President 

Women’s Congressional Policy Institute 

Status: Full-time, exempt employee

Reports to: Board of Directors

Location: Washington, DC 

Deadline: Applications best considered by late October. 

The Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization with a mission to bring together a community of bipartisan women policymakers and trusted partners to advance issues of importance to women, develop the next generation of women leaders, and foster a more effective and representative democracy.

For nearly 30 years, WCPI has been a critical partner to strengthening and building the capacity of the Bipartisan Women’s Caucus, which includes every woman member of Congress. WCPI sponsors programming for Congresswomen and congressional staff, a congressional fellowship program, and policy briefings on Capitol Hill focused on key bipartisan women’s issues. These include women’s health, international affairs, and 21st century workforce issues. WCPI’s Weekly Legislative Update, a free digital publication, informs policymakers, corporate partners, and other interested parties about legislative actions related to women’s issues. “Joint Session,” a bicameral, bipartisan program for women chiefs of staff, committee staff directors, and other senior staff leadership, strengthens relationships and advances professional development among senior women leaders on Capitol Hill.

WCPI is also committed to developing next generation public policy leadership. The Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy program builds and expands the pipeline of young women leaders through paid fellowships in congressional offices, placing graduate students into professional roles as legislative assistants. WCPI’s own internship program provides hands-on, paid opportunities for undergraduate university students to build career experience in policy, communications, and development roles. 

WCPI is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, broadly defined. The board, staff, programs, and events reflect a goal to empower voices that are often underrepresented in public policy dialogues and create a culture of mutual respect and shared success among women policy leaders. Learn more at www.wcpinst.org. 

Leadership Opportunity

With women comprising more than a quarter of the members of the 118th Congress, WCPI both celebrates women's progress and encourages equal representation and greater emphasis on women's policy issues. WCPI's nonpartisan policy approach is critical to bringing together bipartisan voices to navigate today’s political environment. WCPI is committed to fostering a representative and effective democracy that advances women's issues in policy discussions.

The WCPI Board of Directors seeks a dynamic President to advance the organization’s influence, resources, and support as a nonpartisan partner to women Congressional leaders and their staff, while keeping trusted partners informed about critical legislative issues impacting women. The incoming President will deliver an inspiring vision that increases WCPI’s visibility and impact, raises awareness of its programs, and attracts increased philanthropic support. The President takes a hands-on approach to shaping WCPI’s best-in-class programming and ensuring the operational excellence of its small and impactful team.

The next President will take the helm from founding President Cindy Hall, who is retiring after leading WCPI for 26 years. The President reports to a seven-member Board of Directors and oversees a four-person team, including a Senior Director of Development and Communications, a Policy Director, an Executive Assistant to the President and Project Manager, and a Communications and Development Associate. The organization’s budget is approximately $1M and is supported by a mix of corporate, foundation, and individual support. Its congressional gala reception, hosted in April, celebrates the women serving in Congress by bringing together a bipartisan group of over 250 attendees, including Congresswomen and senior staff, high-ranking administration and federal agency officials, corporate and labor supporters, and women’s group leaders. 

Position Overview 

The President is WCPI’s chief executive, and as the leader of a small team, serves as an external presence with internal operational responsibilities. The President manages, develops and stewards new and existing external relationships, as well as strengthens and expands WCPI’s legislative partnerships. The successful candidate will steward inclusive and bipartisan collaborations with key external stakeholders. They will advance WCPI’s vision and mission by building upon signature programs, while ensuring its continued value and relevance.

Key responsibilities of the position include:

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership 

• Set an inspiring vision for WCPI that amplifies the importance of women’s leadership in bipartisan public policy spaces. 
• Direct the ideation and implementation of WCPI programming, including curating convenings of Congresswomen, the Joint Session program, and the fellowship program. 
• Lead an efficient, professional, and effective team of staff and interns. Ensure the continued development of employees and a positive team culture. 
• Provide guidance and support to the Board of Directors to exercise their fiduciary obligations to the organization, including setting an ambitious strategy to fulfill its mission. 
• Identify innovative partnerships that advance WCPI’s mission. Collaborate with the Board and staff to strengthen and expand WCPI’s influence and reach on Capitol Hill, with partners and with prospective donors. Establish strong working relationships and collaborations with a range of key partners, policymakers, government agencies, funders. 
• Advance broadly diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices throughout WCPI’s programs, policies, operations, and workplace culture. 

