Director of Policy

Position Title: Director of Policy
Status: Full-Time
FLSA: Exempt
Location: Hybrid - Washington, DC/Greater DMV Area

JOB SUMMARY & KEY PRIORITIES

Active Minds seeks an experienced and strategic Director of Policy to lead and implement the organization’s federal policy strategy and mental health advocacy initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this position will manage Active Minds' federal policy and advocacy agenda, focusing on bipartisan solutions that integrate youth and young adults into mental health systems change.

This role involves managing partnerships with external advocacy consultants, coordinating grassroots advocacy efforts, and building relationships with Congressional offices and national coalitions. The Director of Policy will also develop and lead a team of young mental health advocates to advance policy solutions rooted in Active Minds' mission and Theory of Change.

The ideal candidate is a skilled, self-driven policy strategist with a passion for youth mental health and demonstrated expertise in federal advocacy, coalition-building with both industry and youth and young adult leaders, and legislative processes.

ABOUT ACTIVE MINDS

Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing.  Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities.  Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Policy Strategy Leadership (30%)

• Lead the execution of Active Minds’ federal policy and advocacy agenda, focusing on:
  • Securing precedent for federal funding for mental health supports led by teens and young adults as part of the solution.  
  • Advancing legislation that increases accessibility of critical mental health care and resources, such as 988 services, for youth.
  • Leading reauthorization of the federal Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act grants to increase Campus Grants funding and secure prioritization for mental health supports that center teens and young adults as part of the solution.
• Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer to identify priorities, set timelines, and define success metrics for advocacy initiatives.
• Develop bipartisan legislative text and secure Congressional leads to advance policy goals.

Coalition-Building and Stakeholder Engagement (30%)

• Build and lead a coalition of multi-sector partners, including youth-led organizations, secondary and higher education groups, mental health associations, and corporate allies.
• Represent Active Minds at federal and regional advocacy meetings, ensuring visibility as a trusted, bipartisan voice for youth mental health.
• Engage organizational partners, faith-based groups, and parent associations to broaden support for Active Minds' legislative goals.

Grassroots Advocacy and Youth Leadership (30%)

• Oversee the Trailblazers Network, equipping young advocates to influence federal policy.
• Design and deliver advocacy training for Active Minds members, equipping them to engage with Congressional offices and advance policy initiatives.
• Integrate youth input into all policy recommendations through focus groups, advisory committees, and collaborative drafting sessions.

Internal Coordination, Reporting, & Additional Responsibilities (10%)

• Oversee the policy budget, including accounting and creation and stewardship. 
• Collaborate with Active Minds’ Programs, Development, and Marketing teams to align advocacy goals with organizational priorities.
• Manage Active Minds’ relationship with advocacy consultants, ensuring cohesive and effective strategy implementation.
• Regularly report on advocacy progress to the Executive Team, funders, and other stakeholders.
• Be a thought partner and leader across the programs team and with other Active Minds team leaders. 
• Serve as a member of Active Minds Leadership team, contributing to cross-team communication and collaboration, operationalizing decisions and organizational direction.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively across the Programs Team and across the organization. 
• Ensure relevant strategic goals are met or exceeded on time. 
• Represent Active Minds externally as needed at conferences, meetings, trainings, and other events, at the discretion of the Chief Program Officer. 
• Participate fully in Active Minds’ Equity & Inclusion work, including Professional Learning Communities on and continuing personal growth and knowledge gaining.
• Participate in organization-wide miscellaneous duties as needed. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8 years of experience in advocacy engagement, grassroots organizing and/or experience on the Hill, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of successfully advancing legislative priorities and working with bipartisan coalitions.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, youth-serving or chapter-based organization.
• Strong understanding of mental health policy, particularly as it relates to youth and young adults.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale, cross-sector initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide training and explanation of complex topics in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion, with experience incorporating diverse perspectives into advocacy work.

OUR CULTURE

Active Minds is a place where every employee matters. We value diverse perspectives, radical  authenticity, and a community-driven approach. We dream big, offering flexibility to staff while we work to achieve our mission. As such, we are proud to offer competitive salaries and benefits and an environment that is friendly to remote working and life/work balance. 

Active Minds is an equal opportunity employer that works to advance racial equity and social justice in an increasingly multicultural and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background, intersectional identities, and lived experiences. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and people with other marginalized identities. Active Minds encourages all to apply for our open positions as we depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

COMPENSATION 

This position offers an initial salary of $100,000 along with robust benefits. The starting pay for this position is equal to others at the same level throughout the organization. Candidates whose experience meets both the minimum and preferred qualifications may be considered for a starting salary that exceeds the current amount. The role sits within Active Minds Level 5 salary band, and as such, has the potential to grow to $142,000 over time. FLSA Status: Exempt. 

Active Minds has an industry-leading and competitive benefits package that includes Health, Vision and Dental Insurance, Paid Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Holidays, Company Wide Mental Health Days, 401(k) Matching, HSA and FSA Options, Life Insurance, Short Term, and Long Term Disability, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Reimbursement Program, and Professional Development Stipends. 

Active Minds recruits, hires, trains, compensates, and promotes our staff regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. 
 

ACTIVE MINDS RECRUITING PROTOCOLS 

• Active Minds will never ask an applicant to send – and Active Minds will never send an applicant - a check or any payment or item of value (such as a gift card) in connection with the interview process or job onboarding process.  

• Active Minds will never ask for personal information about an applicant (such as their Social Security number or banking information) until the job onboarding process. 

• Active Minds will never extend a job offer without first conducting multiple rounds of video interviews.  The Active Minds interview/hiring process will always include at least 3 virtual interviews.  

• All legitimate Active Minds job offers are extended verbally by the HR/People & Culture Team.   

• If you are expecting an email from Active Minds, please always verify that the sending domain in the email is activeminds.org and NOT any variation of it.