Advocacy Director
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Brooklyn Center, MN, United States
Job Title:
Advocacy Director
Location:
Brooklyn Center, MN – On-site with local travel within the community; may include evenings and weekends.
Employment Type:
Full-Time, Exempt.
Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Supervises:
Community Supports team, including Community Advocates and GBV program staff
Position Summary The Advocacy Director provides strategic leadership, administrative supervision, and programmatic oversight for SEWA-AIFW’s gender-based violence (GBV) team and related programs. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role ensures the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services to survivors of domestic violence (DV), sexual assault (SA), and related forms of harm. The Advocacy Director sets program direction, supervises and develops frontline advocate staff, secures and manages grants and program, builds key community and systems-level partnerships, and ensures program compliance, evaluation, and sustainability. This is a senior leadership position requiring deep expertise in GBV advocacy, staff management, grant development, and community-centered program leadership.
Key Responsibilities 1. Team Leadership & Administrative Supervision
Provide administrative supervision to the Community Supports team, including Community Advocates and GBV program staff.
Conduct regular team meetings and individual supervision sessions to ensure clear communication, staff support, and alignment with program goals.
Provide ongoing guidance and support to team members in their service delivery, helping staff navigate complex cases and apply best practices.
Foster a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and psychologically safe team environment that reflects the communities served.
Facilitate team collaboration and communication across the Community Supports program to promote cohesion and shared purpose.
Conduct performance reviews and contribute to the professional development of community support services staff, identifying growth opportunities and addressing performance concerns in coordination with the CEO.
Lead hiring, onboarding, and training for Advocacy team members, including ensuring completion of the required 40-hour DV/SA advocate certification.
2. Program Oversight & Service Quality
Provide strategic and operational direction for all Advocacy program services, including crisis response, safety planning, case management, legal advocacy, and systems navigation.
Ensure services are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in anti-oppressive, culturally responsive frameworks appropriate for South Asian, Indo-Caribbean, and Afghan communities.
Conduct regular case reviews to maintain service quality, monitor complex cases, and provide guidance on high-risk situations.
Develop and update program protocols, service workflows, and standard operating procedures in alignment with best practices and legal mandates.
Ensure all client documentation is accurate, confidential, and maintained in accordance with organizational and legal standards.
3. Grant Funding, Compliance & Reporting
Secure grant funding to sustain and expand GBV and Community Supports programming, including identifying funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, and cultivating funder relationships.
Ensure adherence to agency and grant policies and procedures across all program activities and staff practice.
Oversee data collection, case management system integrity, and timely and accurate reporting for grants and organizational leadership.
Collaborate with the CEO and development staff on grant budgets, funder reports, and stewardship of existing grant awards.
Ensure program compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Minnesota DV/SA statutes and funder requirements.
Monitor program budgets in coordination with the Financial Director and ensure responsible use of program resources.
4. Community Partnerships & Systems Advocacy
Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with shelters, hospitals, courts, law enforcement agencies, legal aid organizations, schools, and other community stakeholders.
Represent SEWA-AIFW in local and statewide coalitions, task forces, and collaborative initiatives focused on DV/GBV prevention and response.
Advocate for systemic change and culturally competent services within partner systems on behalf of the communities SEWA-AIFW serves.
Lead and support community education efforts, including training for partner organizations, workshops, and public awareness campaigns.
5. Organizational Leadership & CEO Support
Serve as a key member of SEWA-AIFW’s leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational culture, and cross-program collaboration.
Design and implement program evaluation frameworks to track outcomes, measure impact, and support continuous quality improvement.
Provide regular program updates, data summaries, and recommendations to the CEO, as needed.
Represent the organization’s GBV programming externally, including at community events, media engagements, and advocacy forums.
Support a culture of learning, accountability, and mission alignment across the organization.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Gender Studies, Public Health, or a related field required; Master’s degree (MSW, MPH, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Preferred 5–7 years of experience in DV/GBV advocacy, social services, or a related field, with at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or program leadership role.
Demonstrated deep commitment to ending gender-based violence and a strong understanding of its intersections with race, immigration status, culture, and socioeconomic factors.
Proven ability to provide administrative supervision and develop multidisciplinary teams in trauma-informed and culturally responsive settings.
Experience securing grant funding, including writing proposals and managing funder relationships.
Strong knowledge of local and national DV/GBV resources, systems, and legal frameworks, including orders for protection, mandated reporting, and victim confidentiality laws.
Experience with program evaluation, data collection, and grant compliance reporting.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to facilitate team collaboration and navigate complex situations with survivors, staff, and external partners.
40-hour DV/SA advocate certification required (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire).
Familiarity with immigrant and refugee communities, particularly South Asian and Afghan populations, strongly preferred.
Bilingual or multilingual proficiency in South Asian languages encouraged.
Proficiency in case management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
Salary Range:
$65,000 – $78,000 annually, commensurate with skills and experience.
