Chief Advocacy Officer

Full-time, exempt

$100-110,000 annually

Monroe, LA

Reports to Chief Executive Officer

Revised June 2026

The Center for Children and Families (CFCF) is seeking a visionary and systems-oriented executive leader to serve as the Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO). This C-suite position provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and organizational oversight for all advocacy programs and divisions of the agency. These programs currently include Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Northeast Louisiana, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana, Brokers of Hope, and the Family Support & Youth Transition Program.

The CAO ensures that advocacy services are mission-aligned, high-quality, data-informed, and responsive to the evolving needs of children and families. This role integrates program leadership, grants strategy, systems engagement, and community influence to strengthen outcomes across all advocacy divisions. The CAO serves as the organization’s lead executive for advocacy strategy and represents CFCF in collaborative, policy, and systems-level discussions that impact children and families.

The CAO works in close partnership with Program Directors, Coordinators, and Team Leaders to ensure strong operations, continuous quality improvement, and alignment across programs. This position also provides executive oversight of advocacy-related grants and supervises the Grants Manager to ensure coordination between funding strategy, financial accountability, and program implementation.

This role requires deep knowledge of advocacy service delivery, child and family systems, grant-funded environments, community engagement, and executive leadership.

Qualifications

The Chief Advocacy Officer should have the following skills and experience:

• Master’s degree in a human/social service-related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum of 7 years of organizational leadership experience with responsibilities that include program administration, supervision, strategic planning, and/or community partnership development
• Experience managing or overseeing grant-funded programs and working within multi-source funding environments
• Experience engaging with public systems, policy environments, or legislative stakeholders related to child and family services preferred
• Ability to communicate with, supervise, and empower employees and volunteers to be effective in their roles
• Knowledge and understanding of the social systems that impact the children CFCF serves, including child welfare, juvenile justice, law enforcement, education, and mental health systems
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by children and families served by CFCF, including child abuse & neglect, family crises, poverty, juvenile delinquency, mental health, and human trafficking
• Passionate about the mission of The Center for Children and Families
• Exceptional communication skills (written and oral)
• Goal-driven, organized, and efficient in their work
• Effective presenter and meeting facilitator
• Strong analysis and critical thinking skills with a proven ability to see the big picture, recognize trends, analyze data, and make strategic recommendations
• Exceptional relationship builder and networker with the ability to quickly build rapport and establish coalitions with partners and stakeholders
• Ability to create an atmosphere of inclusion, collaboration, and connectedness
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and trauma-informed leadership approach
  
  

Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategy and Leadership
• Develop and communicate a vision for advocacy services that aligns with The Center’s mission, vision, and values
• Ensure alignment and integration across all advocacy divisions, identifying system-level trends, service gaps, and opportunities for program development or expansion
• Create and implement strategies that address organizational needs, leverage strengths, and adapt to emerging challenges
• Serve as the primary liaison between advocacy leadership and the executive team and Board of Directors
• Communicate direction, expectations, and relevant information to advocacy teams to ensure clarity and cohesion
• Participate in executive meetings and agency-wide strategic planning to support unified organizational direction

• Professional Engagement and Community Development
• Represent CFCF in meetings and communication with stakeholders at local, state, and national levels, including public officials, service providers, law enforcement, community partners, and other systems leaders
• Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, public officials, and cross-system partners to ensure CFCF remains engaged in discussions affecting children and families
• Monitor legislative and policy developments that impact advocacy services and keep the CEO and executive leadership informed of emerging issues, risks, and opportunities
• Support The Center’s participation in coalitions and advocacy networks focused on system improvement for vulnerable children and families
• Participate in legislative and policy-related meetings in coordination with the CEO
• The CAO supports relationship development, education efforts, and systems insight, while the CEO maintains primary responsibility for organizational policy positions and major public-facing legislative engagement
• Conduct training for federal, state, and local agencies when appropriate
• Attend conferences, seminars, and professional development activities that benefit and advance advocacy programs and agency services

• Program Planning, Evaluation, and Management
• Manage the operations of all advocacy programs and divisions
• Establish sound administrative practices, policies, and procedures in coordination with governing agencies, funders, and the CEO
• Oversee program evaluation, data systems, and reporting functionality
• Ensure programs meet contractual, regulatory, and quality standards
• Facilitate stakeholder discussion and information sharing regarding community needs and services

• Grants Strategy and Oversight
• Provide executive oversight of all grants to ensure alignment between funding strategy, program execution, and organizational priorities
• Supervise the grants manager, ensuring coordination between grant development, reporting requirements, and program implementation
• Collaborate with the finance department to ensure financial accountability, compliance, and fiscal stewardship of all grants
• Work with program directors to ensure grant-funded initiatives are implemented with fidelity and measurable outcomes
• Identify emerging funding opportunities and guide strategic positioning for future grants
• Monitor performance of grant-funded programs to inform sustainability and improvement planning

• Advocacy Service Development and Quality Improvement
• Continually work to improve programs and services to have a greater impact on the community
• Monitor and develop advocacy skills and competencies for all staff and volunteers
• Research potential innovation and best practices that can be implemented within advocacy programs
• Maintain and assess quality assurance measures

Staff Development

• Train and supervise directors, coordinators, and team leaders, along with other program staff as appropriate
• Ensure that staff adhere to policies and procedures
• Promote an organizational culture that aligns with agency values and mission
• Provide regular leadership development training and activities to staff
• Participate in and facilitate agency activities, such as Huddle, leadership summits, and other agency events
• Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
  
  

Grant Development Incentive

In addition to base salary, the Chief Advocacy Officer may be eligible for an annual Grant Development Incentive when the organization does not have a Grants Manager, Grants Director, or other employee specifically assigned primary responsibility for grant development.

During any period in which the Chief Advocacy Officer assumes primary responsibility for grant development, the CAO will be eligible to receive an incentive equal to 1.0% of the value of new grant funding successfully awarded to The Center for Children and Families as a direct result of the CAO's grant development efforts, subject to a maximum incentive payment of $10,000 per fiscal year, paid quarterly.

The Grant Development Incentive applies only to grants for which the CAO serves as the primary grant developer and is materially responsible for the preparation and submission of the grant application. The incentive does not apply to grant renewals, continuation funding, formula or entitlement funding, pass-through funding not requiring a competitive application, or grants primarily developed by another employee or contracted grant writer unless otherwise approved by the CEO.

Eligibility for the Grant Development Incentive ends when a Grants Manager, Grants Director, or other employee is assigned primary responsibility for grant development. Any incentive earned on qualifying grant applications submitted by the CAO prior to that assignment will remain eligible for payment if subsequently awarded.

Grant Development Incentive payments are calculated based on the amount formally awarded to CFCF and are subject to applicable payroll taxes and withholdings. All determinations regarding grant eligibility and incentive calculations will be made by the CEO in accordance with this provision.

Working Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a business office setting. Tasks require a variety of physical activities, not generally involving muscular strain, such as walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching and light lifting. Regular and consistent in-person interaction and continuous talking, hearing and seeing required in the normal course of performing the job. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity is required to perform some essential functions. Mental application utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, critical thinking and creative problem solving. Regular automobile and airline travel may be required in normal course of job performance.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Center for Children & Families is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.