Advocacy & Partnerships Associate

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve.  Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

What You'll Do

The Advocacy & Partnerships Associate provides research, coordination, and project support to the Director of Advocacy & Partnerships in advancing Upbring’s public policy, government relations, and strategic partnership priorities. This position supports advocacy and partnership initiatives through legislative monitoring, policy research and analysis, grassroots advocacy administration, and project coordination. The Associate analyzes legislative and regulatory developments, prepares policy and advocacy materials, maintains advocacy-related tracking and reporting tools, and helps identify opportunities that advance Upbring’s mission and strategic objectives. 

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of Upbring's advocacy and government relations strategy through policy research, legislative monitoring, and advocacy support activities
• Conduct research and analysis on legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues impacting child wellbeing, child welfare, education, family services, and related areas; identify implications and provide insights to support organizational priorities 
• Monitor legislative activity, committee hearings, agency actions, executive orders, regulatory developments, and emerging policy trends; prepare summaries, briefing materials, and recommendations 
• Develop policy briefs, presentations, talking points, reports, and communication materials to support organizational priorities 
• Support grassroots advocacy efforts, including administration of VoterVOICE campaigns, supporter engagement activities, and advocacy communications
• Research, monitor, and evaluate advocacy, funding, partnership, and collaborative opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and strategic initiatives 
• Support internal planning, coordination and tracking activities related to advocacy campaigns, legislative priorities, and strategic initiatives 
• Support partnership related communications, meeting coordination, and administrative activities related to partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and strategic projects 
• Collaborate with internal teams to support advocacy, community engagement, and organizational initiatives 
• Maintain legislative tracking tools, stakeholder databases, organizational profiles, and advocacy records 
• Support the development and distribution of communications and materials that promote awareness of advocacy priorities, initiatives, and organizational impact
• Maintain organized project documentation, timelines, stakeholder information, and activity reporting

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Communications, Public Administration, Social Work, Journalism, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience working in the Texas legislative, government affairs, advocacy, nonprofit, partnership, or community engagement environment 
• One (1) year of professional, internship, fellowship, legislative, advocacy, government affairs, nonprofit, partnership, community engagement, or related experience 
• Strong research, analytical, organizational, and project management skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare presentations, briefing materials, and communications for diverse audiences 
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders 
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, identify opportunities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment 
• Demonstrated professionalism, initiative, discretion, and attention to detail 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Three (3) years of experience working on legislative, government affairs, public policy, or advocacy matters, including experience during at least one (1) Texas legislative session
• Experience with legislative tracking systems, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, grassroots advocacy software, or project management tools 
• Experience supporting stakeholder engagement, coalition-building, or partnership development initiatives 

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time 
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position, with or without reasonable accommodation, are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.