacy materials on a variety of subjects of interest to CSA, including background documents, policymaker meeting talking points, sign-on letters, testimony, call alerts, and manages team resources to ensure timely completion of such products.

• Assists the Communications and Research teams as those teams work to produce research and communications products such as letters to the editor, Op-Eds, fact sheets, research reports, and web and social media content.

• Support meetings with Congressional staff and members of Congress (with organizational members from targeted states and districts).

• Ensure that systems, processes, and protocols are being implemented faithfully.

• Establish and manage the Mission: Readiness national team’s annual budget.

• With the Vice President of Member Engagement Strategy and development team, pursue funding opportunities and maintain positive relationships with funders.

• Work with state staff to build membership and support grant deliverables.

• Secure opportunities to offer presentations on membership group’s mission at national and state conferences, meetings and community events.

• Team with other CSA member organizations and shared teams to jointly enhance CSA’s mission and member opportunities.

Development, fundraising, and external partnerships:

• Along with other senior leaders in the organization, prospects for new funders.

• Advises program and development staff on fundraising related to the membership organization.

• Contributes to and reviews grant proposals related to membership work.

• Serves as a grant lead or key support on national grants that impact the membership orgs.

• Reviews grant budgets, funder reports, and proposals for membership activities.

• Develops strong relationships with key funders and partners. 

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience in growing membership and strengthening memberships and/or associations.

• Exceptional organizing skills and attention to detail.

• Database management experience, especially Salesforce.

• Strong interpersonal skills.

• Forward-thinking mentality and strong business acumen.

• Significant experience managing and executing policy advocacy campaigns. 

• Experience working with remote teams.

• Ability to sustain rapid, high-volume, daily communications and decision-making by both phone and email.

• Superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to lead and effectively participate in meetings.

• Ability to juggle multiple projects at once while responding rapidly and flexibly to changing priorities.

• Superior diplomatic skills and the ability to effectively navigate complex relationships.

• High emotional and social intelligence, including the ability to understand multiple points of view.

• Well-organized, able to work independently without administrative support.

• Strong commitment to our mission and vision.

• Knowledge of and experience organizing to impact state or federal policy.

Desirable:

• Experience with complex grant management and budgeting.

• Experience with managing and developing internal organizational operations.

• Experience with public policy in the fields of education, early childhood, children’s health or other related child and family issues.

• 2-5 years of military service or significant experience working with military leaders.

Minimum experience required:

• 10 years of professional experience in a professional association, government affairs, public policy, or advocacy.

• Experience organizing leaders to take action. 

• Significant experience in managing remote teams.

• Background in public policy, early childhood, education, nutrition, or youth issues is preferred. 

• Experience working with association management systems, Macintosh computers, Salesforce, Gmail and G-Suite products, and Microsoft Office. 

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; Graduate degree preferred. 

Travel

Monthly out-of-state travel is required

Overnight: Yes

Duration: 1-5 days 

Salary:

$110,000-$125,000 per year plus benefits, commensurate with experience

Our Benefits and Perks

Generous insurance coverage for Medical, Vision, and Dental. 403 (b) retirement savings plan match. 11 paid Government holidays, ½ days before holidays, and no meeting Fridays - every other Friday to promote work-life balance. Paid maternity/paternity/adoptive/foster care paid leave. 2 days per calendar year to Invest in Kids which can be spent with children you know or volunteering. Flexible spending accounts, fully paid premiums for life insurance, long-term and short-term disability as well as long-term care. Gym, and cellphone subsidies. All staff is able to participate in our Professional Development program, which provides funds and 2 paid days of leave annually that staff can use towards continued Learning and Development. We are a hybrid work environment, with flexible scheduling and telework options. All new hires are enrolled in our Mentorship program upon joining CSA to assist with onboarding to our organization and culture.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Application Procedure

Only applications with a cover letter explaining their interest and qualifications for the position included will be considered.

Council for a Strong America is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and strongly encourage all to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our employees.