Vice President, Policy and Advocacy

About Nonprofit New York

Nonprofit New York champions, represents, and strengthens New York City’s nonprofits through capacity building, advocacy, and cultivating a more unified and powerful sector. We believe organizations thrive not only when their internal operations are healthy, but also when they have diverse and sustainable funding streams and a strong and influential voice within their communities and the City at large. We equip our 600+ member nonprofits with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to expand their impact, deepen their community roots, and shape the future of New York City’s nonprofit sector.

We believe creativity, curiosity, and collaboration are the essential ingredients for meaningful and sustained impact. Our culture is grounded in mutual respect, continuous learning, and a commitment to equity. This role is based in our New York City office with a hybrid schedule — 2 days in person, 3 days remote.

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The Opportunity:

• Vice President, Policy and Advocacy
  • Reporting to the President and CEO

As Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, reporting to the President and CEO, you will lead the organization’s public policy, advocacy, and research agenda, serving as a key external voice on behalf of the nonprofit sector and deepening the organization's impact and influence. You will chapter, including building and scaling a team aligned with Nonprofit New York’s evolving policy, advocacy, research, and sector leadership goals.

The Vice President of Policy and Advocacy is a member of the organization’s senior leadership team which includes the Vice President of Finance and Operations, Vice President of Programs and Capacity Building, and Vice President of Resource Development and Membership.

Role Summary

The Vice President, Policy and Advocacy is a critical leadership position charged with translating member experiences and sector-wide trends into actionable policy priorities, strategic advocacy campaigns, and research. As part of Nonprofit New York’s senior leadership team, you will help amplify the collective voice of nonprofits in New York City while strengthening the organization’s position as a trusted advocate and convener across the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

Under the direction of the President and CEO, and in collaboration with the senior leadership team, you will align external advocacy efforts with internal values, member priorities, and long-term strategic goals, lead the development and execution of a cross-cutting policy agenda, represent the organization in coalitions and campaigns, generate and disseminate policy-aligned research, and identify leverage points to advance an equitable and sustainable nonprofit ecosystem.

Who You Are

You are a systems thinker and persuasive communicator who knows how to move ideas into action. You are passionate about building nonprofit power, and you understand both the practical challenges and strategic possibilities facing the sector. You bring a sophisticated understanding of federal, city, and state policy dynamics, a commitment to equity, and a demonstrated ability to lead through influence.

• Knowledge of NYC’s nonprofit and public policy ecosystem, with the ability to identify trends, gaps, and points of leverage
• Experience leading policy strategy and public campaigns within a nonprofit, advocacy, or political setting
• Exceptional writing, research, and public communication skills
• A strong track record of representing an organization with clarity, confidence, and political savvy
• Experience leading and managing small teams
• Association membership experience
• Experience building and scaling cross-functional teams and initiatives
• Ability to respond rapidly to changing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic goals

Key Responsibilities

Policy Strategy and Advocacy Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of a cross-cutting, equity-centered policy agenda that advances Nonprofit New York’s mission and serves the evolving needs of the nonprofit sector
• Translate member input, sector data, and field conditions into actionable public policy recommendations at the federal, city, and state levels
• Along with the President and CEO,
  • Develop strategies to elevate nonprofit sectors’ visibility and engagement in public policy decision-making processes
  • Build and lead coalitions and policy campaigns in alignment with member priorities, and in partnership with stakeholder organizations

External Representation and Thought Leadership

• Identify and pursue high-leverage opportunities to increase Nonprofit New York’s policy influence and leadership presence across the sector
• Represent the organization in media appearances, public forums, coalitions, and meetings with key stakeholders, including city and state officials, philanthropic leaders, and partner institutions

Research and Sector Intelligence

• Lead the creation of research and field reports that elevate the experiences and needs of Nonprofit New York’s membership, including but not limited to Nonprofit New York’s bi-annual Compensation Study
• Amplify the work of partner organizations, coalitions, and researchers through the organization’s platforms and networks
• Ensure all research efforts are member-informed, equity-centered, and strategically aligned with policy and capacity-building goals

Organizational Leadership and Culture

• Serve as an active member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, structure, and culture that reflects Nonprofit New York’s values
• Collaborate with VP peers to align advocacy, program, communications, development and fundraising, and membership strategies
• Develop, mentor, and scale a high-performing Policy and Advocacy team, recruiting top talent and fostering an inclusive, mission-aligned team culture that reflects Nonprofit New York’s values
• Champion a culture of learning, responsiveness, and integrity across the organization

Professional Growth and Development

• Participate in individual as well as organizational learning opportunities, leadership development, and sector-facing convenings
• Engage with cross-functional teams to deepen understanding of nonprofit sector trends and challenges
• Contribute ideas that shape how Nonprofit New York functions as a model for strong, equitable, and values-aligned operations
• Grow into increasing levels of responsibility and visibility in a mission-driven environment that values learning, leadership, and initiative

Skills + Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 - 10 years of experience or Master’s in Public Policy/Public Administration/JD with 4 - 6 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit program management, capacity building, or a related field. Candidates will be evaluated based on a combination of experience, skills, and qualifications
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing public policy strategies and campaigns
• Strong relationships with public officials, coalitions, and nonprofit policy partners across NYC; familiarity with Albany legislative dynamics a plus
• Track record of producing clear, compelling writing—from op-eds to policy memos to research summaries
• Ability to analyze, synthesize, and communicate complex policy issues for a range of audiences
• Collaborative leadership style, with experience working across departments and managing cross-functional initiatives
• Experience managing and mentoring staff, and ability to build and scale a team
• Proficiency with office and collaboration tools such as G-Suite, Microsoft Office, Asana, Slack, Zoom, and Salesforce

What Success Looks Like

• Develop timely, well-researched public reports and campaigns that shape policy agendas and public narratives
• Represent Nonprofit New York as a trusted and visible leader in sector policy conversations
• Build and scale a cross-functional policy and advocacy team that reflects member priorities and advances field-wide influence
• Effective collaboration with the President and CEO and the senior leadership team to build a member-centric organization delivering reliably responsive and high-impact policy and advocacy efforts
• Foster collaboration with external partners and the membership to drive integrated organizational impact

Salary

The salary for this position is $130,000/year. In addition, Nonprofit New York offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision coverage; generous holidays, sick days, and paid time off; 401(k) plan with employer match; and professional development opportunities, among other benefits.

To Apply

Please apply for the Vice President, Policy and Advocacy position through the Nonprofit New York website. Attach and submit your cover letter and résumé as two separate documents to the Vice President, Policy and Advocacy application section. The application deadline is Friday, August 1, 2025.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Nonprofit New York is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, partnership status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic(s), arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, domestic violence victim status, credit history, unemployment status, veteran status, protected activity, uniformed service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.