Mission: Readiness Senior Associate

enior Associate, Mission: Readiness

Reports to: Mission: Readiness National Director

Team: Mission: Readiness

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 

Are you ready to work side-by-side with some of the nation’s greatest leaders to help make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth? Mission: Readiness is responsible for leading a network of retired generals and admirals 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 Senior Associate is a member of the National Mission: Readiness team and is responsible for supporting organizational goals and building relationships with, engaging, and staffing members. The Senior Associate is tasked with tracking relevant legislative action, implementing advocacy efforts, and assisting with various communications and administrative functions. The Senior Associate works closely with the Mobilization, Federal Policy, Research, Communications, and Development teams to craft and execute strategy. 

To learn more about the impact of Mission: Readiness, please check out this video featuring several of our members and review our research report that highlights how child malnutrition impacts national security.

Responsibilities and Duties  

• Establishing strong relationships with Mission: Readiness members in designated states and actively recruiting prospective members.

• Supporting the implementation of Mission: Readiness national priorities and achievement of defined goals.

• Monitoring relevant policy efforts and identifying opportunities for member engagement.

• Coordinating with allies and other Council for a Strong America (CSA) staff regarding advocacy opportunities in specific states.

• As a lead for specific states, tracking state legislative developments on Mission: Readiness priority issue areas including: high-quality early care and education,  child nutrition programs, physical education, and K-12 academic standards. 

• Conducting advocacy efforts, including letters of support, lawmaker meetings, and virtual/in-person press events.

• Drafting team communications documents including newsletters, blog posts, and member updates.

• Working with the Development team by contributing to grant reports and requests for proposals on an as-needed basis.

• Supporting implementation of systems, processes, and protocols.

• Assisting with administrative duties and intern supervision. 

Qualifications 

Essential:

• Strong commitment to CSA’s mission and strategic vision;

• Understanding of legislative processes at state and federal levels;

• Exceptional organizing skills and attention to detail;

• Ability to thrive in a deadline-driven environment while juggling competing priorities;

• Demonstrated ability to be an effective and persuasive communicator, both in person and in writing;

• Comfortable working with staff (including remote staff) and external stakeholders at a variety of levels;

• Ability to work effectively with and provide high-quality materials for senior retired military leaders.

Desirable:

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

• Military service or experience working with military leaders;

• Database management experience, especially Salesforce;

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

Education

High School Diploma Required

College Degree                   Desired              

Salary Range

$55K - 70K

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.

Travel 

Average Frequency:  Roughly 6-8 trips per year for up to two days each, but dependent upon organization priorities and operating environment. 

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.