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Position Summary: The Manager of External Affairs plays a key role in advancing Selfhelp’s mission by managing the organization’s government relations, external partnerships, and public policy engagement. This position works closely with city, state, and federal stakeholders, coalition partners, and internal program leaders to elevate Selfhelp’s visibility, advocate for community needs, and support strategic external initiatives.

Principal Responsibilities

Government & Policy Engagement

• Serve as a primary liaison to elected officials, government agencies, and public-sector partners at the city, state, and federal levels.
• Represent Selfhelp’s budgetary and policy interests as a registered NYS and NYC lobbyist. Oversee required filings, and coordinate with outside lobbying firms and lobbying compliance firm.
• Support advocacy initiatives related to aging services, housing, mental health, benefits access, and immigrant and survivor services.
• Along with outside lobbying firms; coordinate site visits, briefings, testimony, and events with government officials
• Monitor relevant legislation, policy developments, and funding opportunities, and communicate implications for Selfhelp’s programs, strategy, and constituents.
• As needed, represent Selfhelp in external coalitions, advocacy networks, and the media.

Strategic Communications Support

• Support Selfhelp's communications work through new ideas for online content including social media, the website, the annual report, brochures, and other materials to advance Selfhelp's mission, fundraising, and outreach goals.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to align advocacy and media goals with organizational messaging.
• Contribute to the development of talking points, flyers, website content, brochures, testimony, and external-facing materials.
• Support crisis response and issuebased communications as needed.
• Work with all Selfhelp programs, fundraising and administrative teams to ensure external engagement aligns with organizational priorities

Press & Media Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers covering aging, housing, health, and nonprofit issues.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Selfhelp as appropriate and prepare senior leadership and Selfhelp's subjectmatter experts for media engagements, coordinate interviews with Selfhelp clients, staff, and volunteers as requested.
• Pitch stories, respond to media inquiries, and support proactive and reactive press outreach in coordination with Selfhelp's PR firm.
• Monitor media coverage related to Selfhelp and relevant policy issues and flag opportunities or risks for leadership.
• Adhere to organization’s standards by completing annual mandatory trainings in a timely manner on topics including – but not limited to – Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, IT Security Awareness, Compliance, OSHA, HIPAA and any other training the organization may deem necessary in regards to regulatory compliance or good business practices.
• Supports organization’s mission by striving for excellence in all aspects of their job with a focus on positive interpersonal relationship with co-workers.
• Adheres to the organization’s policy in regards to absenteeism and appearance 

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 per year commensurate with experience

Job Competencies & Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in public policy, communications, social work, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in government relations, public affairs, advocacy, or nonprofit external relations.
• Interest in New York City and New York State government and policy landscape.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to Selfhelp’s mission and to working with diverse and aging populations.
• Experience working in or with human services, aging, housing, or healthcare organizations.
• Comfort representing an organization publicly and in highlevel meetings.
• Political and cultural sensitivity, sound judgment, and discretion.
• Bilingual abilities a plus.

Working Condition/Physical Demand

• Business Office Environment with phone and computer use