Advocacy, Fundraising, and External Affairs

• Serve as an inspiring thought leader on women’s leadership and critical issues through publications and public speaking engagements.
• Serve as WCPI’s principal spokesperson, representing its events, programs, and issue areas interests to federal partners, policymakers, and legislators, as well as funders, partners, and various publics. 
• Cultivate and maintain collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders, including Congresswomen and senior congressional staff, corporate and labor contacts, advocates, and other interested individuals.
• Guide external communications strategies that elevate the impact and visibility of WCPI’s programs, including its digital presence and media relations.
• Develop and steward relationships with funders, donors, and sponsors; ensure grant requirements are met.
• Liaise with colleagues, organizations, and associations on related issues. 

Operational Management

• Set annual revenue goals with the staff and Board. Provide strategic leadership in maintaining, diversifying, and growing revenue through sponsorships, events,, and grants. 
• Oversee budget preparation, monitor income and expenditures against goals, develop long-range cash flow projections and analysis, and provide the Board with comprehensive and regular financial reports. 
• Ensure the effective administration of operations, IT, office space, human resources, and financial management. Serve as a signatory on all notes and contracts.
• Provide oversight of WCPI’s compliance with Board-approved bylaws, state and federal guidance, grant agreements, and other legal agreements. 
• Envision and plan future investments in systems, processes, tools, and technologies necessary for an organization of WCPI’s growing size and complexity. 

Experiences, Skills, and Qualities

The Board seeks an experienced leader with an understanding of congressional priorities and procedures, a record of bipartisanship, and external relations experience. The strongest applicants will have many, but likely not all, of the attributes listed below. 

• Prior leadership experience within workplace settings of similar size and complexity. 
• Commitment to a collaborative and nonpartisan approach to achieving WCPI’s mission; politically savvy with strong diplomatic skills; able to guide work without a personal agenda. 
• Experience working with or on Capitol Hill. A record of facilitating bipartisan relationships and working across party lines to advance policy objectives is highly preferred. Knowledge of Congressional appropriations processes and women’s policy issues are pluses. 
• Demonstrated capacity to lead within a small organization, office, or department with limited financial and staffing resources. 
• Hands-on management approach for staff and programs; able to be directive and delegate responsibilities, as needed. 
• Strong financial and fundraising acumen; record of building consensus around and securing support for new projects, partnerships, and funding relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Inspires, engages, and influences others through public speaking, media placements, and publications. 
• Exposure to organizational management practices, including budgeting and forecasting, financial management, human resources, contracts, and legal compliance. 
• Personal characteristics of integrity, accountability, discretion, achievement, and persistence. Demonstrated commitment to advancing diverse perspectives, broadly defined. A strong and demonstrated competency in working with individuals from diverse perspectives and backgrounds, including across race, age, gender, geography, and political affiliations.
• Past work with or serving on a nonprofit board. Understanding of the importance of governance, board development, and collective decision-making.

Location

WCPI is headquartered in southwest Washington, DC, and operates with a hybrid work environment. The Board seeks a President based in the DC region to facilitate working relationships with Congressional partners. 

Compensation

The Board of Directors is currently budgeting compensation in the range of $175,000 - $200,000 with a performance bonus structure. WCPI offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, a retirement plan with employer contributions, and paid time off.  

Application Process

WCPI is conducting this search in partnership with Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits and associations. Interested applicants should upload a resume and a detailed cover letter in PDF format to good-insight.org/careers. 

The Board encourages applications from a wide range of professionals, including those who may not meet 100% of the listed criteria or who are considering a range of professional opportunities due to upcoming elections. 

Resume reviews begin immediately. For best consideration, please send your application materials by late October 2024. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search, but the position will be open until filled. Please direct confidential inquiries to WCPI@good-insight.org. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

WCPI is an equal opportunity employer, providing employment opportunities to applicants without regard to age, race , color, religion, creed, ancestry, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, sex, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, and any status in any group protected by state or local laws. WCPI provides reasonable accommodation to the disabled and on the basis of religion, as provided by law. Direct requests for reasonable accommodations to WCPI@good-insight.org.