Advocacy and Engagement Manager

About the Position

Voices is hiring an Advocacy and Engagement Manager. This role is the day-to-day program manager for Virginia's Youth in Action (VAYA), Voices’ flagship youth advocacy program, and a key driver of regional base-building and community engagement across the state. The Advocacy and Engagement Manager works closely with the Director of Engagement to implement engagement strategies, support policy advocacy campaigns, and connect community members—across generations—to Voices’ policy priorities.

• VAYA Program Management:
  You will serve as the primary day-to-day program manager for Virginia’s Youth in Action (VAYA), overseeing implementation, scheduling, logistics, and participant coordination. You will lead VAYA trainings and facilitate sessions with youth advocates, supporting their growth as policy advocates and community leaders. You will also support planning, evaluation and curriculum development in partnership with the Director of Engagement.
• Regional Base-Building and Community Engagement:
  You will manage assigned regional contact lists and lead relationship-building efforts within designated regions of the state. You will build and sustain relationships with organizations and individuals directly impacted by Voices’ priorities—including youth, families, professionals, and community stakeholders—and connect those relationships to the appropriate policy staff.
• Advocacy Training and Public
  
  Education:
  
  You will assist in the delivery of public education and advocacy trainings alongside the Director of Engagement, facilitating components of trainings and developing training materials as assigned. You will help promote intergenerational advocacy practices with staff and external partners.
• Advocacy Campaign Support:
  You will support the coordination of advocacy campaigns, events, and listening sessions in partnership with the Director of Engagement and the policy team. You will assist with advocacy action alerts and take-action communications, and support planning for Voices’ Intergenerational Advocacy Day with the goal of growing into greater ownership of that event over time.
• Racial Equity:
  You will promote racial equity across all dimensions of your work, applying a trauma-informed, equity-informed, and healing-centered lens to your responsibilities and ensuring that community engagement efforts reflect and respond to the needs of those most impacted.

• Experienced youth program/project manager:
  Minimum one year of experience in program management, project coordination or facilitation, with demonstrated experience working with youth in an advocacy, education, or community engagement setting.
• Detail oriented:
  Strong ability to manage multiple workflows, timelines, and logistics simultaneously with accuracy and follow-through.
• Collaborator:
  Ability to build and sustain authentic relationships across generations and communities, including with youth, families, professionals, and legislators. Comfortable engaging across lines of difference with trust and respect. Engages in conflict productively.
• Systems-level thinker:
  Understands how grassroots community engagement connects to policy processes and legislative systems. Willingness to learn policy levers and connect community members to advocacy opportunities.
• Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial justice. Actively centers equity and inclusion and promotes equitable practice and solutions.
• Must live within a 50-mile radius of Richmond, VA

• Experience developing training curricula or facilitating workshops for diverse audiences
• Familiarity with Virginia’s legislative process or state-level policy advocacy

Research shows that women, LGBTQ+ identified people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization.

This role will be based in Richmond, VA. Voices has a hybrid work schedule with an in-office day on Wednesdays in Richmond required. Additional in-person days in Richmond are required during the…