We’re Hiring!

Policy Program Manager

Mission:
Guided by our community, and grounded in racial equity, intersectional equity and youth leadership, New Orleans Youth Alliance fosters youth-centered policies and cultivates a system of high-quality, well-resourced youth development organizations with the intent to drive the transformation of systems to better serve youth.

Vision:
The New Orleans Youth Alliance envisions a city where adults and youth work together to ensure that all young people – especially the most marginalized – are safe, secure and thriving.

Values:
We are rooted in our values, driven by the lived experiences of young people and their parents and guided by the following principles:

Youth Leadership – Youth voice guides the work of the organization and leads to better outcomes for young people. We will be responsive to the immediate and long-term needs of young people. We will encourage youth-serving organizations to prioritize adults and youth partnering in the design, decision-making, implementation and evaluation phases of their work.

Equity and Solidarity - We will inclusively engage and authentically honor the power of youth, families, and community-members by centering their voices and building trusting partnerships.

Critical Social Analysis – We will be explicit in naming the root causes of inequity and addressing the ways in which systems and power structures contribute to the disparities experienced by young people of color and other marginalized youth.

Wellness - Youth and youth serving organizations should have what they need to be, grow, and flourish. We will prioritize the holistic development of mind, body, and spirit for youth and youth development professionals.

About the Policy Program Manager Role:
The NOYA Policy Program Manager is responsible for working with the Policy Director in supporting the advancement of policy initiatives to ensure youth are provided with the opportunities, experiences and resources for them to be prepared to be leaders in New Orleans and beyond. The Policy Program Manager reports to the NOYA Policy Director and supports the development of the organization’s policy platform and initiatives to advance and deepen policy advocacy and engagement to improve the lives of young people in the Greater New Orleans Area and beyond.  The Policy Program Manager leads and coordinates programmatic aspects of the department. A chief responsibility of the Policy Program Manager is executing the NOYA Youth Leadership Fellowship program, working with the Policy Director and NOYA Fellows and alumni to co-create the program, recruit and support Fellows, coordinate workshops, trainings and exposure activities and support Fellows in the completion of their culminating project.

The Policy Program Manager is part of the NOYA policy team which includes the Policy Director, Executive Director, and the Director of External Affairs.  This team works together to identify the best ways to achieve change for youth and young people, using a combination of policy advocacy, grantmaking, research, strategic communications, and investing in leadership. The policy team at NOYA works to educate and inform policymakers and supports those advocating for young people through policy change and other systems innovations that can improve their lives.  The Policy Program Manager is expected to interface with state, local, and federal stakeholders, as well as grassroots organizations that are advocating for young people - especially youth who have been marginalized. The Policy Program manager supports the Policy Director in stewarding the policy process, from drafting the organization's policy agenda, to formulating and implementing initiatives, and finally to monitoring and evaluating how the NOYA’s policy work aligns with the organization’s mission and vision.  

Key Responsibilities of the Position:

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed below at a satisfactory level:

• Manage all aspects of the NOYA Youth Leadership Fellowship which include but is not limited to, recruitment and selection , facilitating sessions and managing attendance, event planning, overseeing program evaluation of Fellowship and implementing feedback from Fellows, program budget management, leading  outreach efforts to external guest speakers, connecting Fellows to speaking engagements and other meaningful policy-related and skill enhancement experiences, alumni engagement. 

• Participate in policy research and analysis on specific legislation and/or NOYA’s policy priorities; 

• Support in directing well-designed advocacy strategies that incorporate policy change, community organizing and public education; 

• Support a strategic policy agenda that aligns with NOYA’s mission and addresses gaps in youth programming and services that must be closed to improve the lives of young people in the Greater New Orleans Area; 

• Represent NOYA during the legislative sessions of the Louisiana State Legislature, New Orleans City Council, Orleans Parish School Board, at the federal level and other formal gatherings of national, state and city officials; 

• Represent NOYA at a variety of advocacy tables including those that address early childhood education and development, juvenile justice reform, education justice, mental health and wellness, and other related systems; 

• Work with the Children & Youth Planning Board and the City of New Orleans Office of Youth & Families on the promotion of the ​City’s Youth Master Plan​; 

• Support the Policy Director in coordinating with the communications staff on policy advocacy communications including email alerts, social media campaigns, press releases and other related policy advocacy communications;. 

• Manage interns, and participants who work on NOYA policy endeavors; 

• Organize, participate in, and conduct training, webinars, and conferences to build awareness and knowledge on core policy issues impacting youth programs and youth-centered policies; 

• Support in preparing and updating policy and issue briefs and other policy related documents (e.g., Youth Well-Being Data Dashboard) that inform and advance youth-centered policies and advocacy on behalf of youth programs; 

• Assist with grant reporting and grant writing with the NOYA policy and development teams. 

• Other duties as assigned. 
  

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree  in education leadership, public policy, social science (political science, sociology, psychology, history, etc.) or related field with at least 2 years of professional experience in a related field. 

• Experience in policy advocacy, research and analysis, and coalition building.

• Experience mentoring, training and/or engaging youth in policy advocacy and/or campaigns. 

• Valid and reliable  knowledge of significant  youth development policy issues (inclusive of education, health, safety, and economic.

• Documented  skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with diverse audiences, including public officials, coalition partners, community leaders, and members of the media. 

• Excellent writing, speaking and analytical skills. 

• Strong self-motivation and self-initiator; ability to predict and meet tight deadlines and balance multiple priorities.

• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse communities and individuals.

• Demonstrated commitment and contribution  to the values of NOYA. 

• Facility with Microsoft Office suite and Google Workspace.

New Orleans Youth Alliance Core Competencies:

The New Orleans Youth Alliance (NOYA) Core Competencies are the fundamental strengths that ensure organizational success. They are deeply integrated into how we work as a team and in how we engage our stakeholders. NOYA Core Competencies ensure all staff members, regardless of title, perform their roles effectively and in alignment with organizational values and expectations.  The following are NOYA’s 10 core competencies presented in alphabetical order:

• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new conditions and handle unexpected challenges.

• Analytical Thinking: The skill of understanding and solving complex problems through critical thinking and analysis. 

• Communication: The capacity to convey information effectively and efficiently.

• Emotional Intelligence: The ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions in oneself and others.

• Initiative: The ability to assess and initiate things independently and  to identify solutions to problems in effective and efficient ways.

• Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

• Leadership: The action of leading a group of people or an organization.

• Personal Development: The commitment to improving one’s skills, abilities, and knowledge.

• Relationship Building: The ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships.

• Teamwork: The combined action of a group, especially when effective and efficient.

Salary
Salary range for this position is $55,000- $60,000 commensurate with the candidate’s experience. If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a cover letter and résumé to: 

How to Express Interest
NOYA Policy Program Manager to Dr. Brian Turner at brian@noya.org and copy  resumes@noya.org. 

Application Deadline: 11:59pm CST on Saturday, June 1, 2025

NOYA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, age, or disability.