External Engagement Associate
US$70,000 – US$80,000 / yr base salary
Posted 4 Aug 2026
Advertised as “Senior Associate, External Engagement”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 2+ yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Employment
- Hybrid
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$70,000 – US$80,000 / yr |
|---|
About Think of Us
Think of Us (TOU) is transforming the child welfare system into one where young people and families can heal, develop, and thrive. We drive purpose-driven work aligned with meaningful systems change, powered by data and the insights of lived experience. Our focus is on prevention, keeping families strong before crisis, and on building kinship-first systems so children grow up with people they know and trust. Through bold collaborations with leaders and innovators across the public and private sectors — from Presidential Administrations to local providers — we identify leverage points and co-create solutions that re-architect child welfare for the future.
Here’s what this looks like:
- Built the Lived Experience Engine into the largest dataset of its kind (51,000+ voices), powering AI tools and shaping reforms
- Partnered with California to launch the Kinship Accelerator in 8 counties, backed by $150M and a budget increase from $317M → $896M
- Drove a national kin-first shift: 39 states (plus 5 tribes) adopting kinship standards, unlocking $3B for families
- Operate one of the largest direct resource networks, connecting 1,827 families to $28M+ in support
Our team members share a commitment to driving systems change through creative problem-solving, obsessive curiosity, and a love of quickly driving innovative, measurable, and impactful results.
Position Overview
Department: External Engagement
Reports to: Senior Director, Federal Lead
Direct Reports: N/A
Location: Hybrid; Washington, DC (min. 3 days in the office)
Category: Full Time / Exempt
The Senior Associate, External Engagement supports the External Engagement Team with developing and implementing advocacy strategies that engage policymakers and key partners, and building coalitions around Think of Us' mission that lead to systems change. This role goes beyond policy analysis: it requires someone who can lead lived-experience engagement, coordinate logistics, and support convenings. The Senior Associate will directly support the Senior Director of Policy and provide cross-functional support across the entire External Engagement team on advancing TOU priorities.
We're looking for someone with strong attention to detail who is comfortable with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the work — moving fluidly across projects, contributing creative thinking, and partnering closely with the team. This is a key support role on a collaborative, fast-paced team united by TOU's common throughline: transforming the foster care system into a child and family well-being system.