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Advocacy Director
Location:
Brooklyn Center, MN – On-site with local travel within the community; may include evenings and weekends.
Employment Type:
Full-Time, Exempt.
Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Supervises:
Community Supports team, including Community Advocates and GBV program staff
Position Summary The Advocacy Director provides strategic leadership, administrative supervision, and programmatic oversight for SEWA-AIFW’s gender-based violence (GBV) team and related programs. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role ensures the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services to survivors of domestic violence (DV), sexual assault (SA), and related forms of harm. The Advocacy Director sets program direction, supervises and develops frontline advocate staff, secures and manages grants and program, builds key community and systems-level partnerships, and ensures program compliance, evaluation, and sustainability. This is a senior leadership position requiring deep expertise in GBV advocacy, staff management, grant development, and community-centered program leadership.
Key Responsibilities 1. Team Leadership & Administrative Supervision
Provide administrative supervision to the Community Supports team, including Community Advocates and GBV program staff.
Conduct regular team meetings and individual supervision sessions to ensure clear communication, staff support, and alignment with program goals.
Provide ongoing guidance and support to team members in their service delivery, helping staff navigate complex cases and apply best practices.
Foster a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and psychologically safe team environment that reflects the communities served.
Facilitate team collaboration and communication across the Community Supports program to promote cohesion and shared purpose.
Conduct performance reviews and contribute to the professional development of community support services staff, identifying growth opportunities and addressing performance concerns in coordination with the CEO.
Lead hiring, onboarding, and training for Advocacy team members, including ensuring completion of the required 40-hour DV/SA advocate certification.
2. Program Oversight & Service Quality
Provide strategic and operational direction for all Advocacy program services, including crisis response, safety planning, case management, legal advocacy, and systems navigation.
Ensure services are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in anti-oppressive, culturally responsive frameworks appropriate for South Asian, Indo-Caribbean, and Afghan communities.
Conduct regular case reviews to maintain service quality, monitor complex cases, and provide guidance on high-risk situations.
Develop and update program protocols, service workflows, and standard operating procedures in alignment with best practices and legal mandates.
Ensure all client documentation is accurate, confidential, and maintained in accordance with organizational and legal standards.
3. Grant Funding, Compliance & Reporting
Secure grant funding to sustain and expand GBV and Community Supports programming, including identifying funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, and cultivating funder relationships.
Ensure adherence to agency and grant policies and procedures across all program activities and staff practice.
Oversee data collection, case management system integrity, and timely and accurate reporting for grants and organizational leadership.
Collaborate with the CEO and development staff on grant budgets, funder reports, and stewardship of existing grant awards.
Ensure program compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Minnesota DV/SA statutes and funder requirements.
Monitor program budgets in coordination with the Financial Director and ensure responsible use of program resources.
4. Community Partnerships & Systems Advocacy
Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with shelters, hospitals, courts, law enforcement agencies, legal aid organizations, schools, and other community stakeholders.
Represent SEWA-AIFW in local and statewide coalitions, task forces, and collaborative initiatives focused on DV/GBV prevention and response.
Advocate for systemic change and culturally competent services within partner systems on behalf of the communities SEWA-AIFW serves.
Lead and support community education efforts, including training for partner organizations, workshops, and public awareness campaigns.
5. Organizational Leadership & CEO Support
Serve as a key member of SEWA-AIFW’s leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational culture, and cross-program collaboration.
Design and implement program evaluation frameworks to track outcomes, measure impact, and support continuous quality improvement.
Provide regular program updates, data summaries, and recommendations to the CEO, as needed.
Represent the organization’s GBV programming externally, including at community events, media engagements, and advocacy forums.
Support a culture of learning, accountability, and mission alignment across the organization.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Gender Studies, Public Health, or a related field required; Master’s degree (MSW, MPH, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Preferred 5–7 years of experience in DV/GBV advocacy, social services, or a related field, with at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or program leadership role.
Demonstrated deep commitment to ending gender-based violence and a strong understanding of its intersections with race, immigration status, culture, and socioeconomic factors.
Proven ability to provide administrative supervision and develop multidisciplinary teams in trauma-informed and culturally responsive settings.
Experience securing grant funding, including writing proposals and managing funder relationships.
Strong knowledge of local and national DV/GBV resources, systems, and legal frameworks, including orders for protection, mandated reporting, and victim confidentiality laws.
Experience with program evaluation, data collection, and grant compliance reporting.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to facilitate team collaboration and navigate complex situations with survivors, staff, and external partners.
40-hour DV/SA advocate certification required (or willingness to complete within 90 days of hire).
Familiarity with immigrant and refugee communities, particularly South Asian and Afghan populations, strongly preferred.
Bilingual or multilingual proficiency in South Asian languages encouraged.
Proficiency in case management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
Salary Range:
$65,000 – $78,000 annually, commensurate with skills and experience.
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