The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent executive branch agency with oversight and ombudsperson responsibilities, established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2008. The OCA's mission is to ensure that children receive appropriate, timely, and quality state services, with a particular focus on ensuring that the Commonwealth's most vulnerable and at-risk children can thrive. Through collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the OCA identifies gaps in state services and recommends improvements in policy, practice, regulation and/or law. The OCA also serves as a resource for families who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, services from the Commonwealth. Office of the Child Advocate | Mass.gov
The Policy and Implementation Team at the OCA works to identify and make recommendations to address systems-level gaps and challenges in the delivery of state services for children and improve outcomes. The team accomplishes this work by conducting comprehensive, mixed methods policy analysis; managing the work of various OCA-chaired task forces and working groups; developing policy reports and briefs; and advocating for changes in policy and practice. The Policy and Implementation Team manages legislative relations, communications, and external affairs for the OCA, with the goal of advancing the OCA’s policy agenda. Additionally, the team collaborates with various partners to pilot innovative programs and services designed to improve the quality of state services for children and youth by supporting pilot program design, implementation, and evaluation.
The role of the Senior Manager for External Affairs is to promote the work of the Office of the Child Advocate with key external organizations and constituencies -- including legislators, members of the press, and advocacy and community-based organizations whose mission and work intersect with the OCA -- as well as the general public. Under the direction of the Sr Director of Policy & Implementation, the Senior Manager leads development and implementation of the agency’s legislative, communications, and external affairs strategies. The Senior Manager supervises a Legislative and Communications Manager.
The right candidate for this position has a track record of successfully advancing a legislative agenda and promoting the work of an organization among key constituencies. While you do not need to be a subject matter expert on every topic area the OCA covers, you should have enough background in child and family policy and services to ask the right questions, understand the answers, communicate effectively with OCA experts and external stakeholders, and as needed translate technical information into clear and compelling messages for a variety of audiences. You are a critical thinker, a strong writer, and you are open to listening and learning from a range of perspectives. You are detail oriented and able to work independently, while also working collaboratively on projects with peers, managers, and OCA leadership to advance projects. You are flexible and can work quickly and efficiently on multiple projects. You are actively interested in supervising staff and promoting a collaborative team environment. Most of all, you have a passion for improving the lives of the children and youth of the Commonwealth and want to be part of an innovative, growing team of public servants who share that passion.
Application Instructions
Applications are to be submitted on the Mass Careers website: MassCareers Create a Profile guide | Mass.gov. A cover letter and resume are required parts of the application. Please do not contact the OCA via phone to inquire about the status of your application. If you need any support with submitting your application, please refer to MassCareers Resources | Mass.gov. Review of applicants will start immediately and continue while the position is posted, with first consideration given to those received on or before August 7th, 2026.
The OCA is committed to creating and supporting an inclusive work community that is free of all forms of discrimination. The OCA does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis under Massachusetts law.
The OCA encourages applicants from a broad spectrum of backgrounds to apply for positions, including candidates who have personal and/or professional history with the child protective and/or juvenile justice systems.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Develops and implements the OCA’s legislative advocacy strategy. Manages the development of the OCA’s legislative agenda. Develops and maintains good relationships with members of the Legislature and oversees all legislative outreach. Develops and maintains good relationships with relevant advocacy organizations and identifies opportunity to partner or align with external groups to advance the OCA’s legislative agenda. Advises the Child Advocate and OCA Senior Staff on major legislative issues and developments and their impact on OCA work and strategies. Depending on the subject matter expertise and/or interest of the incumbent, may participate in policy development work with the Child Advocate and/or OCA Senior Staff.
- Oversees all legislative affairs activities, including:
- Developing draft legislation, testimony, and bill comments in partnership with the Child Advocate, the OCA Senior Leadership Team, and any assigned Legal Counsel.
- Hosting or partnering with legislators on legislative briefings or hearings
- Developing legislative advocacy materials (e.g. fact sheets, fliers)
- Ensuring submission of final documents from the OCA to legislators and others, including reports to the Legislature.
- Monitoring of current relevant legislation and legislative reports, particularly legislation impacting the OCA, the annual budget process, and key external initiatives relevant to the work of the OCA.
- Reporting to the Child Advocate and the OCA Senior Leadership Team on relevant developments.
- OCA attendance at relevant legislative hearings and events.
- OCA response to legislative inquiries and constituent relations.
- Oversees the development and implementation of external communication strategy for the OCA. Works with the Child Advocate and OCA Senior Staff to identify communication priorities and opportunities. Oversees management of OCA communication vehicles, including the OCA newsletter, website, and OCA social media accounts and reviews all communications content prior to public release. Drafts and/or oversees the development of speeches, talking points, statements, and presentations on key OCA initiatives from the Child Advocate and other OCA staff. Ensures the agency speaks with “one voice” in its public materials.
- Oversees OCA media relations. Drafts and/or reviews relevant public information materials (i.e. statements, press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor) prior to release. Drafts and/or reviews media talking points and helps prepare Child Advocate and other OCA staff for media interviews as relevant.
- In partnership with Child Advocate and OCA senior staff, develops and manages OCA’s relationship with key organizations and constituencies whose mission and work intersect with the OCA. Prepares briefing materials for the Child Advocate’s public events as needed. Attends meetings and events with Child Advocate as assigned and ensures appropriate note-taking and follow-up. As needed, attends external meetings (e.g., advisory boards, conferences, briefings) on behalf of the Child Advocate.
- Supervises a Legislative and Communications Manager and, from time to time, supervises the work of other staff members on specific deliverables.
This position requires occasional travel across Massachusetts and an ability to work flexible hours Monday - Friday, including evenings from time to time when required to respond to urgent media or legislative concerns. Please note that this job also requires an individual to work in-person at the OCA’s Boston office 1-2 days per week, and occasionally more often for in-person meetings (e.g. legislative hearings).
QualificationsRequired:
- Experience working in and/or with Massachusetts Legislature, including a working knowledge of the organization of state government, the legislative process, and the budget process.
- Significant experience reviewing legislation required. Experience drafting legislation and/or amendments preferred.
- Experience developing and implementing communications strategies, developing communications materials (e.g. newsletters, website content, social media content) and working productively with members of the media.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly the ability to digest complex information (including policy, research, and data/statistics) and present thoughts clearly and concisely to a variety of audiences utilizing a variety of formats (e.g., written articles, oral and visual presentations, etc.)
- Experience providing professional support to a high-level executive or legislator (e.g. drafting talking points, preparing tailored briefing materials)
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Subject matter experience related to children’s policy and services (demonstrated through past professional and/or academic experience) and a desire to expand knowledge in this space strongly preferred.
- Ability to work with high-level state and local officials and other interested parties
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal effectively and tactfully with others
- Ability to coordinate competing interests and work under time constraints
- Ability to establish rapport and work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including the ability to see an issue from multiple perspectives, develop empathy even for those you disagree with, and identify and work on issues of common ground
- Prior supervision experience preferred.
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 Suite, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other commonly used computer software applications.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
- Juris Doctorate or Master's degree in public policy, public administration, education, public health, or a related field
- At least seven (7) years of professional experience in legislative relations, communications, public policy, or related fields
Preferred Entrance Requirements:
- Ten (10) years of professional experience in legislative relations, communications, public policy, or related fields