Policy Manager, Kansas - Stepping Up for Youth

Who we are:

The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the nation's only nonpartisan association of state officials serving all three branches of government in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The Council of State Governments Justice Center helps leaders in every state design and implement solutions for complex justice system challenges and make communities safer and healthier. We deliver trusted data, practical strategies, and cross-systems collaboration to create second chances, reduce harm, and transform lives.

We're focused on four strategic priorities:

• Using data to drive action
• Strengthening crisis response and addressing violent crime
• Turning billions in new behavioral health resources into improved outcomes
• Growing the number of states committed to delivering reentry success by 2030

We have approximately 50 employees in states across the country who have decades of experience working in and with criminal, juvenile, and Tribal justice agencies. We have provided housing, mental health, and addiction services; served as educators and in workforce development agencies; and supported victims and survivors of crime. We have served governors, state legislators, and members of Congress on both sides of the political spectrum. What binds us together is a shared commitment to our mission; to one another; to a common set of values; and to the national, bipartisan advisory board that guides our work.

Learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center.

How you'll fit in:

The Policy Manager provides project-level leadership, subject-matter guidance, and technical assistance in support of policy initiatives. Individuals in this role manage the day-to-day execution of one or more projects, contribute to the development of program strategy under the guidance of senior staff, and support the delivery of high-quality resources for policymakers, practitioners, and partners at the state, local, and Tribal levels. The Policy Manager brings strong subject-matter expertise, may supervise staff, and strengthens team culture through task direction and mentorship.

This role operates with meaningful independence and is responsible for advancing project goals by building relationships with government officials and practitioners, ensuring effective day-to-day project management, and completing project activities at high degrees of accuracy, timeliness, and positive impact. The Policy Manager contributes to project-level planning, builds subject-matter credibility in their area of focus, and represents the organization externally through presentations, written products, and stakeholder engagement.

At this time, the CSG Justice Center is seeking qualified candidates who have experience and expertise with youth justice, behavioral health and related fields for youth. This role will provide support to counties in Kansas, as well as state leaders, on the Stepping Up for Youth Initiative. The goal of Stepping Up for Youth is to improve behavioral health outcomes for youth involved in or at-risk of being involved in the juvenile justice system. You can learn more about the initiative here.

Because this role is expected to frequently interact in person with Kansas stakeholders, candidates should be located either in Kansas or within proximity.

Specifically, this position will help manage the Stepping Up for Youth Technical Assistance Center statewide in Kansas. After a successful pilot with seven counties, the TA Center will continue to support these counties as well as expand to additional ones, including engaging and recruiting counties to participate, developing and implementing communities of practice, creating briefs and resources for sites, facilitating webinars, making peer-to-peer connections, and preparing high-performing sites to serve as peer mentors. The TA Center will continue to provide individual technical assistance to counties across a range of topics including strategic planning, cross-system collaboration, behavioral health screening, data and quality assurance, and implementation of evidence-based services, case management, and behavior management practices.

In addition, this position will support state-level cross-system state policy improvements to improve services, case management, and agency collaboration for youth involved or at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health systems. Finally, this position will also support expansion of Stepping Up for Youth nationally as opportunities for state and local partnerships arise and other cross-system state policy projects outside of Kansas focused on improving outcomes for youth.

Funding: This position is externally funded. Employment is contingent upon funding availability.

Location: Remote candidates in Kansas or close proximity preferred.

What you'll do:

Project Leadership & Execution

• Manage one or more projects, including planning, contract management, collaboration with senior staff on funder updates and reports, timelines, deliverables, and staff coordination.
• Contribute significantly to the development and success of assigned projects.
• Solicit, facilitate, and lead new project ideas from team members in support of the project's overall strategic direction, in coordination with team leadership.
• Identify and leverage internal and external opportunities that advance project priorities.

Field Expertise & Technical Assistance

• Independently identify appropriate local contacts and promote local site participation, buy-in, and support for the Stepping Up for Youth TA Center.
• Independently conduct calls with assigned sites to identify and address technical assistance needs, including implementation of screening and assessment to access appropriate treatment, implementation best practices in areas of subject matter expertise, and project sustainability.
• Collaborate effectively with Research/Data Science staff to support data analysis for local and state sites, including collaboration on effective data collection and dashboard design.
• Develop written products, including policy briefs, research memos, and presentations, that clearly describe complex analysis of juvenile justice, behavioral health, Medicaid, child welfare, education and other youth-serving systems and policy options for local agency leadership and state policymakers.
• Develop communications, including presentations, tools, briefs, reports, and other forms of technical assistance.
• Represent the organization through project-related communications that advance understanding of policy issues.

Staff Supervision & Task Direction

• Identify, cultivate, and steward key project stakeholders and funders to advance emerging opportunities and launch new TA sites and programs.
• Provide task direction and support to staff in service of project deliverables, where applicable.

External Engagement & Relationship Building

• Provide relevant project updates that support external relationship-building opportunities.
• Identify and engage new contacts in the field, serving as formal or informal project consultants or partners.
• Collaborate with partners to design or refine innovative initiatives that advance shared goals, including developing and managing contracts for consultants (in collaboration with Finance and Operations).

Cross-Team Coordination & Organizational Contribution

• Participate fully in organizational project management and stakeholder engagement processes, including using contract and project management software as directed.
• Contribute to organizational initiatives, internal committees, or working groups to strengthen processes, knowledge sharing, and systems.

Impact, Quality Assurance & Accountability

• Ensure accuracy and quality for written products, tools, and presentations produced in support of the project.
• Ensure project adherence to timelines, deliverables, documentation standards, and funder requirements.
• Support evaluation of project impact and contribute to refinements that enhance effectiveness.

What you'll bring:

• Minimum 6 years of relevant work experience and/or equivalent educational achievements
• Ability to build and sustain new relationships, gain buy-in for new approaches, and champion system improvement efforts across various stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience creating content for briefs, webinars, and other resources that effectively synthesize research, policy, and data
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance that includes identifying opportunities for system improvement, building consensus on recommendations, developing tangible action plans and supporting implementation
• Ability to engage, lead, and manage project teams to successfully deliver on project goals/deliverables
• Ability to solicit, facilitate and lead new project ideas from team members in support of the project's overall strategic direction with division leadership
• Ability to identify and leverage other internal and external projects that advance their project priorities
• Demonstrated success in developing strategic project plans that clarify project objectives, ensure alignment with organizational goals, applies the project's theory of change, and impacts the field
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing large projects across multiple teams/divisions and external partners
• Dedication to public service with an unfailing commitment to act with civility, be nonpartisan in performing CSG duties, and be a responsible steward of member and donor funds.

How you apply:

If you're interested in helping us drive change across the country, you should upload the following elements with your application:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume (this should include a comprehensive list of related professional, internship, and volunteer experience with applicable dates)
3. Writing sample
4. At least three professional references

We will consider all paid and unpaid experience relevant to this position, including internships, fellowships, and volunteer activities.

Compensation will be based on experience and geography. The salary range for this position is $84,400 - $102,000. Salary ranges are subject to change based on work location and market conditions.

Our organization offers flexibility in work arrangements, allowing for remote work or a hybrid model. Candidates residing in the NYC metropolitan area will be considered for hybrid model employment.

To learn more about careers at the CSG Justice Center, and about our comprehensive benefit offerings, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, PSLF eligibility and more, please visit our website here.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (veterans/people with disabilities).