Position Overview

This is a full-time position in the Little Rock office of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF). This position will provide leadership on state budget and tax issues and perform data analysis, research, and advocacy to advance policy solutions to address poverty, economic well-being, and a fairer tax code, particularly for Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC) families and families whose incomes are below the federal poverty threshold. Candidates must have a proven track record in economic analysis and advocacy. This position must support AACF’s equity statement and be committed to supporting equity in all areas of the work.

Salary range is $80,000 to $90,000 depending on qualifications and experience. We value diversity and equity in our work and in our workplace and strongly encourage BIPOC individuals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, members of other historically disenfranchised populations, and applicants with lived experience to apply.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, public administration, or related field, and at least 6 years of related experience, or Master’s degree in one of the listed degrees including law, and at least 4 years of related experience.

Skills Required

• General knowledge of state fiscal issues, including state taxes and budgets
• Proficient skills and knowledge of statistics and research design principles
• Excellent computer skills for analyzing data, including Excel, data visualization and online database management
• Understanding of public assistance policies that impact children and families
• Ability to think analytically, conduct analyses of complex public policy issues, and deliver understandable summaries to groups with various levels of knowledge on these issues
• Ability to write technical reports and issue briefs
• Ability to critically review statistical analyses that have been conducted by others
• Ability to communicate data findings to external audiences, including policymakers, the media, and general public
• Ability to work in a team environment and motivate others through consensus building

Responsibilities

• Work with the leadership team and other staff members to lead the development of the agency’s fiscal policy and economic security agenda
• Conduct analyses of state budget, tax and economic policies that impact the economic well-being of the state’s children and their families, tax fairness, and funding for vital state services that serve children and families with low incomes
• Monitor local, state and federal tax and budget issues and emerging trends by tracking state and national economic, budget, and fiscal data sources and news stories in Arkansas and in national news media
• Conduct research on policy options for helping families with low-paying jobs meet the basic needs of their children and improve their ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency
• Give public presentations on state tax, budget, and economic issues
• Contribute to the agency’s communications efforts through the writing of blog posts, social media messages and op-eds on state economic, tax, and budget issues
• As requested, provide research and policy analysis support for other staff members and external partners
• Support the work of coalition partners on state economic, budget, and tax issues impacting families with low incomes.
• Maintain the Arkansas data for the online Kids Count Data Center which includes updating the data at least once a year
• Work closely with the Governmental Affairs Director on state economic, budget and tax legislation. Testify at the Legislature on state budget, tax and economic policies.
• Work closely with national partners and networks to share information and seek advice on state economic, budget and tax issues
• Work with the Communication Director to help the agency develop communications-related strategies for fiscal policy
• Represent the agency as needed on committees and coalitions related to fiscal policy and economic security
• Work closely with national partners and networks to share information and seek advice on fiscal policy and economic security issues
• Raise grant funding, including finding potential funders, and write grant proposals and grant reports
• As requested by the Development Director, help educate donors on fiscal policy
• Travel to national meetings to participate in conferences hosted by our national partners Travel in town and in state to participate in meetings and events

About Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

AACF was founded in 1977 by a group of prominent Arkansans who believed that children needed an “independent force to provide information and education to parents and citizens about our state’s policies toward children and families.” For 45 years, AACF has provided leadership, research, and advocacy to promote wide-ranging reforms that have improved the lives of Arkansas’s children. 

The mission of AACF is to ensure that all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and to realize their full potential. To carry out its mission, AACF serves as a voice for children at the Arkansas State Capitol and in Washington, D.C., gathers and analyzes data to support public policy that serves all children and families, and organizes coalitions of diverse groups to drive change across the state.

Equity at AACF

AACF has been a dynamic and effective voice for Arkansas’s children and families, guided by a vision calling for equity for all children. AACF’s work spans all policy areas impacting Arkansas’s children and families, including child welfare, economic security, COVID-19 response, early childhood, education, health, hunger, immigrant children and families, juvenile justice, tax and budget, and racial equity. Learn more about these policy areas at www.aradvocates.org/issues. 

In all of this work, AACF’s racial equity focus strives to align mission and stated values with organizational practices and programs. It recognizes that structural inequity has been embedded in our national and state culture and policies and has had a lasting effect, as seen today in disparities in children’s outcomes across race and many other identities. AACF believes in intentionally engaging diverse perspectives throughout its work and is committed to amplifying the voices and wisdom of those most directly affected by systemic oppression, with a focus on building a more equitable and inclusive Arkansas to truly serve every child and family.

Read more about AACF’s history and work at www.aradvocates.org.

Compensation

Salary: The salary range for this role is $80,000 to $90,000 depending on qualifications and experience. 

Location: Little Rock, with the flexibility to work outside of the office up to 50% of the time based on job responsibilities.

Benefits: AACF’s benefits include health and dental coverage, a 6% employer 401K contribution, an optional HSA with employer contribution, life insurance, long-term disability, annual leave of 15 for the first three years of employment, sick leave, flex time, 10 holidays, and sabbatical leave after 6 years of service. 

Apply Now

Please send cover letter and resume to Cara Neal, cneal@aradvocates.org.

Interview Process

• Stage 1*: From the time the position is advertised, AACF collects resumes for three to four weeks before interviews begin. 
• Stage 2: Up to 8 candidates may be asked to participate in an initial screening call/Zoom with a member of the Leadership Team. 
• Stage 3: Up to 6 candidates will be asked to participate in an in-person or Zoom interview with a member(s) of the Leadership Team. 
• Stage 4**: Up to 4 candidates will be asked to participate in an in-person or Zoom interview with the Deputy Director and two to three AACF Staff members. The candidates will also be asked to complete a written exercise on their own time. The candidate should spend no more than two to three hours to complete.
• Stage 5: Final candidates may be asked to do one final interview with a member(s) of the Leadership Team before a final decision is made by the Executive Director.

*Candidates can continue to apply after the interviews begin. AACF accepts applications until the position is filled. Once interviews begin, the process can take up to 4 months before a final decision is made depending on number of candidates and scheduling availability of candidates and staff.

**Candidates who make it to stage 4 will receive a one-time payment of $100 to participate in interview(s) and complete the written exercise to compensate them for their time.