Policy Director, Education Choice
ExcelinEd
Virtual Position
Job Summary
The Policy Director, Education Choice, is responsible for promoting and advancing a student-centered policy agenda that empowers families with opportunity. The Director manages activities to support state-level policy development and implementation in priority states, with an emphasis on public school choice policy that includes open and part-time enrollment, school transportation, microschools and other innovations that modernize education. As a team member at one of the nation’s foremost education policy organizations, this is a role for a motivated leader with the drive to advance and transform state education through student-centered policy solutions and a creative vision for the evolving school choice landscape and the future of education that empowers families with options.
About ExcelinEd
Being a part of ExcelinEd means joining a high-performing and motivated team of education advocates with a shared belief that every child deserves a quality education. Team members are committed to our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, expertise and making a difference. Our organization sets big, hairy audacious goals and works tirelessly to support states in transforming education through student-centered policies that increase student learning, expand opportunity and ready students for college and the workforce.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Develops robust, student-centered policy solutions, fundamental principles and innovations to support states with education choice.
- Supports state leaders with policy solutions aligned to state needs.
- Guides and supports state policy implementation and technical assistance to establish or accelerate ExcelinEd’s public school choice policy agenda, including identifying and solving for barriers to implementation.
- Provides expert testimony to legislative and executive committees and serves as a national thought leader on education choice, promoting policy solutions on panels at education conferences, workshops, convenings and webinars and through channels such as podcasts and state and national media.
- Develops model policies, policy toolkits, briefs and white papers and conducts comprehensive reviews of existing state laws and policies.
- Develops and manages public school choice policy research objectives; conducts policy and analyses.
- Supports ExcelinEd’s multi-state policy convenings; drafts meeting agendas, identifies speakers and hosts workshops and webinars.
- Assists with building strategy session agendas for the annual National Summit on Education.
- Drafts blogs, talking points, briefings, summaries and presentations for internal and external purposes.
- Responds to email questions and comments related to policy from policymakers, aides and the public.
- Travels on behalf of the organization and serves as a representative at events.
- Assists with communications and messaging by supplying facts and writing and editing communications pieces for policy information and accuracy.
- Assists business development by contributing to philanthropic engagement, grant writing and reporting.
- Prepares briefing materials for the organization’s executive management and Board of Directors.
Preferred Skills/Qualifications
- A background in Education, Public Policy, Social Science, Political Science, Public Administration or an associated subject is desirable.
- Strong writing and communication skills.
- Ability to speak publicly before policymakers and executives.
- Strong organizational and teamwork skills.
- Expertise in the development or implementation of education choice policy.
- Strong understanding of the intersection of politics, policy and the legislative process.
- Proven success in collaborating, partnering and influencing?across teams?and organizations to drive results in matrixed environments.
- Ability to thrive with ambiguity, manage relationships and handle complex work assignments.
Requirements
- 7-10 years of experience working in public or private school choice or K-12 education policy at a state executive or legislative level or with a state or national policy organization.
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in public policy or education preferred.
To Apply
- Qualified candidates may apply online via this job portal link: Job Application: Policy Director, Education Choice
- Required application materials to be submitted online include the following:
- Cover letter detailing your interest in the position, how your background and experience makes you a good fit for the position and your salary requirements
- Resume
- Questions can be directed to EmployeeServices@ExcelinEd.org
- There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until filled.
